Microchipping Your Pet

Has your pet been microchipped yet? If not, we strongly recommend getting this done as soon as possible. This simple procedure could one day save your beloved pet’s life! If your furry friend is ever lost or stolen, that chip greatly increases the odds of them coming home again. A local Aldershot, ON vet discusses microchipping in this article.

Microchips are very tiny. Generally, they are no bigger than a grain of rice. The chips don’t contain GPS technology, and they don’t currently hold medical records or contact information for owners, though these things may very well happen down the road. Chips are actually radio-frequency identification (RFID) devices. This means they do not use power, and therefore do not need to be replaced. Each chip contains only a specific ID number. This number can be read with a special scanner used by veterinarians and animal shelters.

Microchipping can be worked into any of your pet’s regular appointments, though in many cases you can also schedule it on its own. The process is quite simple, and requires no recovery time, aside from perhaps a few ear scritches or a yummy snack. The chip will be placed beneath your pet’s skin, generally between the shoulder blades, with a hypodermic needle. For your pet, this is very much like getting a shot. Ask your vet for more information.

Both dogs and cats should be microchipped. Cats often don’t wear collars, so this is particularly crucial for Fluffy. However, it’s important to remember that a microchip doesn’t negate the need for an ID collar. Tags are still the easiest way for someone to contact a pet’s owner. If you are worried about your furry pal getting caught on something, get them a breakaway collar.

If your four-legged buddy has already been microchipped, you may want to take a minute to check your records using the AAHA Universal Pet Microchip Lookup, which can be found here . This site contains the records from most of the major chip manufacturers. You will also have to update your records whenever you move or change your contact information. The chip won’t work if this data is missing or incomplete!

Please reach out to us, your local Aldershot, ON vet clinic, for all of your pet’s veterinary care needs. We are dedicated to keeping our furry patients happy and healthy!