Not The Game You Want To Play

There are so many fun things about summer – swimming, barbecues, cornhole, softball, pickleball, and more. There are so many activities to do and games to play during this busy season. There’s one game, though, that no one wants to play: the lost pet game. We love our pets as much as our people (and sometimes more). Ensuring their safety while enjoying summer is a must.

Making Sure Plans Are In Place

We take many steps to ensure that our loved ones are safe. We wear seatbelts in our cars, install smoke detectors in our homes, and hold our children’s hands when we cross the street. We make sure our pets are vaccinated and get flea, tick, and heartworm preventives. From daily precautions to backup plans, we strive to keep our loved ones safe in every possible way.

Despite our best efforts, unexpected events still occur. Perhaps your pet eats something they shouldn’t or develops a rash. The bigger concern, especially during summer months, is, what if your pet escapes through an open door or bolts in fear during fireworks? It’s entirely possible that your pet could get lost. Thankfully, microchipping your pet is a reliable way to increase the chances of finding a lost pet.

Understanding Microchips

A microchip is a microscopic electronic device,  implanted just under your pet’s skin. It’s typically implanted between their shoulder blades. There’s a unique ID number for each microchip, which is linked to a registry where your contact information is housed. A microchip is:

• Injected via a needle whose tip is slightly larger than those used for shots
• Able to be inserted during a routine veterinary visit
• Able to be inserted without having surgery or anesthesia
• Able to be inserted during another medical procedure like spaying or neutering if desired
• Activated by radio waves through a scanner passed over your pet

A microchip is not:

• A DIY procedure – it must be inserted by a veterinarian
• A GPS tracker to monitor your pet’s location
• A substitute for your pet’s license, collar, or rabies tag

Your Role as a Pet Owner

Statistically, your pet is likely to get lost at some point. One in three pets do, and there’s an uptick in reports of lost pets over the Fourth of July holiday. Microchipping dramatically improves the odds of reunion. According to a study by the American Veterinary Medicine Association, 72.7% of stray pets taken to 53 shelters were returned to their owners due to their microchips. Of course, for this system to work, your contact information has to be updated in the microchip registry associated with your pet’s microchip.

Microchipping your pet is more effective than merely having your pet wear a collar with their license and rabies tag on it because the collar can be lost or removed. Having your pet microchipped provides peace of mind that you’re doing everything you can to protect your pet.

Minnesota Veterinary Hospital

Minnesota Veterinary Hospital in Shoreview, MN, can microchip your pet to help you create that peace of mind. Contact us today for an appointment. We look forward to helping you keep your pet safe.

 

Image credit: Chalabala / Getty Images