By Julie Knapp
March 17, 2010

If you pack up your pup for frequent flying and he or she doesn’t have a microchip yet, you may want to visit your vet before you book your next trip. Microchips are a must for most international travel and a smart idea for all jet-setting pets. Your dog’s behavior may be different at home than away when there are many tempting new sights, sounds, and smells. When you’re traveling, you probably won’t know where to begin looking for your pet either, so the microchip can provide peace of mind.

Your veterinarian will inject the tiny, grain-of-rice-sized, computer chip underneath your dog’s skin between the shoulder blades. Vets say the procedure is relatively painless and feels similar to getting a vaccination. Depending on where you get the device, it could cost from $20 to $100.

Every microchip has a unique ID, linked to your contact information which is stored in the chip registry’s database. The data can be viewed by a handheld scanner; it discloses the registry’s toll-free phone number and your ID number. The microchip is a good safeguard since most vets and shelters have and use the technology, allowing easy identification of the true owner.

While your dog can fly from state to state microchip-free, most other counties require a proof-of-microchip to travel, including those in the European Union and Japan. If you think you’ll ever bring your pet overseas, be sure to confirm that the microchip and frequency your vet implants will work around the world. You should call the foreign consular office of the country you are traveling to for up-to-date rules and regulations.

For more information:
Rules for Britain and EU fact sheet
Foreign consular offices directory

Photo courtesy of Julie Miller DVM, Pet’s Friend Animal Clinic