Pet Microchipping - Valley Veterinary Hospital of Helena
At Valley Veterinary Hospital of Helena we know how much you love your furry family members. Dr. Dawn Reisinger in Helena, Montana can help keep pets safe. If your pet has ever wandered away from home or the thought of losing your pet causes you to panic, then microchipping your pet is the best option. Even if your dog or cat has a collar with their name and your address and phone number on it, if the collar is lost whoever finds your pet will not know who they belong to.
What Pets can be Microchipped?
When microchipping first came out, only dogs were microchipped now you can have the following pets microchipped:
- Dogs
- Cats
- Horses
- Rabbits
Other animals can also be microchipped depending on their size and species. Ask Dr. Dawn Reisinger for advice on microchipping different pets than the ones listed above.
How Microchipping is Performed
With microchipping, a small chip is injected under the surface of the skin with a needle. It has a similar feeling of getting a shot; there is no need to put the pet to sleep. However, if the pet is having a surgical procedure done, such as spaying or neutering, it can be done at the same time. Otherwise, it is done as an office visit. Dr. Dawn Reisinger and his colleague, at Valley Veterinary Hospital of Helena can provide you with all the necessary information needed before and after the procedure.
Information Stored in the Microchip
The pets microchip contains identification numbers that are used to locate the owner, which are put in a database. It is important to realize that your pet cannot be tracked with the microchip, it is not a GPS.
After your pets’ microchipping, the pet’s owners address and phone number will be entered into a database. Therefore, if the pet is ever lost it can be scanned at a veterinarian office, an animal shelter, and by Dr. Dawn Reisinger in Helena, MT at Valley Veterinary Hospital of Helena.
How to Maintain the Microchip
There are only three things you need to do after the microchipping these include the following:
- Register the microchip so the information is in the database
- Have Valley Veterinary Hospital of Helena scan the pet's microchip once a year to make sure it is working correctly
- Make sure the information in the database is up to date if you move make sure to change the address and phone number or any other pertinent information necessary to reach you if your pet is lost or stolen.
Dr. Dawn Reisinger at Valley Veterinary Hospital of Helena in Helena, MT are accepting new patients to make an appointment for an exam, preventive medicine, health care and vaccinations. Call (406) 204-4332 today!