Pet Microchipping
A microchip is a permanent ID the size of a grain of rice. Our Sugar Land clinic on Southwest Freeway places chips during routine visits, and we scan right away to confirm it reads.
The chip itself doesn't track your pet. It works when someone scans it and finds your current contact information, so registration matters as much as placement.
Call (346) 436-6295 or book online.
When it's an emergency: Go straight to a 24-hour emergency hospital for any injury your lost pet came home with, such as bleeding, a limp it won't put weight on, or trouble breathing. We're open 8 AM to 6 PM, seven days a week, and we don't provide overnight care.
What Happens During Placement
The chip goes under the skin between the shoulder blades with a needle a little larger than a vaccine needle. Most pets react about the same way they do to a shot. You stay with your pet, and the team scans the chip to confirm the number.
Many owners add it to a puppy or kitten visit, a wellness exam, or a spay or neuter surgery, when your pet is already under anesthesia.
“It was our Staffordshire Terrier's first time ever going to the vet and socializing with new people. They did a wonderful job making him feel comfortable during his appointment.”
— Adrienne N., Petfolk client.
Registration Is the Step That Gets Pets Home
A shelter or vet scans a found pet and calls the number linked to the chip. If that number is out of date, the chip can't help.
Register the chip with the chip company as soon as possible.
Update your phone number and address every time either changes.
Add a second contact, such as a family member.
Keep the chip number in your phone.
The AVMA's Check the Chip Day page recommends checking your registration information regularly and having your vet scan the chip at checkups.
Lost Pets in Sugar Land
The City of Sugar Land doesn't have a pet license or registration program, so the city won't have your contact information on file. For many lost pets here, the chip registration and collar tags are the only way back.
Email Sugar Land Animal Services at [email protected] right away so the shelter can watch for your pet.
Call the chip company to confirm your contact information is current.
Keep tags on the collar too. Tags help a neighbor return your pet without a scanner.
Microchips vs. GPS Trackers
A GPS tracker shows where your pet is now, as long as the collar stays on and the battery is charged. A microchip can't show location, but it can't fall off or go dead, and shelters scan for it first. Many owners use both.
When Microchipping Can Wait
If your pet is already chipped, you don't need another one; ask us to scan and confirm the number. If a wellness visit or spay or neuter is coming up soon, it's simplest to add the chip then. Don't wait if you're about to travel or move, or if your pet tends to slip out the door.
What Microchipping Costs
The cost depends on how you add it. Placing a chip during a visit you already have planned avoids a separate visit; a wellness exam is $99, or included with PetfolkCare.
Some chip companies charge for registration or premium services, and that fee is separate from our clinic. You'll see our charge before the chip is placed.
Chip It, Then Keep It Current
Add a microchip at your pet's next visit and update the registration today. Call (346) 436-6295 or book online.