Cat and Dog Microchipping in Carmel
Every year, thousands of pets go missing, but sadly, only a small percentage of them are returned to their owners. The main reason for this is lack of identification. ID tags and collars are beneficial, but they’re not permanent. Yellow Dog Veterinary Clinic is pleased to offer a pet identification method that IS permanent: cat and dog microchipping. With a microchip, the chances of a lost pet being reunited with his or her owner increase dramatically.
How Pet Microchipping Works
The microchip itself is a tiny device that’s about the size and shape of a grain of rice. The chip is painlessly injected into the surface of a pet’s skin, just near the shoulder blades, using a hypodermic needle. The process is quick and simple and requires no anesthesia or surgery. Each microchip contains a unique registration number that is linked to the owner’s contact information. Using radio frequency identification technology, this number can be scanned by a handheld microchip scanner, which is available at most animal hospitals and shelters in the country. Therefore, if a lost dog or cat is ever found and turned in to one of these locations, he or she can be scanned for a microchip.
How Successful Is Cat and Dog Microchipping?
The short answer is “very.” Having your cat and dog microchipped can dramatically increase the odds of a happy reunion, should he or she ever become separated from you. According to a recent study by the Journal of American Veterinary Medical Association involving more than 7,700 lost pets that ended up at shelters. Of these pets, the dogs with microchips were returned home 21.9% of the time while those without microchips were returned 52.2% of the time. The microchipped cats were returned 38.5% of the time while those without microchips were turned only 1.8% of the time.
Keep in mind, though, that a microchip should not be seen as something to replace your pet’s identification tag. At the very minimize, we recommend that all pets have an ID tag, but a microchip provides an additional form of identification that can increase the chances of a lost pet being found.
If you would like to learn more about microchipping or schedule an appointment to have your pet microchipped at Yellow Dog Veterinary Clinic, feel free to give us a call at (317) 900-7723.