Our pets are some of the most important things in our lives: many people tend to regard their pets as their family. Unfortunately, one in three pets will be lost in their lifetime. This equates to an estimation of over ten million pets lost per year. This statistic is no reason to lose hope in owning pets. There is a simple, effective, and safe method to dramatically increase your pet’s chances of coming back home safe; microchipping.

Procedure

Microchips are safely implanted using a needle similar to ones used in routine vaccinations, but slightly larger. The simple procedure occurs at a routine vet visit or during another surgery, such as a neuter or spay. It’s not exceedingly painful to your pet, and it does not require anesthesia or medication. Some pet owners believe microchipping harms their pets. This is not the case. Complications from microchipping are infrequent, and the procedure hurts just about as much as getting blood drawn. Many pets don’t even flinch when it happens.

Benefits

The Device Itself

While most have heard of microchipping their pets, many may not know what a microchip actually is. The microchip itself is tiny, equivalent to a grain of rice, and goes underneath the skin. A casing protects the chip, so it will not harm your pet. Shelters across the globe read the microchip using a handheld scanner. Each microchip is coded with an identification number linked to your pet, so when read, a registry will look up the identification number and contact you.

Returning Home Safe

Without this important ID, 90 percent of lost animals will not return home. A microchip will change that. Often, the first step an animal shelter takes when rescuing a pet is scanning for microchips. This registry is national and easily accessible. Studies show that microchipped pets are much more likely to return home safely to their owners and family. Dogs are 2.5 times more likely to find their homes safely after microchipping, and cats are 20 times more likely!

Other Identification Methods

Collars quickly provide information if your pet goes missing, but that could fall off. If your pet is stolen, their collar would likely be removed to prevent identification. Luckily, microchips don’t work that way. It is recommended to use both collars and microchips to ensure identification. The same goes for identification tattoos. Although the practice is less common than before, tattoos fade over time. If the information becomes outdated, the tattoo is no longer effective. Microchips are the best method to ensure proper identification, and they work forever!

The America Veterinary Medical Association fully supports microchipping your pets, and we do too. To learn more about this process, contact Andes-Straley, and we will answer any questions you have! A simple call can save your pet’s life!