|
Pet Identification
You open the door to get the morning paper and your beloved cat bolts outside, never to be seen again. You forgot to latch the backyard gate and now your faithful canine companion has been missing for over a week. These stories, and many like them, are told regularly by sad-eyed owners when they visit shelters searching desperately for their lost pets. "Why didn't you put identification on your pet?" the shelter worker asks. "We did but the tag was lost. We were meaning to replace it, we just never got around to it."
Every pet owner has experienced a moment when his or her beloved pet was lost, if only for a moment. These moments can be heart wrenching. Every pet has the potential to roam or run away, especially when disaster strikes.
Some pet owners intentionally forego identification, thinking the pet is secure in a house or yard. When pets are exposed to fireworks or other frightening stimuli in which they are not accustomed, or when they are simply bored, they will flee. If your pet becomes lost or stolen and you took precautionary steps, you can rest assured knowing your pet will have an excellent chance of returning home, safely. A simple chip the size of a grain of rice could save your pet’s life and save you a lot of heartache.
Frequently Asked Questions Regarding Microchips-
1. How does the microchip work? The microchip and scanner are like a radio station and a receiver. The scanner sends out harmless radio waves that excite the small radio station in the microchip to send back the unique identification code it contains.
2. Is there anything in the Microchip that could be harmful? No. The main component in a Microchip is silicon, the same compound found in sand and glass. There is no radioactivity, no battery, and no other material harmful to an animal. The microchip itself is sealed in biocompatible glass so that the only thing in contact with the tissue of the animal is the glass.
3. How long will the Microchip last? This technology is only a few years old, but accelerated laboratory testing has shown that the microchip has an expected lifetime in excess of 25 years.
4. What keeps the Microchip in the animal and in place where implanted? Just seconds after the implant procedure, the body’s normal healing process takes over. A small clot of blood forms around the surface of the microchip, holding it in place almost immediately. Within a few days, the injection wound heals completely. The initial clot is replaced by a small layer of connective tissue, this keeps the microchip in place.
5. Can anyone implant Microchips? Making sure that the procedure is carried out safely, that all chips are always placed in the correct position, and that the identification is verified, implantation is restricted to use “ by or under the supervision of a Licensed Veterinarian”.
6. Is anesthesia required? No. The animal should be gently restrained in the same fashion as for a routine injection.
7. How much preparation of the injection site is required? A complete surgical prep is not required. A veterinarian will determine the correct site preparation procedure and assure aseptic handling of the pre-packaged sterile microchip.
|
