More and more pet owners are choosing to get their pets microchipped nowadays. It’s an effective way to keep your dog or cat safe, especially if they are outdoor pets.
Sadly, thousands of pets are reported missing every year and many of them are never found. Dog theft is on the rise and pet owners are becoming more concerned with keeping their fur babies safe and secure.
Microchipping is a great way to decrease the number of missing pets and reunite them with their families. Although not yet a legal requirement for cats, all dogs must be microchipped. However, we recommend any pet parents consider microchipping.
What is microchipping?
Microchipping involves implanting a small microchip under your pet’s skin, usually near the neck. This isn’t a painful procedure and takes just a few minutes.
The microchip can be scanned to show your personal details, such as your name, address, and contact number.
If your pet ever gets lost and is taken to a veterinary surgery, the microchip can be scanned and the veterinary surgery team will be able to get in touch with you. The information on every microchip is stored in a central database so you will be easily found.
What are the benefits of microchipping?
There are lots of amazing benefits to getting your pet microchipped. Nearly all veterinary clinics, including Paoli Vet, offers microchipping as one of their services and if you adopt a young pet, you might be offered free microchipping as part of the adoption process.
Let's go through some of the benefits of microchipping!
Microchips can't be lost
Unlike collars, microchips can't be removed or lost when your pet is out and about. The chip lies under the skin and can only be removed surgically by a trained vet. Even if your pet wears a collar, having a microchip can increase their safety.
Easy to identify pet owners
Because the information on pet microchips is kept on a central database, they can be scanned from a veterinary clinic in any location and traced back to you.
If somebody finds your cat or dog and takes them to the vet, the clinic can quickly get in touch with you and reunite you and your furry friend.
No maintenance
Unlike collars that can get lost, broken, or tatty, microchips last a lifetime. They require no maintenance but provide continual security for your pet. Once they have been implanted, you don't need to worry ever again!
Increased likelihood of being reunited with your pet
Microchips have been proven to increase the chances of you and your lost pet being reunited with one another.
They are much more effective than collars, and some research suggests that your lost pet is 50% more likely to be returned to you with a microchip over a collar.
