Every one in three pets will get lost at some point in their lives. About eight million make their way into a shelter every year. Only twenty percent of these dogs and two percent of cats will get back to their owners. Many times, it is because of the lack of identification.

Microchipping provides the answer to your pet and owner identification problems. However, its efficiency depends on making sure you update the information and keep it current. It increases your chances of finding your pet when it gets lost.

What Is Microchipping?

Microchipping is the implantation of a computer chip the size of a grain under the skin. It helps reunite you with your pet in case it is lost.

How Does It Work?

The tiny microchip contains your animal’s unique identification. The chip itself does not have a battery or require power. It does not have any moving parts and only requires a scanner. The scanner activates the chip and reads the information while the chip acts as a transponder.

Benefits of Using a Microchip

Rather than giving the good Samaritan your information, a pet recovery service informs you of your pet’s whereabouts. Hence, the need to keep your information current. However, a microchip is not a substitute for a GPS device or vice versa. A GPS device will inform you where your pet is, but it will not provide contact information. With the above knowledge, here are some benefits of microchipping.

Provision of Contact Information

It increases your chances of reuniting with your pet since it contains your contact information. Pets with microchips are 20 times more likely to get back to their owners. If a good Samaritan comes across your pet and takes it to the vet, they can scan the microchip. They can alert your recovery service, and you will get a call or email to collect your pet. Hence, you need to keep your information current.

Simple and Easy

The procedure is as simple and easy as getting a vaccination. Most pets do not notice it any more than they notice a vaccination. The vet places the chip under the animal’s skin. The procedure does not require too much force.

Although the procedure may seem easy, do not try to do it yourself. You may place it too deep or in the wrong place. Let the vet do it. They can also tell if there is a problem with the microchip and treat one if it occurs.

Sedation Is Not Necessary

The procedure of inserting a microchip does not require sedation or general anesthesia. So, your pet is not groggy or moody afterward. You can go about business as usual. However, you can microchip your pet during a surgical procedure.

Size Matters

It is small, and it would take a professional to remove the microchip. Thus, it will not bother you or your pet. It also provides a likelihood of reunion with your pet if it gets lost, unlike a collar that can break off or be removed. Tags are hard to rid of after some time. However, keep a collar and tag on your pet even after microchipping.

For more on the benefits of microchipping, visit Port Royal Veterinary Hospital at our office in Port Royal, South Carolina. You can call (843) 379-7387 today to schedule an appointment.