The Importance of Microchipping Your Pet

Berkeley Heights Animal Hospital

269 Springfield Avenue, Berkeley Heights, NJ 07922

(908) 464-0023

Did you know that today is Check the Chip Day? For those of you who might be unfamiliar with them, microchips are small, electronic chips that help with the identification of pets. They are about as small as a grain of rice, and they are injected under an animal's skin through the use of a hypodermic needle (don't worry, it's not that painful for pets, and for the most part it feels like a standard injection!).

Although pet owners never want or dream of having their pet be lost or stolen, microchips can help in the event that this does happen. How? Microchips are programmed with identification numbers that can be read by a microchip scanner - so long as the number is registered with the microchip company, anyone who scans your pet's chip can get information that is associated with it, such as your contact information. Once they have that, they can then get in touch with you and work on reuniting you with your pet!

According to Petfinder, the American Humane Association estimates that over 10 million cats and dogs are lost or stolen in the U.S every year - that's an extremely high number! Should your pet ever become one of the 10 million that are lost or stolen, a microchip can be the answer the finder needs to ensure your pet finds its way back home.

Things to keep in mind...

Since microchips help the finder get vital information about you, the animal's owner, you want to make sure that the information you have registered with the microchip company is accurate and up-to-date. So, for example, if you are moving, make sure that the company knows your new address and how they can reach you should your phone number be changing - if the information associated with the microchip is not correct, it'll be much harder to find you.

Also, keep in mind that microchips do not act as a GPS and cannot be used to help you pinpoint the exact location of your pet - they only contain the identification number your pet is assigned. Once the chip is scanned and the number is received, the finder can then get your information from the microchip company and let you know where your pet has been found.

While a collar is a must to help with the identification of your pet, a microchip is something that you must not overlook either. Here at Berkeley Heights Animal Hospital, we recognize just how valuable a microchip can be, which is why we can help with having one put in your pet!

To learn more about our microchipping services or to make an appointment for one, please give us a call at (908) 464-0023.