Have you seen my pet!? While passing flyers around town with a picture of Fido may get the word out, microchipping your pet is a great resource to aid in the location of your dog or cat.
Any pet owner or veterinarian will tell you: it’s important to get your pet microchipped. You’ve heard the phrase before, but maybe you never truly understood what it entailed, or the purpose it serves your pet. Read on to discover all you need to know when it comes to pet microchips.
If you need to have your pet microchipped in the Germantown, MD area, don’t hesitate to call 240-252-7467 or contact us online to schedule an appointment!
What Is a Pet Microchip?
In an effort to understand how a pet microchip works, we first need to cover what exactly a microchip is. Let’s look at some microchip basics:
- How big is the microchip? Most microchips are comparable in size to a grain of rice.
- Where is the microchip inserted? The microchip will be inserted into the loose skin between the animal’s shoulder blades.
- Will the microchip process hurt my pet? The process of inserting a microchip is similar to getting a vaccine. Some pets may react more than others, but overall it is not a painful procedure.
- How does the microchip survive? The microchip is encased in a form of bio glass which can endure the pet’s body and make it possible for the microchip to emit its frequency.
- What information is included in a microchip? The only thing present on the microchip is a unique identifier code that links your pet to your contact info. Your information is stored separately in an online database.
- How many microchips will my pet need? A pet needs to be microchipped only once.
Now that we uncovered what the microchip is, we can focus on how exactly a pet microchip works.
How Does a Pet Microchip Work?
Almost all veterinary offices are equipped with special scanners that can pick up and decipher the frequency emitted by your pet’s microchip. These scanners are used on lost pets to find and contact their owner.
When these scanners hover over a microchipped pet, the chip will respond and transmit their unique identifier code. That code can then be entered into a database, matching it to the corresponding pet owner’s information.
Please note that after having your pet microchipped, it is equally important to have the chip and your information registered in a database as well.
A common misconception is that a pet microchip is a form of GPS. That is not the case. You cannot track the movement or whereabouts of your dog or cat just because they have been microchipped.
Why Should I Microchip My Pet?
We’ve tackled the what and how, but maybe you’re asking yourself why you should get your pet microchipped?
For starters, it may be required. If you plan on traveling abroad with your pet, many countries insist your dog or cat be microchipped. As pet microchips do not track the animal’s movement, it is simply for identification purposes. Having your pet microchipped will make traveling less of a headache and more enjoyable for both you and your animal.
Most of all, a microchip means there is always a method of identifying and returning a lost pet. Ensuring your information is always with your beloved dog or cat will give you peace of mind and make finding him or her much easier. Think of a microchip as a “virtual collar” of sorts. While it’s important your pet has a collar with tags detailing your info, those can easily be lost or damaged.
Choose Germantown Vet for Your Pet Microchipping Services
If you’re in the Germantown, MD area, Germantown Veterinary Clinic and Pet Resort offers wellness plans and other services to keep your pet healthy. Whether it’s microchipping or a checkup, contact Germantown Vet today!
