February is Responsible Pet Owners Month. Be conscientious by having your veterinarian microchip your pet!
Peace of mind is the most important gift you can give yourself this Valentine’s Day. Unfortunately, 1 in 3 pets goes missing during its lifetime.
Here at All Creatures Veterinary Hospital, we use HomeAgain® microchips. Inserting the microchip is similar to your friend receiving a routine vaccine; the veterinarian you are seeing will use a sterile syringe to insert the device just under the skin in between your pet’s shoulder blades. The microchip is about the size of a grain of rice, therefore anesthesia is not necessary. Each microchip has its own unique identifier and is able to be scanned with a universal reader in order to obtain the ID of your pet. The most important step to take after your pet receives it’s microchip is registering with the HomeAgain® database. The HomeAgain® microchip is a permanent ID, and will last the lifetime of your pet.
Sadly, losing a pet may be easier than we’d like to believe. If your pet is left unattended outside he or she could dig under a fence or bolt through an electric fence due the distraction of a person or another animal. Your pet may also be frightened while you’re away by thunderstorms, fireworks displays, or natural disasters and may run off. Also, on the occasion that you have a handyman working around the house, he or she could unknowingly let your pet out.
Knowing that there is the possibility that your pet could become lost is a scary thought. What is scarier, though, is the possibility that your furry friend may not be found. Without proper ID, 90% of pets never return home.
Through the combination of physical ID tags and a microchip, the prospect of your companion returning home is much greater. Contact your veterinarian today to see if your pet has had a microchip implanted or to discuss getting one.
If your pet has gone missing and has a microchip that you registered, contact HomeAgain®, your veterinarian, and local shelters to help increase the likelihood of your furry friend returning home.
