Should I Microchip My Pet

In this episode of the Pet Question of the Day, Stephanie discusses the reasons why you would want to get your cat and dog microchipped! If you're looking for a Microchip company we recommend the following:

HomeAgain: https://www.homeagain.com/

Avid: https://www.avidid.com/

Here with our Furbaby Question of the Day! Should I microchip my pet? What IS microchipping exactly? So the resounding answer to this question is YES, if you can, you should absolutely get your pet microchipped. A microchip is the size of a grain of rice that your veterinarian will implant between your pet’s shoulder blades. Each chip carries a unique identification number that can be “read” by a special scanner, and that number is what directs your pet back to you. How do they find you? Well, it’s kind of like a serial number or a vin number but it is registered under a holding company that has your personal information on file. This includes things like your name, phone number, email, address, an emergency contact and – many of them have a spot where you can upload your pet’s health information and a photo! It’s safe to do and your pet may actually be awake when they do it. Sometimes the sight of the needle might be a little frightening but that’s in line with most pets so your vet will work to make that part of a distraction so your pet isn’t focused on it. The goal is to make it as easy on your pet as possible. And it works. If you’ve ever given fluids to a cat before, we generally use a needle that is an 18 gauge up to a 22 gauge. They’re pretty darn small. The needle for a microchip is usually a 12 gauge needle, and the chip can pass right through it. An 18 gauge is tiny, like a sewing needle, and the chip needles aren’t big enough to be worried about really. Often times the chips are implanted during your furbaby’s spay or neuter surgery so it’s under anesthesia and doesn’t bother them at all. Now I do believe in watching the side effects, so, very rarely, you might find that the chip migrates from that neck scruff area to another spot, or you might see some swelling afterwards, or a mild infection or some hair loss. I’ve not seen that but ask your veterinarian if you think your pet might have any reason to have an adverse reaction, and that’s a good thing to do with any procedure. But why should you microchip your pet? Let me give you a few examples:

#1. If your pet accidentally gets out of the house, or the yard, or the apartment a number of things can happen. They can be lost. They can be STOLEN.

#2. Another reason to microchip your furbaby: If something happens to you!!

#3. Something happens while you are traveling with your furbaby!

#4. You experience a natural disaster and your furbaby is lost!

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