Everything You Need to Know About Pet Microchipping

As a pet parent, you know very well how traumatic it can be when your beloved animal companion goes missing. You are lucky if your pet has markings that are distinct. Even so, your best and probably only chance of finding a lost pet is through its identification tags. Pet microchipping is one of the most effective ways of identifying and locating lost pets. Here is everything you need to know about the technology.

What Is a Microchip?

A microchip is a tiny transponder that is embedded under your pet’s skin. Your veterinarian can implant the microchip into all kinds of pets, including birds, reptiles, cats, and dogs. The chip is no larger than a grain of rice and carries an identification number on it. When the chip is scanned, a low radio frequency allows this number to be transmitted.

How Does It Work?

If your beloved animal companion is lost, the person who has found your pet should take it to a veterinary hospital or animal shelter. The personnel there will scan your pet’s chip to uncover its unique identification code. The code will then be entered into a database. If your pet’s microchip is registered, the system will pull up your contact information from the registry, allowing the organization to get in touch with you. If the chip is not registered, it can still be traced back to the clinic or shelter where your pet received the implant, creating another way to locate you.

Today there are several services for microchip registration, and each registry has its own databases. This dynamic can make it challenging to locate a pet owner since the person conducting the search may not know which registry to contact. The good news is that the Animal Hospital Association is there to help identify the exact service holding your pet’s microchip registration through what is called the Universal Pet Microchip Lookup Tool.

Does Microchipping Hurt?

When microchipping a pet, a hypodermic needle and syringe are used to implant the device under the pet’s skin between its shoulder blades. To your pet, this process feels a lot like a routine vaccine. The device is composed of biocompatible materials, and the microchipping process can be done comfortably without an anesthetic. It can also be done in a matter of seconds, and most animals tolerate the injection exceptionally well.
 

What Do You Need to Do After Microchipping Your Pet?

Once your pet has been microchipped, you need to register the chip with the product manufacturer. You also need to submit it to a universal registry. Most vets and shelters have a universal scanner that can read any pet microchip. While many offer pet microchipping free of charge, others may require a registration fee.

One in three pets will go missing at some point. Pet microchipping significantly increases the chances that a lost pet will be reunited with its master. Are you looking to register your four-legged best friend or update your contact information? Visit Brekke Veterinary Clinic today in Castle Rock, Colorado.

Learn more about microchipping your pet, contact Brekke Veterinary Clinic in Castle Rock, Colorado at 303-474-4260 for more details.