Microchipping Your Pet

Did you know that May is Chip Your Pet Month? Microchipping your furry friend is a very simple and quick procedure, but it’s very important for your pet’s health and well-being. If you haven’t had your animal companion chipped yet, we recommend that you get this done as soon as possible. A local Ellicott City, MD vet discusses microchips in this article.

The Procedure

Microchipping is one of the best things you can do to protect your little (or not so little) buddy. If your pet is ever lost or stolen, that tiny chip may very well be the only thing linking you and your furry friend. It will only take a few moments for your vet to microchip your pet. The chip will be inserted beneath your furry pal’s skin with a hypodermic needle. For your animal companion, this is very much like getting a shot. There is no recovery time needed, and complications are extremely rare. Ask your vet for more information on getting your pet microchipped.

Maintenance

Once your four-legged pal has been microchipped, you’ll need to fill out some forms for the chip manufacturer’s registry. Because the ID number on your pet’s chip correlates to these records, it’s very important to make sure that your information is both current and correct. The chip won’t be of any use if it isn’t connected to your contact information! Whenever you move or change your contact information, you’ll need to update your records. (Tip: if your pet is already chipped, try using the AAHA Universal Pet Microchip Lookup Tool to check your records.)

Going Forward

With technology developing at an amazing speed, it’s no wonder that many people assume that microchips actually utilize GPS technology. They don’t, in part because that would require a power supply of some sort. However, you can fit a GPS tracker to your pet’s collar. If you have a pooch that will bolt off after any squirrel he spots, this may not be a bad idea! That said, you can get microchips that work with pet doors to let your furry buddy in and out. And it will definitely be interesting to see where microchips go in the future. Do you have questions about microchipping? Please reach out to us, your Ellicott City, MD pet clinic, for all of your furry buddy’s veterinary care needs. We are here to help!