What does a microchipped dog look like? - briefly
A microchipped dog appears entirely normal and shows no outward signs of being chipped. The microchip is about the size of a grain of rice and is typically inserted under the skin between the shoulder blades.
What does a microchipped dog look like? - in detail
A microchipped dog appears no different from any other dog at first glance, as the microchip is a small device that is implanted under the skin, usually between the shoulder blades at the back of the neck. The microchip itself is about the size of a grain of rice and contains a unique identification number that can be read by a scanner. When a dog is microchipped, the veterinarian uses a hypodermic needle to insert the chip under the skin in a quick and relatively painless procedure.
After implantation, there are no external signs or markings on the dog indicating it has been microchipped. The dog's appearance remains unchanged; it will look and behave like any other dog. However, the presence of the microchip can be detected using a specialized scanner that reads the radio frequency identification (RFID) signal emitted by the chip. When scanned, the unique ID number stored on the microchip is displayed, which can then be used to identify the dog and retrieve its owner's contact information from a pet recovery database.
In summary, while a microchipped dog looks exactly like any other dog externally, the microchip provides an invaluable means of identification that can significantly increase the chances of reuniting a lost dog with its owner.