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Check the Chip Day

August 15, 2019

August 15th is a very important day in the pet care world. It’s Check The Chip Day! Microchips are very tiny, but they have helped reunite thousands of lost pets with their worried humans. A San Antonio, TX vet discusses microchips in this article.

Microchip Basics

Microchips form a permanent link between you and your furry best friend. They don’t contain GPS technology, and, unfortunately, they won’t reprogram your dog to stop chewing your shoes. Instead, each chip contains only an ID number. This correlates to your records in the chip manufacturer’s database. Animal shelters typically check pets for chips at intake. If a chip is found, the service provider can use that ID number to get your contact information.

Getting Your Pet Chipped

If your pet hasn’t been chipped yet, we recommend getting this done right away. The process is actually very quick and simple. Your vet will use a hypodermic needle to place the chip beneath your pet’s skin. For your pet, it’s basically like getting a shot. Although microchipping is often scheduled along with spay/neuter surgery, it can be done at any time. Your furry pal won’t need any recovery time, aside from perhaps some extra cuddles and a yummy snack. However, this is only the first part of the process. You’ll need to fill out your contact information on the chipmaker’s database. This is very important! If your records are incomplete or missing, the chip will essentially be useless. You’ll also need to update this information whenever you move or get a new number.

Checking The Chip

Microchips don’t need to be maintained. However, it’s a good idea to have your vet check your pet’s chip during their regular appointments. This is just to make sure that it’s still working properly, and hasn’t moved or malfunctioned. Better safe than sorry!

Records

As mentioned above, it’s absolutely crucial to keep your records updated. If you have your pet’s ID number, you can try to check the information using the AAHA Pet Microchip Lookup Tool, which can be found here . This site compiles information from most of the major chip manufacturers. If you need to add or edit your records, you’ll need to go through your service provider.

Does your pet need a microchip? Call us! As your local San Antonio, TX vet clinic, we’re here to serve all your pet’s veterinary care needs.

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North Star Animal Hospital