If you’ve never lost a pet, you can’t fully appreciate the benefits of microchipping your dog or cat. Pets with microchips have a greater chance of being returned to their owners safely. Understanding more about microchipping can help you make a wise decision about this procedure. These FAQs from Bryan Animal Clinic in Decatur, AL, provide the answers you need about microchipping your pet.
What are microchips and how do they work?
Microchips are tiny computer chips, approximately the size of a grain of rice, that are used to help identify pets. Each chip has an ID number that corresponds with your dog or cat. The chip is injected under your pet’s skin where it remains safely hidden until needed. Your pet’s ID number along with your contact information is registered in an online pet database where it can be accessed by a vet or animal shelter if your pet gets lost. Most vets and animal shelters have scanners that can read a pet’s microchip. The vet will match your pet’s ID number to your contact info and notify you that your pet has been found.
How are microchips implanted?
Our Decatur, AL, vet will inject the chip under your pet’s skin with a hypodermic needle, similar to what’s used for pet vaccinations. The process is quick and relatively painless. You can have your pet microchipped during a pet exam at Bryan Animal Clinic or after spay or neuter surgery.
I’m concerned about my privacy. What information can be accessed from my pet’s microchip?
Besides your pet’s ID number, you decide what information can be accessed from the microchip registry. Most pet owners put only their contact information so they can be reached if their pet is found. The only people who will have access to that information is the vet or shelter where your pet is taken to be scanned.
My pet already has a collar and tags. Why do I need a microchip?
Collars and tags are a necessity to help identify lost pets. They can, however, be damaged by the elements, making them difficult to read, or lost if your pet has been wandering around in the woods or fields for some time. Microchips are firmly imbedded into your pet’s skin and cannot be damaged or lost. The combination of both will increase your chances of finding your lost pet and having him returned safely to your arms.
Talk to Our Decatur, AL, Veterinarian about Microchipping Your Pet
Microchipping is a safe, effective, affordable means of helping your pet find its way back home in the event he gets lost. To schedule an appointment for microchipping your dog or cat, contact Bryan Animal Clinic in Decatur, AL, at (256) 350-0311.