Microchipping your pet is a simple yet powerful tool in ensuring their safety and happiness. This article delves into the importance, process, benefits, and considerations associated with microchipping pets.

The Basics of Microchipping Pets

A microchip is a tiny device about the size of a grain of rice that contains an identification number unique to your pet. The chip itself cannot be felt or seen inside the animal, and it does not contain any information such as breed, name, address, or phone number.

How Microchipping Works

The microchip is typically implanted under the skin between the shoulder blades. A special handheld scanner is passed over your pet’s body; if a chip is present, the scanner will emit an electromagnetic field that allows the chip to transmit its ID number back to the reader.

Types of Microchips

There are two main types of microchips used in pets:

• RabbitChip: Implanted with a needle and used primarily for small animals like rabbits. The chip itself is not visible, but the presence of the implantation site can be detected during an x-ray.
• Orbotech (or generic) microchip: Often used in cats and dogs. These chips can also be seen on x-rays, which may require surgical removal if needed.

The Benefits of Microchipping Your Pet

Microchipping has numerous benefits:

• Breeds with no tags or collars are less likely to be lost in a public setting: Pets who wander away from home without any identification can still be recovered.
• Avoids euthanasia due to lack of information on the owner: In many countries, pets without microchips and proper documentation are at risk for being put down if they are found wandering around.
• Reduces the risk of getting lost or stolen: If your pet is not wearing a collar with tags, it can still be identified and returned to you by veterinarians who use scanners at the veterinary clinic, animal shelter, and rescue organization’s emergency intake station.
• Aids in finding missing pets quickly and efficiently. Even if your pet gets lost or stolen, the microchip allows rescuers to contact you directly, saving time and effort that would otherwise be spent searching for information through lost and found channels.

Drawbacks of Microchipping Pets

Some drawbacks:

• The microchip can break free from the skin (which is rare) or come out altogether. This requires a re-implantation procedure.
• It may be impossible to determine where and when the chip was implanted, which can complicate finding the owner of lost pets who do not have the proper documentation.
• If your pet has already been microchipped, you should know that they will need a new chip inserted if they are adopted from an animal shelter or rescue organization. This is because some shelters use different chips for identification purposes.

Conclusion: Why Microchip Your Pet?

Microchipping your pet is a safe, effective way to ensure their safety and happiness. The chip provides an unalterable ID number that can be used in case of emergency or if the animal strays from home. It’s a small step that can make a huge difference.