Orangeburg, SC
Pet Microchipping
Losing a pet is every pet owner’s worst nightmare. Each year, thousands of pets go missing, leaving their families devastated. Traditional identification methods, like collars and tags, can fall off or become unreadable over time. That’s why pet microchipping is a safe, reliable, and permanent solution to help reunite lost pets with their owners. At Orangeburg Veterinary Associates, we proudly offer pet microchipping services to help ensure your pet’s safe return home if they ever become lost.
Pet Microchipping
What is Pet Microchipping?
Pet microchipping is a quick, simple, and virtually painless procedure that provides lifelong identification for your pet. A tiny microchip, about the size of a grain of rice, is implanted just beneath your pet’s skin, usually between the shoulder blades. Each microchip contains a unique identification number that is registered in a national pet recovery database. If your pet ever becomes lost, veterinary clinics, shelters, and rescue organizations can scan the microchip and contact you using the information linked to your pet’s registration.
Why is Microchipping Important for Pet Safety?
Many lost pets never find their way back home because they lack proper identification. Microchipping significantly increases the chances of a safe return. Studies show that dogs with microchips are more than twice as likely to be returned to their owners, while cats with microchips are over 20 times more likely to be reunited with their families compared to those without. Unlike collars and ID tags, microchips are permanent and cannot be removed or lost, providing peace of mind for pet owners.
The Pet Microchipping Process
At Orangeburg Veterinary Associates, our dog microchipping and cat microchipping procedures are quick and safe. The process includes:
- Microchip Implantation – A sterile microchip is inserted just under your pet’s skin using a small needle. The procedure is similar to a routine vaccination and causes minimal discomfort.
- Microchip Registration – After implantation, you will receive instructions to register your contact information with a national pet recovery database.
- Scanning & Verification – We will scan the microchip to confirm it is working properly and ensure it can be detected if your pet is lost.
Once registered, your pet’s microchip will be linked to your current contact information, allowing shelters and veterinary professionals to reunite you with your pet quickly.
Benefits of Pet Microchipping
Microchipping is a proactive and responsible step in pet ownership.
Some key benefits include:
- Permanent Identification: Unlike tags and collars, a microchip provides lifelong identification that won’t fall off or fade.
- Quick and Painless Procedure: Microchip implantation is fast, with minimal discomfort for your pet.
- Increases Chances of Pet Recovery: Shelters and veterinarians across the country use microchip scanners to identify lost pets.
- Reliable & Low Maintenance: Once implanted and registered, no further maintenance is needed.
- Internationally Recognized: Microchips meet universal identification standards, making them useful even for pet travel.
Is Microchip Implantation Harmful?
Pet owners often worry about whether microchipping is safe for their furry companions. The good news is that microchip implantation is a highly safe and routine procedure performed by veterinarians worldwide. The microchip is inserted using a small needle, similar to a routine vaccination, and causes only momentary discomfort. Once placed, the microchip does not require any maintenance, nor does it cause any long-term pain or irritation. The materials used in the microchip are biocompatible, meaning they will not cause an allergic reaction or adverse effects. In rare cases, mild swelling may occur at the injection site, but this typically resolves quickly without any complications.
Microchipping is widely recommended by veterinary professionals, shelters, and pet organizations as one of the most effective and harmless methods of ensuring lost pets can be safely reunited with their families.