Ingleside Animal Hospital recommends microchipping for all pets. Microchips have reunited thousands of people with their pets. About the size of a grain of rice, a microchip can identify your pet if he or she becomes lost. An important addition to collar tags, a microchip provides a permanent identification method for your pet.
Ingleside Animal Hospital uses the PetLink chip:
AAHA offers a useful online pet microchip lookup feature, which demonstrates just how effective and universal microchipping is.
How do Microchips Work?
Microchips are placed in the shoulder blade area of cats and dogs. Each microchip has a unique ID number. Microchips use radio frequency identification technology to store data and can upload that information to handheld scanners, which nearly all animal hospitals or shelters have.
Microchips are not tracking devices or a GPS system. When a microchipped pet is scanned, it accesses a registration database that contains owner contact information. Please be sure to keep your contract information up to date, so that when your pet is found, you can be found too!
Do Microchips Pose Any Risk to my Pet?
The capsule containing the microchip is biocompatible, meaning that it does not hurt your pet. The microchip does not have a battery or energy source. The microchip is inert and is only activated momentarily when a microchip scanner is used to pick up your pet’s unique microchip number.
Does microchipping hurt?
A microchip is implanted using a special needle and syringe. Inserting the microchip is no more painful than a vaccination. For puppies and kitten, microchipping can be done during spay or neuter surgery, while your pet is already under general anesthesia. Home Again’s website provides an informative video where you can view the insertion procedure.
Even the most well-meaning pet owner can have a dog run off or an indoor cat slip out. Microchips make your pet identifiable, which can also be important in a disaster or emergency. Read more about how to safeguard your pet during disasters from FEMA and the importance of microchips.
Ask about microchipping at your next appointment, or if you’ve been putting it off, give us a call and we’ll be happy to schedule a time for you and your pet to come in.