AVID Microchips are a safe and easy way to identify your pet should they get lost. 

It only takes a moment for your pet to bolt out the door or break away from his leash, and many lost pets never find their way home because they have no form of identification when they get away. Tags on collars are great, but pets often break or lose their collars in their attempt at freedom. Microchipping is a way to ensure your pet can find his way home, with permanent identification always in place.  Here at Magalia Pet Hospital we use Avid Microchips and are happy to discount the cost of the microchip if placed during a surgical procedure such as a spay or neuter. We will register that chip with the national database at no further cost to our clients. Once registered with AVID you will receive an email to confirm registration and to make sure that the information you provided is correct with the company. 

Is Microchipping Safe?

Microchips do not need a power source and contain no moving parts, so they are safe to stay in your pet for a lifetime. They are made from material that is compatible with an animal’s body, so any discomfort or rejection is extremely rare. Over time, the microchip will become safely encased in the tissue, which means it will not move around the body. 

What to Expect at a Microchipping Appointment

If you wish to have your pet microchipped, simply give us a call, or ask about it at your next appointment. The procedure is simple. Your pet’s vet will inject the microchip using a sterile syringe, and a small electronic device about the size of a grain of rice will be placed under your pet’s skin between the shoulder blades. The procedure is quick and causes minimal discomfort, just like a vaccination.

Once your pet is microchipped, you will receive an email that tells you that registration is complete. Registering is very important because that is how your information gets put on to the microchip, and if we don’t register the microchip it is worthless. Also, you will need to keep your pet's microchip packet and paperwork so you can change your contact information if you move or get a new phone number. Up-to-date information is critical to making sure you protect your pet with your microchip.

What Happens if Your Pet Gets Lost?

Most veterinary hospitals and animal shelters can scan a found pet free of cost, and use that chip number to retrieve the owners contact information to inform them of their found pet. At that point it would be up to the owner of the pet as to how that pet would be returned home, but to facilitate this process please make sure to keep your contact information updated with the microchip company. Staff at Magalia Pet Hospital are happy to report that due to many pets on the ridge having microchips, countless pets were returned to their families following the Camp Fire in 2018. Some of these reunions took place many months and in some cases years after the traumatic event much to our excitement! To help reunite pets with their people has been a joyful, and important experience for our staff. We take pride in helping the families of our community become whole again.