National Microchipping Month

June is National Microchipping Month! If your furry pal has not been microchipped yet, it may be time to rectify that. Though microchips are very small, they form a powerful, invisible link between you and your pet. A Yorkville, IL vet offers some information on microchipping in this article.

Basics

Microchips are about the size of a single grain of rice. They don’t store or transmit data. Each chip only has a unique identification number, which can be read with a special scanner. Veterinarians and the staff at animal shelters generally check lost pets, and will try to contact the owner if a chip is found.

Process

Getting your pet microchipped is a quick and easy process that will only take a few minutes. Your vet will use a hypodermic needle to inject the chip beneath your furry buddy’s skin, typically between the shoulder blades. That’s it! For Fido and Fluffy, it’s very much like getting a shot. Microchipping is often done along with spay/neuter surgery, but it can be scheduled alone.

Records

Once Fido or Fluffy is microchipped, you’ll need to update their records in the chipmaker’s registry. Remember to update this information if you move or change your email address or phone number. Several studies on microchips and their effectiveness at helping pets get returned home have recorded a significant percentage of pets who were chipped, but whose owners could not be located due to incorrect or outdated information.

Perks

Microchips have not been successfully integrated with GPS technology … at least, not so far. However, there are products that work with them. For instance, you can get pet doors and feeders that will only open for a specific microchip, so that Fido and Fluffy can get in and get their dinner, but the cat next door is out of luck. (Note: GPS tags are great, though unrelated.)

Maintenance

Microchips don’t require maintenance, upgrades, or reboots. However, we would advise having your vet check your pet’s chip annually, to ensure that it’s still in the right position, and is still functioning properly.

Tags

Microchips are wonderful tools, and they have facilitated many tearful reunions between pets and their worried humans. However, they are by no means a replacement for tags. Ideally, pets should have both.

Do you have questions about your kitty’s health or care? Contact us, your local Yorkville, IL pet clinic, anytime.