Did you know that August 15th is Check The Chip Day? It’s also National Relaxation Day, and, while we totally support this occasion too, we’ll just focus on the microchips. Microchipping your pet is one of the best things you can do for your furry friend. Read on as a Fort Collins, CO vet discusses microchips.

What Is A Microchip?

A microchip is no larger than a grain of rice. Microchips don’t actually contain your pet’s records: instead, each chip has a unique ID number. This number correlates with your records in the manufacturer’s database. This can link you and your pet, even if your furry buddy isn’t wearing ID.

Why Microchipping Is Important

That tiny chip could very well save your pet’s life one day. Vets and most animal shelters check lost pets for microchips. If your beloved pet is ever lost or stolen, that microchip will greatly increase the odds of your furry pal coming home.

Getting Your Pet Chipped

Getting your pet microchipped is a very quick and simple procedure. Your vet will use a hypodermic needle to inject the chip beneath your furry friend’s skin, usually between the shoulder blades. For your pet, it’s very much like getting a shot. Ask your vet for more information.

Ongoing

Microchips don’t need any maintenance. However, we do recommend having your vet check the chip during your pet’s examinations, just to make sure it hasn’t slipped or malfunctioned.

Checking The Chip

Is your pet microchipped? If so, try using the AAHA Universal Pet Microchip Lookup tool to check your records. This site contains information from most, though not all, of the major chip manufacturers.

Records

Getting the chip is only part of the process. You’ll need to fill out your records, so that your information is associated with your furry pal’s chip. Be sure to update the records whenever you move or change your contact information.

Looking Forward

It isn’t hard to believe that in the future microchips will do much more than they do now. For instance, we may at some point see chips with GPS tracking. While that may be a ways off, there are currently pet doors available that work with microchips, allowing pets to enter but keeping other animals out.

Does your pet need a microchip? Call us! As your Fort Collins, CO animal clinic, we are here to help!