Old-school techniques like lost posters may seem ineffectual when it comes to locating a missing pet, especially when smart tags and trackers exist. These trackers keep us in touch with our most valuable and important belongings (wallets, bags and keys), so you may be thinking, "Why not beloved pets, too?" Although popping an AirTag on a collar seems like a simple preventative measure that could offer pet owners peace of mind, but it's not without its limitations and risks.
Reliability and safety both must be factored into the conversation. To learn if AirTags are acceptable for pet tracking, we spoke with two experts. Here's everything to know.
What is an AirTag?
Apple AirTags were created to help keep track of personal items by using a "secure Bluetooth signal that can be detected by nearby devices in the Find My network," according to Apple.
The small devices, costing $29 per tag, are often used on suitcases, purses, backpacks and key chains. Apple's website does not mention using AirTags on pets, probably for a good reason.
Read more: Best Apple AirTag Accessories of 2024
Why you shouldn't use an AirTag to track your pet
Although AirTags may seem like a convenient and relatively cheap way to keep track of your furry friends, experts advise against it.
If AirTags are attached to a pet's collars, there's a chance it could lead to a medical emergency, said Dr. Shannon Vawter, medical director and veterinarian at Thrive Pet Healthcare Wedgewood in Nashville, Tennessee.
"There's a battery in there, and if the dog or cat ingests this -- which there's several articles and reports in our veterinary magazines where people have cited that this has happened -- then we have to do a surgery called a gastronomy or an enterotomy and go fish that tag out," Vawter said, adding that the battery is dangerous because if it starts "to corrode or open up with that acid inside, it'll burn a hole right through their GI tract."
Vawter said the emergency surgery to remove the AirTag could range in price between $2,000 and $5,000, adding that dogs are more likely to chew or eat an AirTag, but that cats could also be at risk of doing so.
Tracking limitations are another reason experts caution against them.
"An AirTag has very limited tracking capabilities and accuracy in rural areas, the exact place that you're likely to need it the most," said Maleki Burke, founder of Snootiful Hound, a company that created escape-proof harnesses for sighthounds. Because AirTags depend on nearby Apple devices, Burke said that if your pet is lost in a rural area, the location may not be accurate or available.
"This is especially problematic if you're trying to track a dog that has wandered far away from populated areas," he said.
Expert advice: Better ways to track your pet
Both Vawter and Burke recommend that the first line of action to keeping your pet safe is to get them microchipped. A microchip is a small, permanent chip that's equivalent to the size of a grain of rice and is embedded into the pet. According to Pawlicy Advisor, microchips for dogs cost between $25 to $60. If you adopt your pet from a shelter, it may be chipped beforehand. In that case, the shelter would provide you with the microchip identification number during the adoption process.
"Any pet can get a microchip at any age, and it is not much bigger than a vaccine needle," Vawter said. "We do it all the time with distraction, like giving them some cheese or a little bit of peanut butter, and they don't even know they get it."
French bulldog being scanned by a veterinarian for a microchip
DjelicS/Getty Images
When someone finds a lost pet and brings it to an animal shelter or a veterinary office, the pet is scanned for a microchip. Microchips contain information about the pet and the owner's personal information so they can be reunited quickly. If you need to update your pet's microchip information, visit The American Animal Hospital Association's microchip registry lookup. Enter your pet's microchip ID to find where it is enrolled, then request to update all necessary information.
The microchip is great for someone who finds your pet, but you may still want to pair it with a device that can actively track them. That's where a GPS collar can come in handy.
"Let's say your dog gets loose, the chances are, in the short term, they're not going to go too far," said Burke, who personally uses the GPS tracker Tractive for his dog. "If you have a GPS on them and you can track them, you can get them back in minutes."
Like many GPS collars, Tractive requires a monthly subscription. The basic plan is $13 a month or $8 a month if you sign up for a year-long subscription.
Vawter also recommends a GPS tracker over an AirTag because they're typically flat and built into the collar, rather than dangling off the collar.
"They're very large, so they'd be difficult to eat or bite into," she said. "The other thing is, they're relying on satellites, not people's phones or Bluetooth. The only negative about a GPS -- and that's why I still want a microchip -- is the GPS has a battery, and it's short-lived."
Vawter added that if your pet keeps escaping, talk with your veterinarian to find the root cause of why it's happening in the first place.
The bottom line
AirTags are great for your keys and other personal belongings, but there are safer and more foolproof ways to track your pets.
"Make sure your dog is microchipped," Burke said. "But also, if you're worried about your dog escaping, just get a GPS. The peace of mind is worth its weight in gold."