The importance of identifying your pet
Sunday July 16, 2017 - Microchip, collar, I.D. tag, address-tube, etc.
An unfortunate event can happen so quickly: your pet is on holiday with you, at a friend’s house or at boarding, a door has been left open and your dog or cat flees, investigating this unknown place... Or it will run away because of a thunderstorm or a car accident. Maybe thieves decide to take it in a burglary to keep it or sell it… These are only a few examples of situations where having your pet well identified will increase its chances of a safe return home.
Various solutions can help make sure that you do not live in fear and anxiety for hours, days or weeks, not knowing if you will ever see your animal again.
A collar should always be the first means of identification to use for your dog or cat. There is a full range of choices: colors, thicknesses, leather, nylon, elastic or auto-detachable for cats if ever they get stuck, reflective at night, etc. Warning: a collar must not be too tight nor too louse. An effective way to make sure it's adjusted the right way is to check with your fingers the space between your pet's neck and collar. It should be possible for you to place two fingers, no more, no less, for a perfect adjustment.
Then there are several types of I.D. tags or address-tubes that can be fixed to the collars. There is also “wallets” in which you can insert your name, address, health condition of your pet, etc. that attaches to the collar. Another solution is simply to write your phone number directly on the collar with a black marker!
Finally, we recommend the use of a microchip.
Why a microchip? It allows you to safely identify your pet. In addition, it is not possible for the person finding your pet to remove the microchip or modify its information contrary to the other solutions mentioned above.
A microchip is a small transmitter / receiver that looks like a medicinal caplet but in a much smaller size. In fact, it's the size of a grain of rice. It emits waves when a scanner is placed above it. This scanner will capture the unique number of the microchip, a bit like a social insurance number is unique to an individual, except that the result of the reading of the chip is an alphanumeric result.
You want your pet to be identified with a microchip but you are questioning the procedure?
Here is more information on the subject:
The microchip is implanted under the skin of your animal, between its shoulder blades with a small injection. The procedure is fast, not painful or dangerous for your animal.
A reading of the microchip will be done BEFORE implanting it. If the microchip is functioning well, it will then be implanted under the skin of your pet. A final reading will then be taken again to make sure that the microchip is doing its job!
The owner will be given a form to complete with the name, address, phone number, and all other information needed. Afterwards, it will be important for the owner to maintain that data if ever there is any changes, for example, a move. The microchip, will remain under your pet's skin and these changes will be synchronized with the chip. All documentation needed to identify and maintain that information will be given to the owner when the microchip will be installed.
The microchip is implanted for life.
Please remember that a fast and safe return home of a pet will happen when an animal identified with a collar, or an I.D. tag is found by an honest person that will call the owner right away. However, if your pet has lost his identification or someone ill-intended has removed it, the microchip will be able to reveal the whole truth!
It should be noted that municipal pounds, animal protection organisms, veterinary clinics and hospitals, most shelters are equipped with devices for reading a microchip. All these places can help you identify an animal found.
We will be pleased to advise you on your specific needs. Please do not hesitate to contact us, or click the following link to read more about microchip implants.
The team of Duvernay Veterinarian Hospital