Nothing can be worse than having your pet wander off, get lost, get stolen, or disappear. It is an entirely helpless feeling as you are stressed, worried about how they are doing and when you can find them and bring them home. One way to help alleviate this stress is microchipping your pet.

A microchip is a medical implant that is no larger than the size of a large grain of rice that is injected in your pet between the shoulder blades, just under the skin. If your pet is lost and returned to a vet or shelter, they can use a scanner to check for a chip, and your pet's unique ID number appears on the scanner along with the company's contact information. The company can then contact you and help reunite you with your pet.

A study by Science Daily revealed that dogs with microchips are 2.5 times more likely to return to their real owners than those without. It is a known fact that microchips have reunited hundreds of pet owners with their lost pets, making it worthwhile to put one in.

Here are a few reasons you should microchip your pet:

1. Microchipping is painless and causes no discomfort:

Don't let your dog's fear of pain stop you from protecting it. Microchipping only takes seconds to implant, so your furry friend won't be in unnecessary distress. While it does require a small incision, the procedure is quick, painless, and won't cause your precious dog any pain. Microchipping is an easy, routine procedure that requires no surgery or anesthesia.

The veterinarian will use a syringe to inject the chip, which contains the unique identification number for your dog. The insertion process only takes a few seconds. That's it. The chip is placed in the pet's skin with a long needle, causing no more discomfort than a routine vaccine.

2. Microchip will Help You Get Reunited with your pet:

There's a double-edged sword that comes with any pet owner. First, you're in love with your companion, and they are the best thing to happen to you in the world. Second, they can get lost easily. No matter how carefully we try to watch them, we all know that it happens. But there is a way to find them easily if they do, in fact, go missing. It's not only safe for your pets, but it also gives them a better chance of being found if they run into trouble!

Microchipping is the way forward. The most significant benefit of purchasing this tracking device is that it increases the likelihood that your pet will be reunited with you in the event of separation.

Animal care organizations keep a microchip registry to help identify pets and get them back to their owners. Microchips contain their owners' contact information, which microchip scanners can detect. When you scan your pet while at the vet's office, the scanner will show your contact information, allowing the staff to contact you and reunite you with your pet if it has been lost.

3. Microchip Can Protect Against Theft of Your Pet:

Microchipping your pet can help you get it back if it is ever stolen. Having microchips implanted in your pet will ensure that the true owner's identity is revealed should a pet go missing. A microchip is also proof of ownership that do actually own your pet, so there can be no discrepancies if stolen.

4. Microchip Gives you Peace of Mind!

It's hard enough to have a pet get lost. At least with a microchip, the odds of finding your beloved pet are better than none. At least there is the hope that your pet will be turned into a vet or shelter where they will be able to identify your pet instead of just keeping them in a shelter. This gives you some peace of mind.

5. Microchips are Safe for Pets:

Millions of pets have been implanted with a microchip, and there have been no widely reported health problems related to the chip. Microchips are medical implants that are inert structures and do not cause any irritation or reaction in your dog. The chip is carefully inserted just under the skin and not into any vein.

There is no fear of the chip getting stuck or traveling through the body. The pet may feel a little bit of pain, but this is normal and will subside quickly on its own.

6. Microchips Last Forever:

Once a microchip is inserted, you will not have to renew it every year or again at all. There is no chance of losing the chip, and it will last your pet's life span. It is an excellent idea to rescan your chip at least once a year to ensure no malfunction, but that would be all. While dog collars and ID tags are great, remember that they can fall off, or pets can break free of their collar, so it's essential to have the backup of microchipping.

7. The microchip does not give out your personal information:

Some pet owners may feel that having their pet microchipped also means losing their personal privacy, but this is not the case. A microchip inserted under a pet's skin will emit a number that can be used to identify the animal. The registration number is then given to the microchip company, who alerts the pet owner if their lost pet is found and scanned.

At Westlands Veterinary Clinic, we understand how important your pet is in your life and how much you want to protect them, and we are happy to offer you microchip services during your next visit to ensure the safety of your pet.