Microchip Pet Identification

Microchip Pet Identification

Imagine if your dog or cat got lost. You’d want to give them the best possible chance of getting home. With microchipping, you can.

Microchipping is a safe, permanent way to identify your pet in case they become lost. A microchip, a tiny device about the size and shape of a grain of rice, is implanted just under the loose skin at the back of the neck. When a lost dog or cat without an ID tag is found, a veterinarian or veterinary technician can use a handheld microchip scanner to check for a microchip. If the pet has one, it will transmit the unique ID number to the scanner via a low-frequency radio wave. The veterinary hospital or shelter then calls the chip manufacturer to retrieve the pet owner’s contact information. Then they can contact the pet owner to reunite them with their dog or cat.

Even the most responsible pet owners can’t always guarantee their pets won’t get lost. A leash could break or slip out of your hand, a pet could push through a screen door or window, or a contractor or friend might accidentally leave a door or gate open.

We recommend that you use a microchip, along with a collar and ID tag, to identify your pet. An ID tag is still a reliable identification method. Pets that have tags with current contact information are more likely to not end up in shelters and tend to get home faster than those without tags. However, collars and ID tags aren’t permanent and can be removed (overnight or for grooming); pets can also lose them. With a microchip, your pet will have a better chance of being identified and returned to you. Pets without microchips in shelters may be adopted by another family or even euthanized.

Please get in touch with us to schedule an appointment to microchip your pet. Although we hope your pet never becomes lost, we want you to be prepared. We can also suggest a plan to have in place so that if your pet goes missing, you can act quickly.

We can microchip ferrets, rabbits, birds, and other companion animals, too!