Microchipping Your Pet

Dr. Brigit Villines writes . . . So you're thinking about getting a microchip for your pet?  Great idea!  We microchip many cats and dogs each year.  We also scan stray animals and have found chips, enabling us to reunite these beloved pets with their grateful families. 

Why microchip a pet?  Even if your pet stays totally indoors, there is always a chance that your pet may escape.  Pets frequently take opportunities to sneak out an open door or window, or a natural disaster or house fire may result in the separation of your pet from your family. Unlike collars and tags, which can be lost in these circumstances, microchips offer a permanent, unique method of identification.

Microchips are about the size and shape of a grain of rice and are placed under your pet's skin between the shoulder blades using a hypodermic needle much like the ones we use when giving vaccinations. There is no anesthetic necessary, and the procedure takes only a few seconds.  The microchip is held in place by your pet's skin, although some migration may occur.  However, there is no chance that a microchip will become lost inside your pet. Microchips are sterile, hypoallergenic and non-irritating.

Once the microchip has been implanted, you MUST register the microchip number with the chip company. Always make sure your contact information is current, so if the unthinkable happens and your pet becomes lost, the person who scans your pet and finds the microchip number can get in touch with you.  The microchip is useless if the number is not registered!

Please let us know if you have any questions or concerns about microchipping, or if you're ready to get a microchip for your four-legged family member!