Microchipping Your Dog To Help Guarantee His Safety
Dogs are beloved and faithful companions, providing endless love and loyalty to their owners. As pet owners, it is our responsibility to ensure the safety and well-being of our furry friends. One way to do so is by microchipping your dog.
What is Microchipping?
Microchipping is a simple and painless procedure that involves inserting a tiny computer chip, about the size of a grain of rice, under your dog’s skin. This chip contains a unique identification number that can be read by a special scanner.
How Does it Work?
The chip is typically inserted between the shoulder blades of your dog using a needle. The process is quick and no anesthetic is required. The chip is then registered with your contact information in a national database. This allows animal shelters, veterinarians, and other animal welfare organizations to identify your dog and contact you if he ever gets lost.
Why is it Important?
There are many benefits to microchipping your dog, the most important one being that it can help guarantee their safety. According to the American Humane Society, about 10 million pets get lost every year and more than 90% of them never return home. This is where microchipping plays a crucial role – it increases the chances of your dog being reunited with you if they ever get lost.
In addition, microchipping is a permanent form of identification for your dog. Unlike collars or tags which can get lost or removed, a microchip stays safely in place for the lifetime of your pet. It eliminates the risk of your dog being unidentifiable and ending up in a shelter or worse, in the hands of an irresponsible owner.
Moreover, many countries require dogs to be microchipped before they can travel internationally. So, if you have plans to travel with your dog in the future, getting them microchipped is a must.
Is it Safe?
Many pet owners have concerns about the safety of microchipping their dogs. However, the procedure is completely safe and is no more painful than getting a routine vaccination. The chip is made of biocompatible material, which means it does not cause any allergic reactions or side effects.
Some pet owners also worry about the potential radiation from the microchip. However, the amount of radiation emitted from a chip is extremely low and poses no harm to your furry friend.
What You Need to Know About Maintenance?
One of the most important things to remember is to keep your contact information up to date in the national database. If your phone number or address changes, make sure to update it to ensure that your dog can always be identified and returned to you.
It is also recommended to have your dog’s microchip checked by your veterinarian during their annual check-up to ensure that it is still functioning properly.
Conclusion
Microchipping your dog is a simple and effective way to help guarantee their safety. It provides peace of mind to know that your furry friend can be identified and returned to you if they ever go missing. If you haven’t already, consider getting your dog microchipped today. It could be the one thing that saves their life.
