May Is Chip Your Pet Month: Everything You Need to Know About Microchipping in Los Angeles

May is Chip Your Pet Month, and it's a perfect time to familiarize yourself with the importance of having your canine companion or feline friend microchipped. The American Humane Society estimates that around one-third of dogs and cats in the United States will, at some point in their life, get lost or be stolen. Unfortunately, very few will ever make it back home. 

Fences, doors, leashes, and secure carriers help keep pets safe, but despite your best efforts, it only takes a second for disaster to strike. your dog or cat is the absolute best way of having them be returned to you if they're ever lost or stolen. Here at Family Veterinary Inc., we provide efficient and effective microchipping for pets in Los Angeles and are here to help you protect your furry friend. Keep reading to learn more about having your pet microchipped. 

Why Microchipping Is Important

Microchipping your pet greatly boosts the probability of being able to find them if they ever get lost. If your dog or cat is brought into an animal hospital or shelter, a handheld scanner will be used to look for a microchip. When a chip is detected, its identification number is displayed on the scanner and is used to access your contact information. As long as the information stored in your account is accurate, someone will contact you to tell you that your pet has been located. 

The Microchipping Procedure

The microchipping process is quick and feels like getting a vaccination or another shot. Roughly the same size as a grain of rice, the chip is placed in the loose skin in between the animal's shoulder blades. Like a vaccination, a microchip is injected using a syringe. This means there is no need for anesthesia. A skilled veterinarian can chip a cat or dog in a few seconds, and there's no need for any downtime following the procedure. 

Microchips inserted by veterinarians are safe and do not transmit tracking information. Instead, they provide a form of permanent identification that is used to reunite lost pets with their owners. Since your contact information is stored in an online account, you can access it and make updates at any time. 

Give Us a Call to Have Your Pet Microchipped in Los Angeles

Having your furry family member microchipped takes just seconds and greatly boosts the likelihood of locating them should they are ever stolen or get lost. Since so many unclaimed pets in shelters face euthanasia, having your pet chipped could literally save their life. To schedule an appointment for microchipping in Los Angeles, we encourage you to contact us today.