Identify Your Animals the Professional Way!
Millions of dogs and cats, horses, livestock and birds now carry the AVID® microchip. Wildlife and endangered species, reptiles and even fish are being studied and managed with the aid of this great technology.
Developed by a veterinarian, the AVID® microchip is safe, permanent and takes only seconds to administer. The tiny injectable "chip" contains a one-of-a-kind identification number and is recognized worldwide.
A special scanner is used to read the microchip through the skin of the animal. The animal feels nothing as the chip's number quickly appears in the scanner's viewing window. With a phone call, the registered chip can be traced back to the purchaser if necessary.
General Questions
Q. What is the AVID® microchip?
Q. How does the microchip work?
Q. How long does the microchip last?
Q. How does the scanner work?
Q. Are AVID® microchips and scanners "Universal"?
Q. Who is qualified to inject the AVID® microchip?
Q. My pet already has an AVID chip. How can I get him registered in the AVID network for lost pets? How can I change his registration?
Q. Can I microchip animals belonging to others?
Q. Does the procedure hurt the animal?
Q. Does the animal have to be sedated for the injection?
Q. Could my animal be allergic to the chip?
Q. Can the microchip move around once inside the body of the animal?
Q. What is the best age to inject the chip?
Q. What do you mean by the chips are "registered" to me upon purchase?
Q. What if my buyers/clients want the chip registered to them?
Q. If the animal shelter picks up one of my animals, how do they know to call AVID®?
Birds and Exotics
Q. Where is the implant site for birds?
Q. At what age can birds be identified with the AVID® microchip?
Q. Can I read the chip through my bird’s cage?
General Questions
Q. What is the AVID® microchip?
A. A.V.I.D. stands for American Veterinary Identification Devices. The AVID® microchip is a tiny computer chip which has an identification number programmed into it. The chip is encased in a smooth, strong biocompatible glass, and is small enough to fit into a hypodermic needle. Once an animal is injected with the chip, he can be identified throughout his life by this one-of-a-kind number. His identification cannot be lost, altered or intentionally removed.
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Q. How does the microchip work?
A. The microchip is generally injected deeply under the skin. It sits safely there, totally inert. A special scanner is used to send a radio signal through the skin of the animal to read the chip. The animal feels nothing as the scanner is passed over him. The microchip sends it’s number back to the scanner. It appears in the viewing window as, for example, AVID 220*609*321.
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Q. How long does the microchip last?
A. The microchip has no power supply, battery, or moving parts. It is designed with an operating life of over 25 years and is guaranteed for the life of the animal. Once injected, the microchip is anchored in place as a thin layer of connective tissue forms around it. The chip requires no care. It does not pass through or out of the body.
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Q. How does the scanner work?
A. The AVID® scanner sends a safe radio wave signal to the microchip. When the chip receives this signal, it sends data (the microchip number) back to the scanner to be displayed in a viewing window. AVID® scanners emit helpful audible beeps, display descriptions of actions in progress, and have a low battery message. Small handheld scanners are held close to the implant site while scanning. They have a reading range of about 3 inches. Larger, more powerful scanners can be used for various commercial and research applications. Read ranges vary from 6 to 20 inches depending upon specifications.
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Q. Are AVID® microchips and scanners "Universal"?
A. AVID® is the most cross compatible microchip system in the United States. You decide if you want to be able to read more than one brand of chip, or if you just need to read your own AVID chips (and not all others). You can purchase the MiniTracker that reads ONLY the AVID® SecureChip. Or you can purchase the MiniTracker Multi, which reads both of our chips and several other brands of chips as well.
On the chip side, you can purchase AVID® Secure chips that can be read only by an AVID® scanner, and by shelter scanners. Or you can purchase our EURO chip, which can be read by our Multi Scanner and by many other types of scanners as well. The price of the chips is the same.
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Q. Who is qualified to inject the AVID® microchip?
A. Microchips go into the animal by way of standard injection. Those familiar with the delivery systems for vaccines and regular shots will have no problem injecting the chip. Complete step-by-step instructions are included with all products.
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Q. My pet already has an AVID chip. How can I get him registered in the AVID network for lost pets? How can I change his registration?
A. Please contact PETtrac directly calling them at (800)336-2843. They will answer all of your questions and/or send you an application.
Q. Can I microchip animals belonging to others?
A. The rules regarding microchip procedures vary by state. Please check with your state veterinarian's office, or call our office for help at 
(800) 434-2843.
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Q. Does the procedure hurt the animal?
A. Although the microchip needle is larger than a typical vaccine needle, the general rule is this…your animals will react the SAME way to this shot as they do to any other. No better, no worse. Animals do not over react to it. Their physical performance is not impaired and there is no scarring. You are not injecting any substance that can burn or irritate; the chip is completely biocompatible and non-offensive.
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Q. Does the animal have to be sedated for the injection?
A. No! Injecting the AVID® microchip is just like any other injection or vaccination. Anesthesia is not required or recommended.
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Q. Could my animal be allergic to the chip?
A. The AVID® microchip is inert, smooth and biocompatible. There is virtually no chance of the body developing an allergy or trying to reject the microchip after being properly injected.
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Q. Can the microchip move around once inside the body of the animal?
A. When properly implanted, a small layer of connective tissue forms around the microchip, preventing movement or migration of the chip. Instructions and injection sites will vary depending upon the specie. As with any brand of chip, AVID® microchips will not migrate if instructions are followed and implantation is correct.
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Q. What is the best age to inject the microchip?
A. Minimal age varies somewhat depending upon the specie. Please see appropriate section.
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Q. What do you mean by the chips are "registered" to me upon purchase?
A. When you purchase AVID® microchips, the chip numbers that you have purchased are kept in the AVID databases and are able to be traced back to you. This is a service we provide for kennel and farm management, and it can be essential as a third party backup; as proof of chip purchase. This service is included in the cost of AVID chips.
However, this is not a 24-hour recovery service for lost pets. Nor does it mean that we know which particular animal has a particular chip. If you sell puppies, kittens or any other animal, or if grown animals are sold or moved, or no longer belong to you, it is essential that the chip numbers be registered in PETtrac.
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Q. If the animal shelter picks up one of my animals, how do they know to call AVID®?
A. Animal shelters and animal control officers have been educated and informed about microchip identification and how it works. Shelters use industrywide, cross-compatible scanners that read all chips operating at a certain frequency. Once a microchip is located in an animal, the appropriate steps are taken. If the animal is registered with AVID's PetTrac™ Recovery System, the shelter will be given the owner's name. If the animal is not registered, they will be given the name of the veterinarian or the breeder who injected the microchip.
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Birds and Exotics
Q. Where is the implant site for birds?
A. Microchips for birds are injected IM (in the muscle). The standard injection site is into the breast muscle. Restraint is necessary, of course. If you are a breeder and have an assistant experienced in proper avian restraint, you can do this injection yourself. Or, if you prefer, your avian veterinarian can do the procedure for you, using chips that are registered either to him or to you.
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Q. At what age can birds be identified with the AVID® microchip?
A. Birds can be injected at any age, but you may want to use your judgement or consult your avian veterinarian depending upon what type/size birds you have.
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Q. Can I read the chip through my bird’s cage?
A. Depending upon which scanner you are using, yes, it is certainly possible to read the bird this way.
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