We all love our pets and do all that we can to keep them safe and secure. That can get a little hard for some of our furry friends that like to get out and about. In the past, people would put a little tag with various contact information attached to their pet's collar. With this information, they could hopefully be returned if they got lost or ran away.
The issue with this is that collars can fall off, get torn off, and get lost. Today, most pet owners have a microchip implanted into their pets with all of this information inside it along with a proper collar and ID tags. Below, we'll go over why it's important to microchip your pet and why you need to have your pet registered with a pet recovery database.
We offer a HomeAgain microchipping service as a simple procedure where a veterinarian injects a microchip for both canine and felines, about the size of a piece of grain (12mm), beneath the surface of your pet’s skin between the shoulder blades.
The process is similar to an injection and takes only a few seconds and no anesthetic is required.
The microchip is your pet's permanent ID and can never be removed or become impossible to read. HomeAgain uses this ID to contact you and reunite you with your pet.
You'll have to register your pet's information like where it lives, contact information for yourself, and some other things. This way a rescuer can scan the chip and pull up that pet's info within seconds. Professional pet rescuers use something called an AAHA Universal Pet Microchip Lookup Tool. This allows them to scan the microchip and pull data from whatever databases that they're set up with.
The process of getting your pet microchipped involves a small needle that's used to place the chip under your pet's skin by one of our caring veterinarians. This is usually between the shoulder blades but it can be placed in other locations. Your pet will have some discomfort, it is like getting a shot after all.
Microchips are very successful at what they, which is ensuring that your lost pet is returned if lost. Dogs are about 2.5 times more likely to be found and cats are around 21 times more likely to be returned if they have a microchip. That's a great reason to have your pet microchipped.
No, it doesn't. While a microchip is a permanent fix it really can't replace a collar with up-to-date tag information or something like a medical tag. A collar tag can be read by anyone and doesn't require a tool to scan. It may seem easier to update information on a database but that doesn't mean that you should ignore updating the physical ID tags.
Having your pet's information registered with a database is crucial once they get microchipped. Databases are accessed by rescue professionals using your pet's microchip. Each rescue service uses similar databases but some are more vast than others.
It's best to do your research and try to get your pet's microchip with as many databases as you can. Most rescue companies have a very vast network of volunteers, vets, and other professionals that they work with to ensure that pets are returned if lost.
The process of microchipping is inexpensive, harmless, and is a permanent way to have your pet ID'd. So, where can you get it done? Well, most people get them done right at the local vet. If you're in the Coral Gables, FL area and are looking to have your pet microchipped, then come on down to Gables Animal Clinic.
They open from 7:30 AM to 6 pm Monday through Friday and are open from 8 AM to 12 PM on Saturdays. They'll treat your furry friend as if it was their own and offer a wide range of services. Everything from routine checkups to microchipping, internal medicine for pets, dermatology for dogs, and heartworm prevention. They can be reached at 305-238-4386. Give them a call today to make sure your pet is properly cared for.
Gables Animal Clinic is located in Coral Gables, Florida. We provide a wide range of veterinary services with the goal of enhancing all aspects of the well-being of every pet we treat. Contact us to book a check up for the special pets with whom you share your home. Check out a list of the services we provide below: