Pet Microchipping in Orlando, FL

Microchips Bring Pets Home!

Despite your best efforts, accidents can happen. Someone leaves a door ajar, an exploring dog digs under a fence, and your best intentions go awry: Your pet escapes and gets lost. If he/she is wearing a collar and identification tag, chances are good that you will get him back. But what if the collar comes off?

A study of more than 7,700 stray animals at animal shelters showed that dogs without microchips were returned to their owners 21.9% of the time, whereas microchipped dogs were returned to their owners 52.2% of the time. Cats without microchips were reunited with their owners only 1.8% of the time, whereas microchipped cats went back home 38.5% of the time. (Lord et al, JAVMA, July 15, 2009). For microchipped animals that weren't returned to their owners, most of the time it was due to incorrect owner information (or no owner information) in the microchip registry database – so don't forget to register and keep your information updated.

Every year, thousands and thousands of pets go missing. Not knowing where your pet is or how to bring them back can be a helpless, hopeless feeling. It is a tragedy that happens all too often. But there is a simple, safe, and effective way to ensure your pet's safety and retrieval should they ever become lost. Microchipping is a standard procedure that implants a tiny microchip underneath your pet's skin. It is a painless and relatively fast procedure, and is completely safe. This microchip is registered with your pet's vital information, and can be scanned by any veterinarian or animal shelter so that they can return your pet directly to you.

How does the microchip work?

A microchip is a small, electronic chip enclosed in a glass cylinder that is about the same size as a grain of rice. The microchip itself does not have a battery—it is activated by a scanner that is passed over the area, and the radio waves put out by the scanner activate the chip. The chip transmits the identification number to the scanner, which displays the number on the screen. The microchip itself is also called a transponder.

It is injected under the skin using a hypodermic needle. It is no more painful than a typical injection, although the needle is slightly larger than those used for injections. No surgery or anesthesia is required—a microchip can be implanted during a routine veterinary office visit. If your pet is already under anesthesia for a procedure, such as neutering or spaying, the microchip can often be implanted while they're still under anesthesia.

Each microchip contains a registration number and the phone number of the registry for the particular brand of microchip. A handheld scanner reads the radio frequency of the microchip and displays this information. An animal shelter or veterinary hospital that finds your pet can contact the registry to get your name and phone number using the registration number.

You don't need to be concerned about your privacy. The information you provide to the manufacturer's microchip registry will be used to contact you in the event your pet is found and their microchip is scanned. In most cases, you can choose to opt in or opt out of other communications (such as newsletters or advertisements) from the manufacturer. The only information about you contained in the database is the information that you choose to provide when you register the chip or update your information. There are protections in place so that a random person can't just look up an owner's identification.

Remember that having the microchip placed is only the first step, and the microchip must be registered in order to give you the best chances of getting your pet back. If that information is missing or incorrect, your chances of getting your pet back are dramatically reduced. Save yourself the traumatic experience of a lost four-legged family member. Microchips bring pets home!

At Downtown Pet Hospital it is our goal to provide the highest level of veterinary technologie for your furry family member. Contact us if you have any questions about microchipping your pet in Orlando, FL.