Every year hundreds of animals including turtles and tortoises are found running at large in San Diego. This year, for World Turtle Day, San Diego Humane Society is offering a Chelonian Microchip Clinic in hopes of reuniting stray or lost turtles and tortoises to their owners.

Microchipping is a common and popular means of documenting pet ownership. Microchip placement in any animal is always an elective procedure.

• San Diego Humane Society (SDHS) will not offer microchips to turtles and tortoises with shell diameters measuring less than 10 centimeters (approximately 4 inches).

• Semi-aquatic turtles must be dry-docked for at least 24 hours prior to implantation.

• SDHS asks that all turtles and tortoises presenting for microchip implantation are clean and subjectively healthy. Staff are unable to provide medical advice or place microchips through dirty or abnormal skin.

• Prior to microchip implantation, the implantation site will be determined by an SDHS staff member. This determination will be made by either a veterinarian or a registered veterinary technician (RVT). The implantation site will be prepared as aseptically as possible and surgical adhesive (tissue glue) will be applied to assist in closure and healing of the site.

• Post-implantation your animal should be maintained in a clean environment for at least two days. Semi-aquatic species should be dry-docked (kept out of water) for at least one full day.

There a few differences between microchip placement of turtles and tortoises vs. that of dogs and cats.

Standard veterinary microchips will be implanted into one of two sites: The left hind leg or midline sub-plastron. The midline sub-plastron site is a site under the base of the tail under the plastron (bottom shell).

As with any medical procedure, there is a small risk of complication. Complications include inflammation (swelling/pain), temporary lameness, infection, and loss/migration of the chip. Should you notice any abnormalities with your pet after microchip placement, follow up with your family veterinarian is highly recommended.

If you do not have a family veterinarian, we are happy to provide you with a list of local veterinarians who see reptiles on a regular basis.

Please allow a minimum of 20 minutes for each appointment.

Please plan to arrive 10 minutes early to get checked in. If you are unable to arrive on time, please call our Wellness Center at 619-279-5085. As a courtesy to our other  clinic guests, we will attempt to accommodate your appointment as much as possible, but you may be asked to reschedule.