If you’ve had the unfortunate experience of losing your dog, even just for a few hours, you know the importance of taking any and all safety precautions for your furry little one. According to the American Humane Society, nearly 10 million pets go missing every year, with dogs being at the top of the list. That’s why figuring out ways to prevent a potential mishap from happening is essential for all dog owners. The leading preventative measure for keeping your dogs safe is microchipping.
Microchipping sounds and seems scarier than it actually is. The procedure involves a small microchip, around the size of a grain of rice, being implanted in the back of the dog’s neck between its two shoulder blades, just underneath the skin. This process takes just a couple of seconds, is painless, and is very low in cost, making it a no-brainer for any dog parent. To help disseminate any fears you may still have about microchipping your dog, here are 5 reasons that will surely have you reconsidering:
They Don’t Cause Any Discomfort
The main concern that most owners have about microchipping their furry little ones, is the fear that it’s painful for them. That could not be further from the truth with microchipping! Microchipping is actually one of the easiest, fastest, and most painless procedures a dog can have. With the insertion process only taking just a few seconds and the size of the microchip being so small, dogs feel at most a pinch for less than a second and then are fine. So, there’s no need to be concerned about your dog’s wellbeing during the process of getting microchipped.
They Are Completely Safe
Millions of dogs have been microchipped with no reaction to the process or the actual microchip. The stationary position that the microchip is placed into, as well as its small size, make it nearly impossible for your dog to have any type of irritation or discomfort. It would be extremely rare for your dog to have a reaction to the microchip or even the insertion process.
They Can Protect Against Theft
Sadly, in many parts of the world, including the United States, it’s common for pets to get stolen, especially certain breeds of dogs. Dogs that are bred and more expensive, such as any type of bulldog, are at higher risk of being taken. While this may seem improbable and uncommon, there are more of these types of stories than you’d like to think. After all, did we not just see what happened to Lady Gaga’s dog walker?! When or if this horrible event ever happens, the first thing a vet, pound, or shelter would do upon seeing the dog (because even the thief would eventually have to bring the dog to one of these places) is check for a chip. If it has one, they will be able to easily identify that it has owners and it will provide them the information needed to contact the owners.
They Can Help Return Your Pet
Pets can go missing in a number of ways, with simply getting out of an open door or gate being the main. Microchipping your dog means that even if your furry little one gets out, even if they somehow end up far far away from you, they will eventually end up with someone who will have to take them to an animal shelter, hospital, vet, or pound who would immediately check for a chip. After that, tracking you down and getting back your furry little one will be easy and fast.
They Can Give You Peace of Mind
As a parent, even a pet parent, it’s impossible not to constantly be consumed with worry about something happening to your little one. With animals, it can feel even more all-consuming because of all of the additional ways that things could go wrong, with simply getting out on accident being the main. Microchipping can help alleviate all of these worries with a simple, easy, painless, and affordable procedure. Once your dog is microchipped, even if the case of a horrible event like getting out occurs, it will be easy to track down the dog and return it home safely.
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