Adopting an animal is a wonderful responsibility that adds love, joy, and plenty of adorable moments to any family. Once you’ve found your furry friend, pet microchipping is the best way to keep them safe and ensure they’ll always be returned home, even if they get lost. Here at Countryside Veterinary Clinic in Charles Town, WV, we often help first-time pet owners who have recently adopted new friends. We always recommend microchips for added peace of mind. Below, we explain the importance of this safety measure. 

What Is a Microchip?

A pet microchip is a tiny computer chip that is roughly the size of a grain of rice. Each microchip has a unique code that can be scanned by a special scanner. This code contains information that allows a veterinary clinic or animal control officer to identify your pet and contact you right away. Best of all, the microchip is injected underneath your animal’s skin using a needle. We generally recommend that the procedure be done while your pet is sedated, such as at a spay or neuter surgery, but we can insert the chip at any point, even a regular office visit.

Why Should You Embrace Pet Microchipping?

Giving your pet a collar and identification tags are great first steps to ensure they are returned if they get lost. However, collars can easily come undone. To give your dog or cat the best chance of being returned home, opt for pet microchipping as an added precaution. Thanks to this technology, pets can be properly identified and returned to their rightful owners, rather than being re-homed or euthanized at an overcrowded animal shelter.  Microchipping also provides a legal foothold to prove ownership should your pet get stolen or claimed after being lost.

If you’re a loving pet owner concerned with the safety of your furry friend, we’ll be happy to help with microchipping. Visit our website to learn more about our comprehensive pet wellness services. Give us a call at (304) 725-7663 to schedule an appointment today!