At Anacapa Animal Hospital we’ve witnessed firsthand the tremendous benefits that microchips can provide for animal health. We recommend that every pet – even an indoor pet – have two forms of ID on them at all times. Microchips provide one of the most important IDs available today. They may be tiny but they provide a huge safety net for you and your furry companion.
A microchip is a small implant, about the size of a grain of rice, which we inject underneath the skin. In dogs and cats, microchips are generally implanted along the mid-line of their back, just above their shoulder blades or scapula. Each chip has a unique identification number that is stored in a tiny transponder that can be read through your pet’s skin by a scanner emitting low-frequency radio waves. The microchips themselves emit no electricity and cause no harm to your pet.
Thanks to the help of microchips, we recently reunited two stray pets brought into our hospital with their owners. One of the pets was a stray cat found over 15 miles from its home TWO YEARS after it had disappeared. The owner was hesitant when our clinic called to inform her that her cat was safe – after all, it had been two years – and she lived miles away from Ventura. Upon arriving at our hospital and hearing the meow of her beloved cat, tears began streaming down her face. Our entire staff was touched and amazed to find out how long the separation had been. Since this incident, we have been eager to share this story with all of our clients and want to stress the importance of microchips with you now.
You never know when your door or gate might be left open for your pet to be put in harms way. Safe and harmless, microchips provide a permanent ID for your pet and peace of mind for you. We encourage you to microchip your pet today!