Above and Beyond: Microchipping Your Pet Could Make All the Difference

In a consumer-driven market, we’re always comparing the cost of something versus its value. In the case of microchipping your pet, it’s easy to determine that the price is worth every single penny. Indeed, this simple procedure is not only relatively inexpensive, it also has the amazing power to reunite lost pets and owners. It’s a choice that all pet owners can make in their own time, but it can save a pet’s life and bring them back home safely – which is the ultimate goal for a lost pet.

The Agony

Thinking of your pet far away from home, lost, hungry, scared, and tired could be a reality. Many pets – even strictly indoor ones – can find themselves outside alone. Sure, there are those pets that take the opportunity to run wild through the neighborhood and do return home, but sometimes pets can get out accidentally when a door or gate is left open, or during times of extreme stress such as noise anxiety.

Calling Their Name

In the event of a missing pet, the first thing you may try to do is call their name over and over, but if he or she doesn’t come back, the next steps can be even more painful.

Signs, posters, social media, and calls to the local animal control or humane society might not turn up anything…what is a pet owner to do next?

One out of three pets go missing at some point in their lives. Microchipping your pet acts like a type of insurance in case they do go missing.

Microchipping Your Pet

Developed in the 1980’s, microchips have made tremendous progress. Currently, universal scanners are available at veterinary hospitals and animal shelters around the globe. As soon as a lost pet is brought in, they are scanned for a microchip. While a microchip doesn’t work like GPS, each chip has its own identification number. This number is connected to your contact information in the database of the chip’s manufacturer.

One Step Further

It’s not uncommon for pet owners to microchip their pet and forget to register their information. This step is crucial to the success of the chip. Without registering your pet’s chip number with your contact information, it’s difficult to track down a pet’s owner. Of course, any changes to your address or phone number should also be updated with the chip’s manufacturer.

What to Expect When Microchipping Your Pet

The procedure is similar to getting a shot and is relatively painless. Using a hypodermic needle, we can insert the chip, which resembles a grain of rice. The chip remains lodged beneath the skin, typically between the shoulder blades or behind the neck. While we can do this in an examination room, many pet owners opt to have it done while their pet is under anesthesia for a spay/neuter procedure.

Throughout your pet’s life, we can check a microchip to ensure it hasn’t moved or malfunctioned.

The Future

If you have additional questions or concerns about microchipping your pet, please feel free to contact us. Our veterinarians and staff are always here for you.