Experts Warn $29 Apple AirTags Can Endanger Pets, Favoring GPS and Microchips
Updated
Updated · CNET · Jul 16
Experts Warn $29 Apple AirTags Can Endanger Pets, Favoring GPS and Microchips
3 articles · Updated · CNET · Jul 16
Summary
$29 Apple AirTags can create a medical emergency if a dog or cat chews and swallows one, veterinarians say, because the battery can corrode and burn the gastrointestinal tract.
Emergency removal surgery can cost $2,000 to $5,000, and experts say the tags are also unreliable for lost pets because they depend on nearby Apple devices rather than satellite tracking.
Microchips—typically $25 to $60—are recommended as the first safeguard because shelters and veterinarians can scan them to reunite owners with found pets.
GPS collars add active tracking that can help recover an escaped dog within minutes, though they require charging and subscriptions such as Tractive's $9-a-month basic plan.
The broader advice from pet professionals is to pair a microchip with a purpose-built GPS collar and address the reasons a pet keeps escaping, rather than repurposing item trackers.