National Pet ID Week: Everything You Need to Know About Microchipping
By WebVet.com
It's National Pet Identification Week -- the perfect time to make sure you've taken every precaution to be reunited with your pet if he or she becomes lost. The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) recently found that only 33 percent of pet parents admitted to always having ID tags on their dogs and cats.
In addition to that crucial step, pet owners should also have their furry friend microchipped. Collars with pet identification are accessible to anyone who finds your lost pet. But, tags can become hard to read, and collars can be broken or removed. Microchipping your pet is a method of permanent identification. Microchips cannot be easily misread, and the permanent identification number is tamperproof. The information about the pet and owner is usually readily retrievable.
A microchip is a very tiny transponder that is encoded with a unique identification number. Before insertion, the sterile microchip is scanned in the package to confirm that the identification code of the transponder matches that shown on the label of the bar code on the package.
Related: 'Lost Pet Alert Network' Aims To Reunite Pets and Owners
The procedure for microchipping your pet is similar to that of vaccinating. Some of the loose skin between the shoulder blades is gently pulled up, and the application needle is quickly inserted. The trigger is depressed, which injects the microchip into the tissues. Once the chip is inserted, the pet is scanned to ensure that the chip is reading properly.
The procedure is fast, safe, and generally painless, even in puppies and kittens. Some owners choose to have the microchip inserted when the pet is spayed or neutered.
Once your pet has been microchipped, you must register it with the appropriate agency. Your veterinarian will provide you with the relevant information and documents. Be sure to keep your contact information updated. If your pet is lost and recovered, this information can be used to reunite you with your pet. Most, if not all, humane societies and animal shelters now have microchip readers, and all stray and injured animals are routinely scanned.
Q&A
What is a pet microchip?
A microchip is a very tiny electronic device that is encoded with an identification number unique to your pet. Once implanted, the microchip provides a permanent form of identification that cannot be lost or easily removed.
How is this device implanted?
The microchip is inserted under the skin using a hollow needle, much like vaccination. This procedure is relatively painless, but some owners choose to have it done when their animal is under anesthesia for a spay or neuter.
What happens after the chip is implanted?
Your veterinarian will provide you with the information needed to register your pet with the appropriate agency. Be sure to keep your contact information updated, because accurate information is needed to reunite you with your lost pet.
What happens if my pet is lost?
Most, if not all, humane societies and animal shelters now have microchip readers, and these organizations routinely scan all stray and injured animals. The ID number is then passed along to the appropriate agency, which arranges for your pet to be returned to you.
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