Microchipping
No one expects to lose a pet, but thousands of pets go missing each year. Most lost pets, unfortunately, never make it home. Our veterinarians at Signature Veterinary Services strongly recommend having all cats and dogs microchipped to increase their chances of being returned should they ever become lost.
How Do Pet Microchips Work?
A microchip is a small device that contains a unique identifying number. A microchip is inserted under the pet’s skin to provide a means of permanent identification. Each pet’s number is registered with a national database that houses the pet owner’s contact information. Veterinary professionals and animal shelter representatives have access to this database. Should a microchipped pet become lost and turned into a veterinary clinic or animal shelter, the microchip will be scanned and the pet’s owner will be contacted.
What to Expect During a Microchipping Appointment
About the size of a grain of rice, a pet microchip is inserted under the skin between a pet’s shoulder blades with a hypodermic needle. Your pet might feel a slight pinching sensation, but similar to receiving a vaccination, microchip insertion is a quick and simple procedure that requires no anesthetic.
Following the microchipping appointment, our veterinary team will register your pet’s chip number and your contact information with the national database. Completing this step and keeping your contact information up to date are essential!
Why Microchipping Is More Effective Than ID Tags
Tags become lost and unreadable, rendering them ineffective. The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) data shows that 52.2% of microchipped dogs return home compared to only 21.9% without a chip. The same data shows 38.5% of lost microchipped cats are reunited, compared to only 1.8% without microchips.
Do Indoor-Only Pets Need Microchips?
We suggest microchipping all pets, including those that live strictly indoors, as it is possible for these pets to escape or accidentally be let out of the house. Should they become lost, indoor-only pets can easily become disoriented, and they’ll have an even more difficult time finding their way home.
Convenient Microchipping from the Comfort of Your Home
With our mobile clinic, Signature Veterinary Services provides microchipping appointments at the comfort of your own home. To schedule a visit for your pet’s microchip, we welcome you to contact us today.
