Microchipping… Why is it Important?

The feeling is terrifying… You realize that your beloved pet is missing. Either they tunneled out of the yard, got loose from their leash or simply wandered too far from home. Whatever the scenario is, loosing your pet is one of the worst things a person can go through.

Usually the steps pet owners take when this happens are the same. Drive around looking, ask neighbors, call local vet clinics and shelters and make signs. All of these are good things to do, but you can make it much easier on yourself and your pet if this ever happens to you. How you ask? One word… Microchip.

Microchipping has been around for some time, but only become mainstream in the past decade or so. The process of microchipping your pet is relatively simple. You make an appointment with your veterinarian. They will insert a chip under the skin on the back of the neck between the shoulder blades of your pet. You then register your information with the microchipping company.

Now what could be easier you ask? Not much. Though there are some problems that vet clinics see every day with microchipping. When a found dog or cat is brought to a clinic, the first thing the vet will do is scan them for a microchip. However, many times, animals will come in and they will be chipped, but the owner has not registered the chip. Therefore, it is essentially useless. It is like going to a restaurant and ordering a plate of food, and then moving to a table where the server cannot find you. Why would you ever do such a thing?

Another issue with microchips is that there are several different companies that offer chips. They are not universal. However, most scanners today can read all the different kinds of chips. So, unless a clinic has an older scanner, that is not really a problem anymore.

Some pet owners are worried about the ongoing cost. But that too, is relatively low. Though it varies from clinic to clinic, microchipping your pet can range anywhere from $15-$75. The fee to register your information with the company also varies. While one company offers a one-time fee and no further payments, another has a yearly fee of about $18. It depends on which company your vet clinic uses. But once again, in the grand scheme of things, this cost is very low for piece of mind.

So, the bottom line is this, microchip your pet and make sure to register your information. This simple act can be the difference in getting your pet back in a short amount of time, or not getting them back at all.