If you have a dog, you’ve probably wondered whether or not it is a good idea to get your beloved canine microchipped.
Well, the answer is a resounding yes. Microchipping may be the most convenient, safest, and cost-effective tool you can use to help ensure that you don’t ever lose track of your furry friend. It also helps make sure that your dog won’t accidentally wander off and meet up with another family.
What are Microchips?
Microchips are very small devices that have only recently become popular, but which already many veterinarians recommend to their clients.
This small electronic device is implanted under your dog’s skin and can contain all sorts of information about your pet, from his name and address to a phone number for you to contact.
If he ever gets lost or runs away, you are able to call animal shelters and vet offices, let them know your dog has been lost.
Will Microchipping hurt my dog?
No, microchipping your dog is not a painful process for your furry friend. According to the experts at the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), the process is almost completely pain-free for your pup.
Your veterinarian implants the chip beneath your dog’s skin with a tiny hypodermic needle. The implantation process does not require any special tools or anesthetic, just a normal vaccine injection needle. This means that it takes only seconds for your vet to inject the chip and it is almost completely painless for your dog.
Are Microchips Safe For Dogs?
Yes, microchips are safe for dogs. There are some risks associated with it, but these are extremely rare and typically involve the microchip being inserted incorrectly. Even then, complications such as this can be avoided with proper training and care when implanting the microchip.
As long as you take your pet to a trained professional, you should have no cause for concern. In fact, microchipping may ultimately save your dog’s life.
How can you register your dog’s new microchip?
If you’re getting a microchip for your dog, the next thing on your mind might be: what now?
Once you get home from the vet after getting your dog a microchip, it’s time to act. After all, the whole point of getting the dog chipped is to ensure that somehow, some way, this information could potentially be used to reunite you with your furry friend in case he runs away or gets lost.
So how can you register your pet’s new microchip?
Thanks to the Animal Humane Society for compiling this list of pet microchip registries. If you lost your dog and found it with a microchip, it would be much easier to identify you that way.
Registries can also help you in cases of overseas travel or if you move to another location away from your residence. They can even be used in lost pet incidents where someone else who is kinder than sadistic might find and return your dog instead of taking it in as their own.
Whichever you choose, be sure to register it for the maximum length of time. Microchips are still a relatively new technology, so the longevity of a particular chip has not been well tested over time. The chip might malfunction or break and stop working after some time.
Even if this doesn’t happen, it’s a good idea to keep your contact information up to date in case someone finds your dog and brings him to a shelter or vet’s office where they can look you up in their registry.
Homeagain.com
Home Again is a very popular microchip registry among many pet owners. For just $19.99, you can register any brand microchip to get a range of pet safety & wellness benefits and access to a network of trained professionals ready to help at any time. A microchip for dogs is 24-hour pet protection you can count on.
What Are The Benefits Of Microchipping Your Dog?
1.) You Can Use It To Identify Your Dog
If you’re missing your dog and another person finds it, the microchip can help them identify your dog immediately. They can scan the dog’s chip and find your contact information to return it to you. If you don’t have a microchip, they may take the dog to the animal shelter or local vet for scanning.
2.) You can easily Find Your Lost Dog
If you put a microchip in your pet and register it with a registry, this information can easily connect you to your missing dog. If a stray takes off or is lost, there may be more information about the animal on the registry than just its name.
By scanning the chip, they will quickly be able to find you based on your contact information and know who the owner is.
3.) You could find your dog if he’s stolen
If someone steals your dog and puts him in another location or in a shelter, the microchip can help you locate him. This could especially come in handy if the thief doesn’t take you seriously or doesn’t want to return the dog.
The microchip information can be used to locate and track the dog, even if he is taken out of state or across an international border.
4.) It’s a great way to keep track of your pet’s vaccinations and health records
With a microchip, your vet can scan the chip and confirm that information instantly. This way you’ll never have to worry about forgetting or misfiring an appointment.
You can also keep a record of other medical histories such as vaccinations, illnesses, and even training regimens for important dogs or pets such as guide dogs for the blind on walks with their owners in case they’re lost.
How much does Microchipping a dog cost?
There are several factors to consider in determining how much microchipping a dog costs. These include the type of microchip, the veterinarian fees, and the registry fee.
While some veterinarians offer free microchipping for new clients adopting a pet through them, others may charge anything between $25 and $50 or more for this procedure. If your dog is already ill or injured and needs other services before getting chipped, those fees could quickly add up.
Conclusion
The advantages of getting your dog chipped are numerous, and the benefits of microchipping your pet are endless. You may be wondering: it’s such a small thing, why would I bother with getting my dog microchipped?
Well, if you put a microchip in your dog, you can rest easy knowing that he is not just well-cared for but also protected from illegal ownership.
And as you know from reading this article, getting a microchip put in your pet will ensure that if he ever gets lost or stolen, the information on his chip will be able to help reunite him with you safely and quickly.
