Dogs are important members of the family for many people. If a pet becomes lost, the dog owner suffers until their dog is returned safely home. Sadly, many dogs don’t arrive home simply because their owners cannot be found.
There are several options to keep track of your pet, but not all are ideal. Most collars can be removed by the animal or get caught on something and get ripped off. Tags can also fall off or get lost in the brush if they’re not attached properly to a collar.
A microchip is the best way to keep track of your furry friend so you never have to worry about them being separated from you again. Many people think a microchip is just for large dogs but they are available for small breeds, too. They’re also great for cats who like to go outside.
What Is A Microchip For Dogs?
In order to reunite lost pets with their owners, identification microchips are the latest technology. Veterinarians insert these chips under the skin of a dog’s neck. They are about the size of a grain of rice.
Microchip readers are now in nearly all veterinary offices and shelters. An employee can scan a new dog for a microchip immediately after it is brought into the office. The chip transmits a number, which can be used to find out information about the owner on a national database.
Why Is A Microchip Better Than ID Tags?
One of the primary benefits of implanting a microchip into a pet is that the identification will remain with the pet forever. Despite being able to be read by anyone, tags can be lost.
Collars have a tendency to get tangled on branches, fences, and any other obstacle a dog may encounter. If a dog is friendly and is picked up by a kind stranger, it can go surprisingly far.
By having a microchip, a dog can be reunited with his family no matter how far he travels from home.
What Are The Disadvantages Of Having A Microchip?
As with everything in life, microchips aren’t perfect. It is possible for a chip to travel under the skin away from its original location. If the scanner does not pass over the area where the chip has been, then detection may be more difficult.
The chip may not work for some dogs and they can develop an abscess or cyst around it. Nevertheless, this is a rare complication and most dogs have no problems accepting a microchip.
One of the most common problems is with the different chip manufacturers. Even though many have worked together to make chips universally readable, there are no norms or regulations required to do so. Because of this, a chip from one company may not be detected by a shelter having a scanner from another company.
Microchipping a loved family pet offers more benefits than cons. A microchip for dogs keeps their contact information with them so that if the animal ever gets lost, it will be much easier to find them again.
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