Is Pet Aquamation Safe for Pets with Implants or Medical Devices?
As someone who has worked in the pet industry for more than 15 years, I understand that every pet has a different medical history. Some pets may have undergone orthopedic surgery, received metal pins or plates, been microchipped, or even have certain medical devices inside their bodies.
Because of this, one important question often comes up when families consider Pet Aquamation:
“Can aquamation still be performed if my pet has an implant or medical device inside its body?”
In general, the presence of many types of implants does not automatically prevent a pet from undergoing aquamation. However, the type of device and the pet’s known medical history should be disclosed to the aftercare provider in advance so they can evaluate the situation and follow the appropriate procedure.
What Are Implants or Medical Devices in Pets?
Pets that have received medical treatment or surgery may have certain objects or devices inside their bodies, such as:
Identification microchips
Orthopedic plates and screws
Pins or wires used after bone surgery
Certain joint implants
Certain electronic medical devices
Different materials may behave differently during aquamation. For this reason, it is important to inform the provider about any known surgeries, implants, or medical devices before the process begins.
What Happens During Aquamation If a Pet Has Metal Implants?
Pet Aquamation uses a process known as alkaline hydrolysis, which combines water, alkali, controlled temperature, and circulation inside a closed system.
The process primarily breaks down organic tissue. Certain inorganic materials, including some metal implants, may remain after the aquamation cycle is completed.
In other words, the presence of plates, screws, or pins does not mean that these materials will become part of the memorial remains.
After aquamation is complete, non-degradable materials can be separated from the remaining bone minerals before the drying and final processing stages.
What Happens to a Microchip?
Microchips are among the most common identification devices used in pets.
If your pet has a microchip, inform the Pet Aquamation team before the process begins. A microchip is made from non-organic materials and does not behave in the same way as body tissue during aquamation.
It should therefore be handled as non-organic material according to the facility’s procedures.
Providing this information can also support transparent identification and record-keeping throughout the aftercare process.
What About Plates, Screws, or Pins from Previous Surgery?
Dogs and cats that have experienced fractures or orthopedic surgery may have metal plates, screws, pins, or wires inside their bodies.
In many cases, the presence of these materials does not prevent the overall aquamation process from being carried out.
After the process is completed, any components that remain can be separated before the bone minerals are processed into memorial remains.
However, the exact procedure may depend on the type of implant material and the policies of the aquamation facility.
Can Every Medical Device Be Processed Directly?
Not always.
This is why families should inform the aftercare provider about all known medical devices or implants before aquamation begins.
This is particularly important if the pet has:
Electronic devices
Implants made from unknown materials
Specialized medical devices
A history of complex surgery
A professional team can evaluate the situation first and determine whether a particular device needs to be removed before the aquamation process.
What Information Should You Provide to the Aquamation Team?
You do not necessarily need to have your pet’s complete medical records.
However, if the information is available, it can be helpful to provide:
The type of surgery your pet previously underwent.
The location of the implant inside the body.
The type of device or material, if known.
The name of the veterinary clinic or veterinarian that performed the procedure.
Medical records or X-ray images, if available.
If you do not know what type of implant your pet has, there is no need to panic.
Simply share whatever information you have so the aftercare team can evaluate the situation further.
Why Is Transparency Important?
Professional pet aftercare is not only about how a pet’s body is processed.
It is also about traceability, identification, safety, and the family’s trust.
Families deserve to understand how their pets are handled, including what happens to non-organic materials such as implants after the aquamation process.
Before choosing a Pet Aquamation provider, you may want to ask:
“If my pet has a microchip or metal implant, how will it be handled during the aquamation process?”
A professional provider should be able to explain the procedure clearly and transparently.
Pet Aquamation for Senior Pets with a History of Surgery
Questions about implants become particularly relevant for senior pets.
Golden Retrievers, Labradors, German Shepherds, senior cats, and many other pets may have undergone medical procedures or surgery at some point in their lives.
Having an implant does not necessarily mean they cannot receive aftercare through aquamation.
The most important step is to inform the aftercare team about any known medical history and allow them to evaluate the situation before the process begins.
Pet Aquamation Services in Greater Jakarta
For families in Jakarta, Bogor, Depok, Tangerang, and Bekasi, transparent communication should be an important part of the pet aftercare process.
If your pet has a microchip, plate, screw, pin, or another type of medical device, inform the team during the consultation or pet pickup process.
This allows the team to prepare the appropriate procedure before aquamation begins.
Pet Aquamation is not only about flame-free technology. It is also about providing a final journey that is carefully planned, transparent, respectful, and dignified.