Microchipping Your Furry Family Member
Do you remember your childhood phone number? Chances are it was a critical piece of information you had to retain in case you ever became lost.
Just like children, our furry family members also have a tendency to bolt, wander and even hide. However, since dogs and cats cannot tell us their mom’s name and phone number, we rely on microchipping to identify them and reunite them with their families. You may have seen the old trick of writing your phone number on your child’s arm before you go to an amusement park in case they become lost or separated. A microchip is essentially a permanent version of this.
Your veterinary team will implant the rice-sized device under your dog or cat’s skin between the shoulder blades using a needle. Microchips are not GPS devices and do not track your pet’s location. In fact, they do not even have an internal power source. They passively store a unique identification number that can only be read using special scanners.
Whereas collars, tags and GPS devices can break off or be removed, this unique ID is essentially a digital barcode that is assigned to the furry family member for its life. If your pet ever becomes lost, the clinic or shelter that finds them can then notify the microchip company, who can then contact you. However, phone numbers and addresses change over time. Therefore, it is up to the pet parent to keep their contact information up-to-date with the microchip company in order to be reunited with their little one.
The best time to microchip is when your pet is a puppy or kitten, but the second best time is now! During your furry family member’s lifetime, they will hopefully experience at least ten Halloweens of trick-or-treaters, 40 holidays with fireworks and maybe a few moves to new houses. These are all the most common times for our furry family members to escape and become lost, even if they do not typically spend time outdoors.
So the next time you help your child recite your phone number, let that remind you of another number: your pet’s microchip. With an up-to-date microchip, you can help increase your little one’s chances of staying safe and sound with your family for many years to come.
Dr. I. Wonder is here to answer your questions regarding your furry family members. If you have a question, email it to us at danielle@NeighbourhoodPetClinic.com. Our team at Neighbourhood Pet Clinic will tap into their collective experience to answer your various questions.
