Preventative Care@3x

National Check the Chip Day – 8/15

Aug 10, 2014 | For Your Pet, New Pet

Screen Shot 2014-08-10 at 10.36.15 AMGambling with a Prized Chip? Don’t.

Imagine coming home after a long day. It feels good to be home. Then you notice it’s quiet. Too quiet. And suddenly, everything just feels – well, WRONG. Your pet is missing. And the frantic search begins. It’s a terrifying scenario – did he/she get out of the house/yard? Were they stolen? Where could they be?

So the search begins. In the back of your mind, you think – Fluffy/Fido has tags and a microchip. Surely someone will find your beloved friend. The phone will ring, someone will say your pet has been found, and hooray, you’ll be reunited! Sadly, collars can break, and tags can and do get lost.

Humane societies and animal rescues see thousands of lost and abandoned animals that cannot be reunited with loved ones because they can’t be identified.

When did you last CHECK THE CHIP? The biggest mistakes pet owners make:
1/ forget to fill out the ownership information after the animal is chipped
2/ forget to regularly check and update the information attached to the chip

Like replacing all the batteries in your smoke detectors, checking the chip is something you should do once a year. Have you moved? Update your address and phone number. There are a large number of manufacturers of microchips, so trying to remember which one is correct can be challenging. If you’re not sure where your pet’s chip is registered, visit the AAHA Universal Pet Microchip Lookup Tool at www.petmicrochiplookup.org.

Why Microchip Your Pet?
• Permanent pet identification
• Quick and painless procedure
• Lasts for your pet’s lifetime
• Best chance of recovering your pet

Keep your pets information handy – print out this downloadable form, fill it in, and store it in an easy to remember place. Click here for the form: ChecktheChipDay

Disclaimer: Not intended to be a substitute for professional veterinarian advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your veterinarian with any questions you may have regarding the medical condition of your pet. If you think your pet has a medical emergency, call or visit your veterinarian or your local veterinary emergency hospital immediately.