When it comes to identifying pets, there are a multitude of choices. Microchipping is the best way to identify your companion for the lifetime of your pet.
When your companion comes to the veterinary clinic for a microchip, there will be a form that our staff will fill out for you. Basic information such as your address, phone number, email address and an emergency contact will be collected. A description of your pet, including any tattoo numbers or other identifying marks, will be included on the form, as well as any medical conditions that may become an issue if he or she gets lost.
The next step is to decide what type of chip would be most appropriate for your pet's lifestyle. If your dog is to be registered with the Canadian Kennel Club, or if you may be traveling out of country with your companion, an FDX B ISO microchip must be used. Most other animals will receive an FDX A microchip. What is the difference? FDX A microchips are a slightly older technology and many animal shelters have the scanners that are capable of reading them. The older scanners may not be able to read the FDX B ISO microchips. If your animal companion has an FDX B microchip, and is scanned by an older scanner without FDX B capabilities, nothing will show on the scanner. A simple analogy to this would be radio stations – to tune into an FM radio station, your radio must be able to receive FM frequencies. All newer scanners are able to tune in to both FDX A and FBX B ISO frequencies, much like most radios are able to tune in to AM and FM radio stations.
The microchip is scanned to ensure that the microchip and package numbers are matching. The scanner is now used to ensure that a microchip is not already in place. Although most microchips will be located around the shoulder area of cats and dogs, we scan the whole body to ensure that a previously implanted chip has not migrated to another area. (Migration of microchips happens very rarely). Once it has been confirmed that there are no other microchips in place, one of our AHTs will implant the new microchip. It is a very quick procedure, over in much less time than it takes to do a vaccine. After the microchip is in place, another scan will be done to confirm placement of the chip. Just a warning: the needle containing the microchip appears quite large but is very sharp, and many kittens and puppies hardly flinch at the injection.
The biggest downfall of microchip identification for your four-legged partner is that there is no external evidence of a microchip. A stainless steel tag is provided with a toll free number to call if your companion is found, but many people choose to not have their pets wear a collar. For this reason, the best and most complete way of identifying your companion is to use multiple forms of ID. Microchips, tattoos, collars and tags with up to date information will help to ensure that your lost companion is returned to you in a short period of time.
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