Pet Microchipping
Microchipping is a way to ensure your pet can find their way home by having permanent identification always in place. Here is a closer look at using a microchip to keep your pet safe.
What is a Microchip?
A microchip is a tiny electronic device injected into your pet just below the skin. It’s only about the size of a grain of rice, but it stores a unique number which is delivered via radio waves. When your pet is lost, and a vet or animal shelter scans them with a microchip scanner, the number can tell us the company that provided that microchip. We then obtain information so we can reunite you with your pet.
It only takes a moment for your pet to bolt out the door or break away from their leash, and many lost pets never find their way home because they have no form of identification when they get away. Tags on collars are great, but they can fade, and pets often break or lose their collars in their attempt at freedom. Microchipping is a way to ensure your pet can find their way home, with permanent identification always in place.
More about Pet Microchipping
Is Microchipping Safe?
Microchips do not need a power source and contain no moving parts, so they are safe to stay in your pet for a lifetime. They are made from material that is compatible with an animal’s body, so any discomfort or rejection is very rare. Over time, the microchip will become encased in the tissue, which means it will not move around in the body.
What Should I Expect at a Microchipping Appointment?
If you wish to have your pet microchipped, simply ask about it at your next appointment. The procedure is simple. Our vet will inject the microchip using a sterile syringe into your pet’s skin between the shoulder blades. The procedure is quick and causes minimal discomfort, just like a vaccination.
Once your pet is microchipped, we will register their microchip number with your contact information for you. Registering is very important because that is how your data gets associated with the microchip. We will give you a packet with your pet’s microchip number and the number of the registry. You will need to keep this information to change your contact information if you move or get a new phone number. Up-to-date information is critical to ensuring your pet can be returned to you.
What Happens if Your Pet Gets Lost?
If your pet is lost, the people who find them can take them to a local veterinary clinic or shelter to be scanned. When scanned with the right type of scanner, your pet’s unique number is detected. By calling the Microchip Registry company, your contact information can be obtained to get your pet back to you. The veterinary clinic or shelter staff will call you. It is important to keep your microchip information up-to-date. Be sure to call the microchip registry company when you move or change phone numbers.
Microchipping your pet is a simple solution to add a layer of protection in case your pet is lost. Schedule your appointment today with Broadway Veterinary Hospital to have your pet microchipped and give yourself the peace of mind that comes from knowing you will always have a way to be reunited.