Source: CNET
Pet experts warn against using Apple AirTags to track pets, citing safety and reliability concerns. Although AirTags are inexpensive Bluetooth trackers designed for personal items, veterinarians like Dr. Shannon Vawter caution that if a pet chews or swallows one, it can cause severe internal injury requiring costly surgery ($2,000–$5,000). The button battery inside can corrode and burn through the gastrointestinal tract.
In addition, Maleki Burke of Snootiful Hound notes that AirTags rely on nearby Apple devices, making them unreliable in rural or low-signal areas, precisely where pets are most likely to wander off. Instead, experts recommend microchipping pets for permanent identification and pairing that with a GPS collar, such as Tractive, which uses satellite technology for real-time tracking. GPS collars are safer, harder to ingest, and provide accurate location data. AirTags may help find lost luggage, but not lost pets. The combination of a microchip and GPS offers far better protection and peace of mind.