Microchip IdentificationDog and cat microchipping is a quick and easy procedure that provides safe and permanent identification for your pet. The microchip is about the size of a grain of rice and is inserted under the skin between the shoulder blades. It is similar to a vaccination, takes only seconds and no anesthesia is needed.
A microchip will last the lifetime of your pet. The chip will not cause an allergic reaction or deteriorate over time. The type we use at Southwest Animal Hospital has a patented anti-migration feature to help prevent the chip from migrating. Each one has a unique ID code that identifies your pet if he or she is ever found and taken to another veterinarian or animal shelter. An electronic, hand held scanner is used to read the code. One of the benefits of having a microchip implanted at Southwest Animal Hospital is that we take care of adding your pet to the national registry for you. This ensures that your pet is properly enrolled. If the microchip company is informed about your missing pet, they immediately send out alerts to shelters and veterinarians in the area where your pet was lost. They also have a lost pet poster that you can easily personalize and use to post in the neighborhood. We recommend that your pet wear a collar with their rabies and an id tag, but collars can slip off and tags can become worn and hard to read. Tattoos can become blurry. A microchip cannot be altered or easily removed. It is the only permanent and safe means of pet identification. The key is to provide the best possible tool for being united with your beloved pet. |