Why do we recommend microchipping?
Microchipping is one of the only steadfast ways, especially for cats who often wear breakaway collars, to ensure there is an identification on your pet. It's incredibly important if your pet ever gets out. During Hurricane Katrina, many pets found their way home to their owners with a microchip because they were missing their collars and had no other identification. The main reason we recommend it is that it’s internal, so there is no way for them to lose it.
Dr. Leigh Samanowitz (Dr. Sam)
Is it dangerous or painful for your pet?
No, it’s a little sting, a bit more than maybe a vaccine. It's done with a larger needle than a vaccine needle, so probably a slightly stronger pinch. We often do it under anesthesia for our patients, usually because we’re doing it in puppies and kittens when they’re getting spayed or neutered. For older pets, we often use lidocaine cream or a lidocaine block, so it’s not painful. The microchip is encapsulated and made to be inert in the body, so it’s not dangerous.
How do we identify that this is your cat with a microchip?
The microchip has a small chip inside that can be scanned with a scanner, and then a number pops up. We use the Home Again microchip, so we can go to their website and look up that number. Your information will be linked to it because when you leave our clinic, you'll get the website and number to register your pet. You can update this information anytime, such as if you move or change your phone number, or if your pet's health status changes.
If they have a collar and tag, why do they still need a microchip?
Collars and tags can fall off, especially in cats with breakaway collars. Sometimes, people might remove a collar from a pet. A microchip is internal and cannot be removed, ensuring your pet always has identification.
Is this like GPS? Can you tell where my pet is?
Unfortunately, no, microchips cannot be used to track your pet's location. However, if someone finds your pet and brings them to a facility with a scanner, they can get your pet’s information and contact you.
Who can scan it?
Police departments, veterinary hospitals, veterinary emergency hospitals, fire departments, animal control, and most humane societies have microchip scanners. They use them to try and find a pet's original owner before considering adoption.
When will these chips be scanned?
We scan microchips with every new patient that comes to our hospital to ensure the microchip is in our computer system accurately. This includes when replacing a microchip to make sure there’s not already one there. We also scan and enter the information into our system for existing patients. If you lose your cat’s microchip information, we can look it up for you. If you’re not our patient, we recommend contacting Home Again or the hospital that placed the microchip for the information.
If you have questions about microchips in cats, place them in the comments below. Another big tip is if you’re traveling out of the country with your cat or dog, a microchip is required. It links the rabies vaccine to your pet for safety. If you have ideas for future topics or questions, place them in the comments, and I will answer them. See you next time!
If you still have other questions and you'd like to reach out to us, you can call us directly at (941) 253-5218, or you can email us at staff@uacvet.com. But please do reach out, and we'll get back to you as fast as we can. Don't forget to follow us on social media Facebook, Instagram