Protect Your Pet with Microchip Identification
A lost pet can cause heartbreak and worry for the whole family. You may not know how to get your pet back, if you will get him back, or if he is safe. One important measure you can take to increase your chances of having your pet returned to you is to use microchipping. A microchip is an electronic chip that is inserted underneath your pet’s skin. When it is scanned, the microchip is activated. It tells a veterinarian that your pet has an owner and gives your information so that you can be contacted. Microchip identification is recommended by the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) and the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA).
A microchip in your pet can ease your fears and increase your chances of your pet’s safe return if he should ever get lost or stolen. When a lost pet is recovered, he is usually brought to a veterinarian clinic or animal shelter. The veterinarian scans the animal for a microchip. Microchips are frequently inserted into the back of a pet’s neck. The microchip emits a radio wave frequency when it is scanned. The chip contains information for a database about the pet’s owner. Veterinarians and shelter workers can reunite you and your pet more quickly than if the animal didn’t have a microchip.
Insertion of a microchip is a relatively painless procedure and can be done during a normal veterinary visit. Your pet doesn't have to be put under anesthesia. The chip is the size of a grain of rice and is located inside a small glass cylinder. The veterinarian uses a hypodermic needle, which is slightly larger than an average needle used for taking blood.
No maintenance has to be done on the chip. Your veterinarian may check the chip for its location and frequency during a routine veterinary visit. The microchip doesn’t contain a battery. It is activated when it is scanned. The most common reported problem is relocation of the microchip from the original injection site. Problems like infection and hair loss at the site of the insertion have been reported but are uncommon.
The main purpose and benefit of getting a microchip for your pet is to have a better chance of recovering your pet if he gets lost. Even though microchipping isn’t a guarantee that you will have your pet returned to you, your chances of recovering a lost pet are greatly improved. The microchip is not a replacement for identification and rabies tags. If you have questions about microchip identification, contact your veterinarian.