Microchipping your pet can greatly increase the chance that they will be reunited with you if they ever get lost. In this post, our Wake Forest vets discuss the benefits of microchipping your cat or dog.
Microchipping Your Pet
There was a time when the only option for identifying a pet was a license tag. While this is still an effective way to tell which pet belongs to which family, tags and collars can fall off (or be removed), making it difficult to find lost or missing pets.
For many years, medical tattoos applied by veterinarians were the solution of choice, but this required the owners to register the tattoo with a national database. Other complications were that different vets tattooed different symbols, and pets with dark skin pigments hardly showed the marks.
Enter the microchip!
Microchips are tiny radio-frequency identification (RFID) chips. They are approximately the size of a grain of rice. In pets, they are usually placed under the skin on the back, between the shoulder blades.
You then go online and register the chip number with the company that produces the chip so that there will be a way to trace your pet to your family.
What information does the microchip provide?
A pet microchip typically stores, in a secure database, a unique identification number linked to the owner's contact information. This information usually includes the pet owners name, address, and phone number. This allows for easy identification and reunification of lost or stray pets with their owners.
Additionally, some advanced microchips may also store medical information or vaccination records for the pet's health and safety.
How does microchipping a dog or cat work?
Microchips are read using a special scanner, which most veterinarians and shelters have. It used to be that different brands of chips required different scanners, but modern universal scanners can read all modern types of chips, regardless of their brand.
When the scanner is passed over the pet's back and sides, it will read the microchip's identification number.
The rescuer will then contact the national database, which in turn will contact the owner of the pet (that's you!) and take the next steps to reunification with your pet.
Microchips are not only valuable for returning lost pets but are also very helpful when it comes to proving ownership. If an animal is lost or stolen and someone else finds it, a veterinarian can easily identify the true owner by checking the microchip data.
The Safety of Microchipping
Some pet parents might have concerns about allergic reactions or internal migration of the microchip. Fortunately, rejection or allergic reaction to a microchip is extremely rare. This method of identification has been in use for many years, and has been implanted into millions of pets without incident.
Thanks to microchips, pets can be reunited with their loving families even years after being separated from them. Speak to your Wake Forest vets about having your canine or feline companion microchipped as soon as possible!
Is microchipping painful?
Microchipping a pet is generally not painful. The procedure is quick and similar to a routine vaccination, with minimal discomfort for your cat or dog. Once implanted, it can provide a permanent form of identification for your pet, helping to increase the chances of being reunited if they ever get lost.
Note: The advice provided in this post is intended for informational purposes and does not constitute medical advice regarding pets. For an accurate diagnosis of your pet's condition, please make an appointment with your vet.