May is your pet month’s chip, and it’s the month of the year all pet owners can chop their pets. The amazing fact is that too many dogs and cats are being lost and the numbers are increasing
The American Humane Association AAH estimates that 1 in 3 pets can be stolen or lost at least once in their life.
This can be extremely annoying for any pet owner as it can be difficult to find a lost pet or even try to find a stolen pet. Chipping your pet is a great way to increase the chances of finding a lost pet and increase the chances of you being reunited with your furry friend as soon as possible.
Finding a lost pet is never easy, and many pet owners do not understand the risks of losing and successfully retrieving a lost pet. For this reason, microchiping your pet should always be viewed as an inexpensive way of keeping your pet safe.
Pet care is important and is mentioned on UltimatePetHub.com. Many pets can be accidentally lost, so it is a very safe and humane way to keep track of your pet. When the worst happens, you have a viable way to track your pet that is always recommended for reassurance.
What is microchip for your pet?
A microchip is a very small computer chip that your veterinarian surgically implants into your pet. This usually gets under the skin and your vet will generally choose between the shoulder blades as the safest and most receptive part of your pet’s body.
This microchip is very small, usually about the size of a grain of rice, and your pet won’t feel it at all. Each microchip has a unique number that can be traced back to your pet. If they are lost or stolen, a veterinary clinic or shelter can easily read the microchip and trace the pet back to you once they are found.
The best part is that the entire microchip process does not have to be operated on. Since the microchip can be recognized under the skin with a special machine, your pet does not have to go under the knife. This means that all you have to do is do a quick scan over your dog or cat’s shoulders and the microchip will return data about your pet and most importantly the details about you.
This is a smart and safe way to protect yourself and ensure that anyone who finds your pet can take it to the nearest veterinarian or animal shelter and the label does the rest.
Is the microchip permanent?
Usually 1 microchip is enough for the life of your pet. This means that it’s a permanent way to keep track of your pet wherever you move or whatever happens to them. This makes it an inexpensive way to keep them safe and calm your mind.
It is important that your information in the animal registration is always up to date to ensure a smooth process. Failure to do so could leave you in the situation of the shelter or the rescue vet with the wrong contact information. This will slow down the reconnection process.
It is advisable that your veterinarian check the location and functionality of the microchip at least once a year. A chip cannot be lost, but it is important to make sure that it is still sending and receiving signals and that it has not moved or got stuck anywhere. Your veterinarian can do this simply by checking with a device over your pet’s skin. It’s a painless and very quick process.
Remember to ask about this during your routine annual pet check-up.
How new is microchip for pets?
Microchiping your pet is not a new security feature and has been widely used in most states for many years.
It was widely viewed as a last resort for very active pets who tended to wander around all the time, but as the costs are more manageable and pet owners want more security, microchiping your pet has become a routine.
The best part is that the microchip process itself is very small so it won’t interfere with your pet’s daily routine and it contains a wide variety of information, including allergies, veterinarian history, and other vital pet information. Since each microchip is unique and the database is unlimited, your pet will always keep the same identity number, which means it only needs to be microchipped once in its life.
What is important is that the procedure is painless and does not require large surgical instruments. This means that it is much cheaper and more manageable for you as a pet owner. Given the rising cost of food and pet accessories, these are one-time costs that won’t break the bank.
The process is similar to vaccination, and Mot cats and dogs (or other pets) won’t even notice it’s there.
What does a microchip cost?
A standard microchip procedure costs between $ 20 and $ 50 and can be done when your dog / cat is young or older. It is important that in many animal shelters and animal shelters the cost of microchips is included in the adoption or pet fees. So if you decide to find your perfect pet with them, these will already be canceled.
Similarly, other vets may have reduced rates on microchips as part of a volume discount for performing other procedures at the same time.
These can be:
- Your pet will be neutered
- Your pet will be neutered
- Other procedures that require anesthesia (such as dental hygiene)
This makes it very affordable and gives you the option to add it to your budget with other important health checkups and chores.
Note that you have to pay a small fee to register your details in the pet database. This is very small and worth every penny as this is the only way your pet can be traced back to you. This is also where you update your contact information so there is generally only one administration fee.
What are the risks of microchips?
Overall, there aren’t many risks if your pet is abandoned. The only minor downside for any pet owner who chooses to chop off their pet is the microchip reader itself.
In order for your pet to be identified, the microchip must be read with a certain type of reader. This reader is not available to every animal organization. This means that some rescuers will not have access to the reader, which means they will not be able to bring the pet back to you.
On the positive side, however, all animal shelters and vets get the microchip reader either for free or at a discounted price, so most already have it.
The only important thing to note is that it is not generally available to everyone. As a result, your pet may go missing and be found by an organization or center with no readers. When this usually happens, most organizations will simply hand your pet off to a more qualified animal rescue center that can read your pet and reunite with you.
We recommend keeping dog or cat collars (pet collars) with their own ID tags in addition to the microchip. This allows you to identify your pet without the need for a microchip or someone unfamiliar with the microchip process.
Remember that your microchip comes with a collar that has a number for anyone who can find it. This makes the rescue process easier and is included in the microchip fee.
Always contact your local VET first.
It is also important that you contact your local veterinarian or animal shelter as soon as you discover that your pet is lost (or stolen).
The faster you do this the better as they send alerts to other animal shelters, clinics, and other members of the animal organization to help you find your pet faster.
This alert simply records the type, location, and other important missing information and advises any required organization to keep an eye out for it. Some local organizations will also post posters in your area on your behalf, which will further facilitate the rescue process and help you relax. If a pet that matches this description walks in, they can review the warnings immediately and contact you directly.
Overall, having a small microchip in your pet is a fantastic way to keep track of your pet and provides security in case something goes wrong for a small fee.
For more information about your pet’s microchip, contact your local veterinarian or animal rescue center.
Written by Amy Davis, UltimatePetHub.com
