Can a GPS Tracker or AirTag Replace Your Pet’s Microchip?

Since the late 80s, microchips have helped thousands of lost pets get reunited with their pet parents. In fact, having a microchip doubles a pet’s chances of finding their way home, according to a 2009 AVMA study.
With the rising popularity of GPS trackers and Apple AirTags, many pet parents are using these devices to keep tabs on their pets in real time, and wondering if microchips will become a thing of the past.
In honor of Chip Your Pet Month, learn how Bluetooth and GPS pet tracking devices work, and why it’s still essential to make sure your dog or cat has a microchip that’s up-to-date with your current contact information.

How Does a Microchip Work?

Unlike GPS trackers and Apple AirTags, a microchip does not rely on a battery. The microchip, which is smaller than a grain of rice, simply stores one crucial piece of information: your pet’s identification number.

If your pet ever gets lost, anyone who finds them can bring them to a veterinarian or shelter to have their microchip scanned. The vet or shelter staff use a handheld scanner over the microchip, which transmits your pet’s identification number through frequency.

The vet or shelter staff will then use this identification number to look up your contact information stored in the microchip manufacturer’s database. If your contact information is accurate and up-to-date, you’re just a phone call away from reunification.

Your pet’s microchip is permanently and painlessly implanted between their shoulder blades. Since it does not have a battery, it never needs to be charged or replaced. And because it does not have software, it never needs to be updated, reconnected or rebooted. If you move or your phone number changes, you can simply enter your information online by logging into the database with your pet’s identification number.

How Do GPS Trackers for Pets Work?

GPS tracking devices for pets are becoming increasingly popular, especially for pets that spend hours at a time roaming outdoors.
GPS trackers can be useful, but they have some limitations. Since they rely on GPS satellites and/or cell service towers to track your pet’s location and send signals to your phone, you must pay a monthly subscription fee to use most GPS tracking collars.

That also means the connection may not be reliable in rural and remote areas.
Most GPS trackers for pets also have a very limited battery life, lasting anywhere from just a few hours before needing to be charged, to up to a few weeks between charges.

How Do Tile Tags and Apple AirTags Work for Pets?

Tile tags, Apple AirTags, and similar devices rely on Bluetooth to track your pet and transmit their location data to your phone.
When your pet is out of your phone’s range, these devices rely on a network of nearby Bluetooth devices. However, this means that your pet can only be tracked if they’re within range of someone else’s phone.
On the plus side, Tile tags, Apple AirTags, and other Bluetooth-reliant trackers can last months, even years before the battery needs to be replaced - no need for constant recharging.

Are AirTags and other Bluetooth Trackers Safe for Pets?

Apple AirTags and other Bluetooth trackers were originally designed to keep track of objects, not pets. Even third-party, made-for-pets accessories like collars and tags designed to hold Bluetooth trackers may not be reliable for everyday pet use.

Bluetooth trackers like AirTags and Tile trackers contain a lithium-ion coin battery that can pose a serious hazard if your pet chews or swallows their tag. If the acid inside the battery leaks, it can cause severe, life-threatening injuries to your pet’s mouth or digestive tract.

If you decide to get a tracking device for your pet, choose sturdy accessories that do not dangle, and look for chew-resistant outer casing, and inspect regularly for damage. For heavy-duty chewers, it may be best to skip tracking devices altogether.

Why Your Pet Still Needs A Microchip

Though a GPS tracking collar or AirTag can help you find your pet if they’re lost, they can also provide a false sense of security. Even with a tracker, a roaming pet can be attacked by a wild animal, hit by a car, stolen, or otherwise be endangered in ways that a tracker cannot prevent.

The best way to keep your pet from getting lost is to prevent them from roaming. Cats live longer when they’re kept inside. Dogs are safest when let outside in a fenced-in area or walked on a leash and harness.

When fences fail, doors are left open, and devices run out of battery, your pet’s microchip is a permanent, reliable way to help them find their way home. It takes minutes to have your pet’s microchip installed by a vet, and just a few seconds to make sure your contact information associated with their microchip is up to date.

VISION

Every pet deserves to live a long, happy, healthy life.