“It won’t happen to me.” Like most people that is what you think until your pet does something it has never done before…left  home. The gate was left open, there is a new hole under the fence or maybe you just lost track of time. Whatever the reason your pet is no where to be found and now you are frantically looking for him. You may send out a search crew, call shelters, veterinarian hospitals, put up flyers and run ads in the paper.

 

Unfortunately a family pet is lost every 2 seconds which adds up to millions of pets lost every year. Without the proper ID, 90% do not return home. Fortunately, there is something to help reunite you with your pet, microchipping.

 

A microchip is a tiny computer chip, about the size of a grain of rice, programmed with an identification number. The chip is enclosed in biocompatible glass and is small enough to fit into a hypodermic needle. Once an animal is injected with a chip, it can be identified throughout its life with this identification number that can be scanned with a special scanner. Most veterinarian hospitals, pet shelters and police have these scanners to read the microchips.

 

Young pets can be microchipped as early as 6 to 8 weeks of age. Microchipping can be done during any routine health exam. No anesthesia is required or recommended. Microchips are inert, smooth, nontoxic and nonallergenic. There is virtually no chance of the body developing an allergy or trying to reject the microchip.

 

After your pet has been microchipped it is essential that you register your pet’s identification number. You will be given information about how to contact the national registry and how to register your pet. Remember to update your information whenever you change your address or phone number.

Quakertown Veterinary Clinic carries both the AVID microchip and the HomeAgain microchip. Please speak to your veterinarian about microchipping and the benefits that it will help to protect your pet.