Pets

Microchipping your pet

The UK’s largest dog welfare charity, Dogs Trust, reported that last year 111,986 stray and abandoned dogs were picked up by Local Authorities across the UK. Of these, only 40% were reunited with their owners; the rest will have ended up in a re-homing centre, or worse, been put to sleep. But microchipping – compulsory for all dogs from 6th April 2016 – could bring much of this anguish to an end for both the unfortunate pets and their owners. Best Friends Veterinary Group offers expert advice on how it works, and why vets recommend it

Pets can go missing for a whole variety of reasons. They can become confused after a house move, or scared by fireworks, thunderstorms and even road works, invoking their animal fight or flight instincts. Animals that naturally wander, such as cats (microchipping isn’t just for dogs…) can become injured and not be able to get home, or simply wander too far and get lost. It is thought that only around 50% of dogs are microchipped, and even fewer cats, despite many going missing every day.

Collars and tags with addresses or phone numbers are often lovingly given to pets, but these have their limitations. They can become detached, leaving a much-loved family member lost and unidentifiable, and need to be replaced any time you move house – a detail that is easily overlooked in a busy house move. Microchips have numerous advantages however, allowing vets and local authorities to quickly identify a pet’s owner and return the pet home with the minimum of stress for all concerned.

Why do vets recommend microchipping?
A microchip provides a permanent, inexpensive form of identification – for life. The chip cannot become detached or lost and is a form of identification that can move with you; all you have to do is update an online database when you have moved. It is also good value – not significantly more expensive than some engraved tags. Ask yourself how much you would pay to get your pet back if it was lost – the answer is likely to be a lot more than the cost of a microchip.

Who can be microchipped?
Microchipping is commonly done on cats, dogs and rabbits, but many other species including birds, horses, reptiles, small furries and even fish can be chipped!

How big is a microchip?
The chip itself is smaller than a grain of rice and in cats, dogs and rabbits is implanted under the loose skin of the neck which is usually almost pain free for the pet.

Is there an optimum time to microchip my pet?
Most vets recommend microchipping at the time of the second injection in your pets’ primary course or any time after this. Microchipping is usually performed fully conscious and takes just a few moments.

A chip is a chip is a chip..?
Not all microchips are the same. Microchips and readers can vary considerably from suppliers, so it is vital that a good quality chip with maximum readability is used and implanted correctly. At Best Friends Veterinary Group and VetSavers, we use Tracer Advance microchips, which are currently the only non-glass microchip in the UK and are ten times stronger than glass. Once implanted, all Tracer Advance microchips are registered with Petlog which is managed by the Kennel Club.

About microchip databases
The Microchip database is the key to the reunification process and owners can be confident that the database linked to the Tracer Advance microchip is robust now and in the future. If your pet is already microchipped but you have moved house or changed your phone number, make sure you have updated the database which you can do at www.petlog.org.uk. Petlog also offers the opportunity to add holiday contact details so if you do decide to take your pet with you and it does become lost in a strange place – the database will know where you are and how to get in touch.

Broadway Veterinary Hospital
158 Broadway, Peterborough
01733 562904
 

bestfriendsgroup.com   

Cheap as chips!
Best Friends Veterinary Group and Vetsavers have joined forces in light of the law change and are offering microchipping for a set price of just £9.99 across all their surgeries prior to the 6th April 2016. Best Friends Holbeach and Vetsavers Spalding will be offering the service at the even cheaper price of £7.49 for a limited period only. ● To find out more, give us a call or drop in to make an appointment.

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