Most households in the U.S. have at least one pet, and microchipping is becoming an increasingly popular practice to enhance the safety and everyday security of your pet should they ever get lost or stolen. While microchipping has countless benefits, many pet owners don’t quite understand how the process works because it’s relatively new. Here is what every pet owner should know.
Confirming
Your Pet’s Identity
As mentioned, getting your pet microchipped helps to confirm their identity and
find their way back to you if they ever get lost or stolen. Experts say that
the majority of pets that have been microchipped end up being reunited with
their owners when lost. On the other hand, pets that are not microchipped have a drastically lower rate of being
reunited with their owners. This is true even if the pet has other forms of
identity, like tags and a collar. No method of identification is 100% accurate,
but microchipping is much more reliable than traditional tags.
Other
Forms of Identification
While getting your pet microchipped and keeping an accurate address with the
microchip company is essential to your pet’s safety and identification, it
shouldn’t be the only measure you take to keep your pet protected. Collars are
also helpful in identifying pets without the need for any scanning device. That
being said, a collar will never be able to replace the protection and security
that a microchip provides. The best solution is to use both a collar and a
microchip so that your pet can be identified in as many cases as possible.
How Microchips Are Put In Place
Microchip implantation is a low-risk procedure that can be done on any healthy dog or cat during a routine checkup or wellness appointment. Veterinarians suggest checkups every six months for older pets, and annually in healthy adult dogs over
According
to The Pet Vet’s, Dr. Kaitlin Agel, “once the microchip has been implanted, you
will receive information on how to register the microchip. This will allow you to link your pet to your
contact information, as well as add any pertinent details about your pet’s
behavior or medical history that someone might need to know if you are
unreachable when your pet is first identified. You can also add a secondary
contact such as a family member or your primary veterinarian to help get your
pet back to you as soon as possible.”
How it works
After your pet is microchipped if your pet is lost, the person who finds them will take them to a veterinary hospital or animal shelter to start the identification process. The facility will perform a scan to determine that the pet is chipped and to obtain the microchip number. The microchip company will be contacted and they will in turn contact you using the phone number you provided when registering your pet’s microchip. The company will then give you information regarding your pet’s whereabouts and instructions on contacting the facility where your pet has been found.
Lifetime of Microchips
Newer microchips are an innovative piece of technology
that can last for up to 25 years and can be scanned internationally for
identification. Under normal circumstances, the chip will never need replacing,
and as mentioned, veterinary facilities and shelters can determine if a pet has
one by simply using a handheld scanning device. Microchipping is also very
affordable: The Pet Vet charges $30 for microchips and that includes lifetime
registration. Remember, it’s your responsibility as a pet owner to do all you
can to keep your furry friend safe, and a microchip can go a long way in
keeping your pet protected and maximizing their chance of being reunited with
you if they ever go missing.
Microchipping for Indoor Cats
Indoor cats can easily escape through an open window or door, and a microchip
can help confirm their identity. This is particularly important to note due to
the fact that many indoor cats do not wear a collar.
“Even if your cat stays indoors, though, it’s still a good idea to have it
microchipped. Indoor cats often get out of the house by mistake…If your cat
doesn’t have a lot of experience with the outdoors, it’s unlikely that it will
be able to navigate through unfamiliar territory. As a result, many strays in
shelters may be indoor cats that got out and couldn’t find their way
home,” says Animal Planet.
Natural Disasters and Crisis Situations
During natural
disasters like tornadoes, hurricanes or wildfires, pets often become separated
from their owners. This is also common during crisis situations like house
fires or car wrecks. In times like these, it is imperative to have an easy way
to identify pets. Collars can fall off or break but a microchip is always
there. Even if your pet is an indoor pet, you cannot guarantee that
circumstances out of your control will not cause you to be separated from them.
Microchips are the best way to improve the chances that your pet will be
returned to you in these situations.
Ultimately, knowing the facts about microchipping should be enough to convince
all pet owners that it’s a great decision for their furry friends’ safety. For
more information about veterinary care or to schedule your pet’s microchipping
appointment, contact The
Pet Vet.
