The Importance of Pet Microchipping
We all love our pets and want to keep them safe. Unfortunately, there are instances where a pet might find an opportunity to escape your home or yard. Microchipping is one of the best and easiest ways to ensure that your pet will find their way back to you. At Clinton Hill Animal Clinic in Brooklyn, we would like to discuss how microchipping works and the benefit it provides.
What is Microchipping and How Does it Work?
Microchipping involves implanting a microchip under the skin of a pet as a means to identify the owner. Each chip has a unique number assigned to it that can be read by a scanner. A microchip is great for dogs and cats but also can be implanted in most mammals, including ferrets and horses. If your pet gets lost in or outside of Brooklyn and someone picks it up, they can take the animal to a veterinarian or a shelter that has a scanner and read the chip. Once the vet has the number recorded in the chip, he or she can contact the company that made the chip and retrieve the information of the owner. Just remember, once the microchip is inserted into your pet, you must register your information and keep it current. If you change your address or phone number be sure to update the microchip registration info.
How Is A Microchip Inserted and Will It Harm My Pet?
Our veterinarian will use a needle to place the chip under your pet's skin. It hurts about as much as having blood drawn. In many cases, this is done while a pet is being spayed or neutered under sedation, so they do not feel it at all. Complications from microchip insertion are very rare but it can happen. In most cases, the benefits outweigh the risks to provide another method of identification to help reunite your furry friend if he or she ever gets lost.
Call 718-623-3999 to make an appointment and speak with our veterinarian at Clinton Hill Animal Clinic in Brooklyn about microchipping your pet. We will answer any questions that you have and we can provide any other veterinary care your pet needs to live a happy and healthy life.