Pets do get lost and many never make it home again. Microchips are a permanent means of identifying your pet compared to tags and collars can slip off and be lost or removed. The microchip is about the size of a grain of rice and injected under your pet’s skin between their shoulder blades. This procedure is well tolerated by most dogs and cats and can also be performed while they are under anesthesia for other procedures. Each chip has a unique number that you register in a database with your contact information. The microchip can be scanned in a shelter, animal control or veterinary facility. The number can then be used to link to your registered information. At Friendship Animal Hospital, we advise that every dog and cat be microchipped. Microchipping helps lost pets find their way back home.
If your pet is microchipped, don’t forget to complete your registration. If you move or change your phone number, please don’t forget to update your information! Microchips don’t require any maintenance, but it can be checked as part of your pet’s visit to the hospital. Microchips do not replace collars and tags as current tags may lead to faster reunions with lost pets. In addition, many localities require your pet to wear their current rabies tag on their collar.
Please contact us to schedule an appointment to microchip your pet. Although we hope your pet never becomes lost, we want you to be prepared. We can also suggest a plan to have in place so if your pet does go missing, you’ll be able to act quickly.