If you own a pet, you’ve probably worried about it getting outside, running away, and getting lost. It’s a valid worry, as each year many thousands of pets disappear in the U.S., and most of them are never reunited with their owners, even if they’re picked up by animal control, a shelter, or a vet. A sturdy collar and I.D. tags is a good precaution, but they can be removed or fall off. The best way to improve the chances of your pet making it home is with microchipping. East Coast Vets provides microchipping for dogs and cats in Easton, MD.
What Is Microchipping?
Microchipping for dogs and cats has been in use for many years. It involves inserting a tiny electronic transmitter enclosed in a glass ampule, about the size of a grain of rice, into the subcutaneous layer of the skin, often in the loose folds between the shoulder blades. The microchip can be programmed with data that can be read with a special scanner. It never needs a battery replacement because it doesn’t have one. It is activated by the radio waves transmitted by the scanner, therefore it can stay in place permanently. If your pet is lost and is turned over to a shelter or a vet, the chip can be scanned for an I.D. number which is then used to look up your contact information in a database. Practically all veterinarians and shelters can do this. Microchipping for dogs and cats greatly increases the chance they’ll make it home.
Microchip Implantation
Your vet will use a hypodermic needle to place the chip just underneath the skin. Although the needle is slightly bigger, it’s just like any other type of injection, and it only takes a minute and can be done in the course of a routine exam. Once in place, it can’t be accidentally lost or removed.
What Maintenance Is Required?
Microchips don’t require any type of maintenance, although you should ask your vet to check it for proper function once a year. The only thing you’ll need to do is to make sure your contact information is kept up to date in the registry. If it changes and you don’t update it, no one will be able to contact you if your pet is lost and found.
Contact East Coast Vets in Easton MD, for more information about microchipping for dogs and cats.
