Micro-chipping my pet – Is it worth it?

As animal lovers, we all know that looking after our family pets is in our best interests. Today we’re considering micro-chipping and looking into both the benefits and negatives of this process.

What is micro-chipping and how does it work?

Micro-chipping is the process of inserting a small ‘chip’ under the skin of the animal. The chip is comparable in size to a grain of rice, and the insertion itself is only as painful as an injection. The chip contains a unique number which links your pet to you – this number is kept on a national database which can be used to reunite you and your pet should they go missing. To retrieve this personal number, a vet/animal rescue centre/ local council animal warden can scan your pet with a device very similar to a barcode reader – this scan retrieves your number, and with a single phone call your address can be found and your pet safely returned.

How much does it cost?

This varies on your pet and who does the chipping. For cats, a typical vet cost can be around £25, and for dogs it can be a little higher, at around £30. This is easily a good investment, however, as it can save you the large amount  spent otherwise on searching for a pet and offering ‘rewards’ for being returned. Some rescue centres may offer a free/discounted chipping service, so it is wise to look around before you get your pet chipped.

Is it 100% guaranteed to work?

Unfortunately micro-chipping does have a slight margin where it fails to work. The chip itself can suffer from ‘migration’ where it slips out of place. Whilst this doesn’t pose a health risk for your pet, it can mean that quick scans will not reveal your personal number, which can cause a delay in returning your pet to you until a full scan is performed.

Also, you must remember to change your details relevant to the chip when moving house, for example. This is especially pertinent with cats as they can wander a great deal, and seemingly stray cats are prone to being ‘adopted’.

Peace of Mind.

Chipping is a legal requirement for obtaining your pet passport; should you want to take your pet abroad with you, it is vital you obtain this important piece of protection. If your pet is lost, and your details cannot be retrieved because you do not have the chip, the care and homing of the animal duty falls to local charity and councils – as a responsible pet owner, it is in your best interest to prevent this.

Should your pet be stolen, the micro-chip allows your pet to be recognised when taken to a vets, and will be returned to you immediately. This process helps catch those people that steal animals from their owners or the street, and will eventually help stop the illegal selling of stolen animals.

As a dog owner, you may feel that simply having a collar with a tag is enough to ensure the safe return of your faithful pet. For cat owners, however, micro-chipping is especially useful as cats wearing collars can get caught in smaller spaces and hurt themselves, and as cats are often free to wander a lot more than dogs it can often be easier for them to travel a lot further and become lost more easily.

Should your pet get lost, it is worth investing into Pet Insurance to ensure any accidents or health problems are covered. Animal Friends offers a comprehensive range of cover to suit you and your pets needs. Call us on 0844 55 70 300 and ask how we can help you today.

Alternatively get an Instant Pet Insurance quote online today.