June is National Microchipping Month! Microchipping is a simple measure to significantly increase the chances of getting your pet reunited with you should they ever get lost or separated. If your pet goes outdoors, escapes from the house (we all know those adventurous indoor cats who do their best to run out as soon as the door opens), or you live in a disaster-prone area, a microchip is always a good idea.
Collars, tags, and pet tattoos may also be good sources of identification, but collars and tags may be lost, and tattoos can fade over time or be altered. Microchipping provides a tamper-proof form of identification with centralized databases that can be accessed by most veterinarians, rescues, and shelters with a microchip reader.
A microchip is a small chip that is placed under the skin between the shoulder blades of a dog or cat, allowing for permanent pet identification. It is read by passing a scanner over the pet’s shoulder blades. A microchip may be placed at any appointment, but we routinely offer to place the chip during any anesthetic procedure (including your pet’s spay or neuter). The microchip registration must be kept up to date by the pet owner to ensure the proper contact information is available.
At Lake Road Animal Hospital, we offer the HomeAgain microchipping. We do all of the leg work for you with the initial registration after placing the microchip and send you home with your pet’s identification information. With HomeAgain membership, you also receive free calls to the pet emergency hotline!
If you have any questions or would like to discuss microchipping further, please call or text our office at (607) 733-6503. We want to keep your pets happy, healthy, and home with you.
