Pet permanent

Over 10 million pets go missing every year, according to PetFinder, and one in every three pets will go missing at some point in their lives. In the United States, an estimated 9 million pets without permanent pet identification are surrendered to animal shelters each year. Sadly, only 15% of lost dogs and 2% of lost cats are ever found and returned to their owners. The majority of the animals are either adopted or euthanized.

Pet microchipping is a permanent method of pet identification that the staff at Mill Creek Animal Hospital advises. The microchip, about the size of a grain of rice, is injected with a syringe between your dog’s or cat’s shoulder blades, causing minimal pain or discomfort.

This can be done at the same time as spaying or neutering your puppy or kitten, or at a wellness examination. The microchip will last the rest of your pet’s life, but it will need to be updated with your contact information when it changes to ensure that your pet can be returned to you in an emergency.

What is the technology behind it? Each microchip includes a unique code that is linked to the pet’s profile and the owner’s contact information. Veterinary offices, animal shelters, and other animal agencies in your community can scan this chip. As a result, it is critical that you not only microchip your pet but also complete the registration process and remember to update the microchip.