Yes! We recommend a pet microchip.

The fear of having a pet run away or get lost is common for every pet owner. We’ve all walked past a “lost dog” flyer and felt heartbreak for the owner and the animal. Even if your pet is wearing a collar, it could fall off, making your chances of being reunited with Fido or Fluffy a lot slimmer.

That’s why, at East Valley Animal Hospital in Gilbert, we highly recommend microchipping your dog or cat. It’s an easy and virtually painless procedure that gives your pet the best chance of returning home safely.

How do pet microchips work?

A microchip is a small, grain-sized radio transponder that stores a unique ID number that is used to retrieve a pet owner’s contact information. When the chip is passed over by a scanner, it becomes activated by radio waves that transmit the ID number onto the scanner’s screen.

A pet microchip is not a GPS system and will not allow an owner to track their four-legged friend in order to find them.

How is a microchip implanted?

The microchip, which is encased in a slender bioglass cover, is implanted just under your pet’s skin using a hypodermic needle, often between the shoulder blades. Although the needle is slightly larger than a regular injection needle, it’s no more painful and does not require anesthesia. Most microchips have an anti-migration feature that allows the device to stay in place.

What are microchip frequencies?

As we mentioned above, a microchip is a radio transponder. So your pet’s microchip will function on one of these commonly used frequencies for pet microchips:

The 134.2-kHz  Microchip. This frequency is currently the only International Standards Organization (ISO) approved pet microchip frequency. Meaning that many countries outside of the United States, including Canada, Australia, and countries in Europe and Asia, all accept this frequency for pet microchipping. This frequency is only now becoming more prevalent in the U.S., but if you ever travel with Fido or Fluffy, it’s a good choice.

The 125-kHz Microchip. This frequency is still the most commonly used in the U.S. and can be read by most scanners.

The 128 kHz Microchip. This frequency is less common, but can still be read by most scanners.

Most animal shelters and veterinary hospitals in the U.S. have universal scanners that can read the majority of microchips on the market.

How do I register my pet’s microchip?

Until your pet’s microchip is registered, it’s useless. Most microchip companies make the online registration process very easy. Some companies will charge a one-time fee, while others charge annual fees, or fees to update your pet’s information. Your vet will be able to recommend a microchip brand and registry site.

Microchipping your pet in Gilbert

There’s no doubt that microchipping your animal will increase the odds that, if lost, you and your pet will be reunited. A pet microchip can be implanted during a routine veterinary office visit. If you live in Gilbert, Chandler, or Mesa, and your pet is not currently microchipped, contact us to ask any remaining questions or to make an appointment.

 

Images used under creative commons license – commercial use. Image by Mabel Amber, still incognito… from Pixabay (3/31/2019)