National Chip Your Pet Month

Did you know that April was Chip Your Pet Month? If you haven’t gotten your four-legged buddy microchipped yet, we strongly recommend that you get this done as soon as possible. That tiny chip could save your beloved pet’s life! Read on as an Ellicott City, MD vet discusses microchips.

How Chips Work

Microchips don’t transmit information. (Note: they also don’t use GPS technology, though you can get your pet a GPS-equipped tracking collar.) Microchips only contain a unique ID number, which veterinarians and animal shelter staff can read with special scanners. This number matches up to your records in the chipmakers’ database, forming a permanent link between you and your furry best friend.

Why Chips Are Important

The statistics about lost pets are very sobering. As many as one in three pets gets lost at some point during their lives! Since most animal rescues and shelters check pets for microchips at intake, getting your pet microchipped greatly increases the odds of you and your pet being reunited if your furry pal ever goes missing.

Getting Your Pet Chipped

It only takes a few minutes to get your four-legged buddy microchipped. Your vet will use a hypodermic needle to insert the chip beneath your pet’s skin, usually between the shoulder blades. For Fido and Fluffy, this is very much like getting a shot. The procedure is quick and painless, and complications are extremely rare. Your pet won’t need to be medicated, and there is no recovery time. Ask your vet for more information.

Maintenance

Once you get your pet chipped, you’ll need to provide your contact information, so it can be added to the chip manufacturer’s database. If this data is incomplete or incorrect, your pet cannot be linked to you. Whenever you move or change your contact information, remember to update your records. We also recommend having your vet check the chip regularly, to ensure that it hasn’t slipped or malfunctioned.

Checking The Chip

Is your pet chipped? If so, that’s wonderful! However, it’s still a good idea to verify that your information in the chip manufacturer’s database is current. Try using the AAHA Universal Pet Microchip Lookup, which can be found here. Do you need to get your furry friend microchipped? Call us! As your local Ellicott City, MD pet clinic, we are here to serve all of your pet’s veterinary care needs.