Microchipping your Pet
This is the simplest insurance you can give yourself when it comes to protecting your pet from being separated from your family. Successful returns of lost pets depend significantly on microchip information!
At Mississippi Veterinary Services, microchipping can be done as early as the first visit. We do all the paper work for you, including mailing it off to the database! So often pet owners have the pet chipped, but forget to do the registration paperwork. We also use a universal chip that can be read anywhere in the world by any microchip reader.
Often pet owners leave the microchipping until time of spay or neuter as the pet will not feel the implantation which is a kind thought, and is a great time to ensure proper implantation. The greatest risk of losing a pet however is in the first year. The sooner they are chipped the better!
If your pet was adopted from a shelter or purchased from a breeder, your pet may already have a microchip. Consult your pet adoption paperwork, or have your pet scanned for a microchip at your next vet visit to reveal the unique microchip ID number and register it.
Risk factors for accidental pet loss:
-Young pets less than 1 year of age
-Intact pets that are not neutered
-Thunderstorms, hunting season, festivals with increased noise/fireworks
-Pet’s taken on vacation or left at home with pet sitter without acclimatizing prior to vacation.
-Owner’s move and pet is unfamiliar with environment.
The procedure
This is a quick procedure that is much like a vaccination injection. Your pet is first examined to ensure there is no existing microchip. The area of skin over the shoulder blades at the back of the neck is tented to allow the needle to enter. The bore of the needle is larger to accommodate the microchip. The chip is injected and the skin is ‘pinched’ for a minute. Then finally the microchip reader scans the area and ensures proper placement! It is very fast and reasonably priced!
M4S ID provides a uniquely numbered stainless steel lifetime collar tag with every chip implanted.
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Microchip
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Implant Gun
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Needle and chip ready for
Implanting |
Check out this you tube link by the Michigan State Humane Society to see how it is done!
FAQ
Q: What if I have my own chip from the breeder or a kennel club, will you implant it for me?
A: Of course, just let us know what type of chip it is to ensure we have the correct implanter
The following FAQ information is provided by HomeAgain.
Q: Will it hurt my pet when he gets the microchip implanted?
A: It won’t hurt any more than a routine vaccination – having a microchip implanted doesn’t even require anesthetic. The procedure performed at your veterinarian’s office and is simple and similar to administering a vaccine or a routine shot.
The microchip comes preloaded in a sterile applicator and is injected under the loose skin between the shoulder blades. The process takes only a few seconds, and your pet will not react any more than he would to a vaccination.
Q: Will a microchip tell me my pet’s location?
A: Pet microchips are not tracking devices and do not work like global positioning devices (GPS). They are radio-frequency identification (RFID) implants that provide permanent ID for your pet.
Because they use RFID technology, microchips do not require a power source like a GPS. When a microchip scanner is passed over the pet, the microchip gets enough power from the scanner to transmit the microchip’s ID number. Since there’s no battery and no moving parts, there’s nothing to keep charged, wear out, or replace. The microchip will last your pet’s lifetime.
Q: Why does my pet need a microchip when he already wears a collar with tags?
A: All pets should wear collar tags imprinted with their name and the phone number of their pet parent, but only a microchip provides permanent ID that cannot fall off, be removed, or become impossible to read.
Q: How much does it cost to microchip my pet?
A: The average cost to have a microchip implanted by a veterinarian is around $65, which is a one–time fee and often includes registration in a pet recovery database.
Q: Isn’t microchipping only for dogs?
A: Both cats and dogs need to be microchipped.
Cats often do not wear collars, and may not have any other form of ID. A recent study showed that less than 2% of cats without microchips were returned home. However, if a cat is microchipped, the return-to-owner rate is 20 times higher than if the cat was not microchipped.
Q: Can anyone with a scanner access my contact information from the chip?
A: Microchips carry only a unique identification number. If your pet gets lost and is taken to a vet clinic or animal shelter, your pet will be scanned for a microchip to reveal his unique ID number. That number will be called into the pet recovery service, and you will be contacted using the contact information on file with your pet’s microchip.
Q: How many times do I need to microchip my pet?
A: A microchip will normally last the lifetime of your pet because it is composed of biocompatible materials that will not degenerate over time.
Also, since microchips require no power source and have no moving parts, there’s nothing that can wear out and need to be replaced. Pet owners can also check to make sure their pet’s microchip is still working by asking a vet to scan it during their pet’s next checkup.
**Remember to keep your contact information up to date whenever you move or change phone numbers.**