{"id":8006,"date":"2022-06-22T11:20:00","date_gmt":"2022-06-22T10:20:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/tails.com\/blog\/?p=8006"},"modified":"2024-09-13T15:57:41","modified_gmt":"2024-09-13T14:57:41","slug":"why-microchipping-your-dog-is-important","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/tails.com\/blog\/why-microchipping-your-dog-is-important\/","title":{"rendered":"Why microchipping your dog is important"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
Losing your dog \u2013 it’s every owner’s worst fear. But did you know pets with accurate information linked to their microchips are 54% more likely to get home? In this article, we’ll be examining why microchipping your dog is important and how they can help you be reunited with your pup. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
How pet microchips work<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
A microchip is a small chip, about the size of a grain of rice, that is placed under your pet\u2019s skin as a means of identification if your pet is ever lost. This chip can be scanned to show the chip number. This number can then be looked up on any DEFRA (Department of Environmental, Food, Rural Affairs) compliant database to find the saved owner details. For this reason, a microchip is only as effective as the data that is stored against that chip number. That\u2019s why keeping the information on your pet\u2019s microchip is so important. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
What happens if my pet is lost?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Did your four-legged friend wander off after catching the scent of a fox in the woods? Or did they make a break for it when the garden gate was open? While it can feel incredibly stressful, try not to worry. They will most likely end up in the care of a vet, warden, or rescue. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Here they can scan your pet\u2019s microchip to find out who the owner is. To make reaching you as easy as possible, make sure to keep your information up to date, for example when you move house. Sadly, 64% of stray dogs in rescues have out-of-date chip information. By keeping your dog\u2019s microchip details up to date, you can change the narrative.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Top tips for dog owners<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Bringing a new dog home is super exciting – it\u2019s easy to get distracted by all the new toys and treats in those first few weeks. It\u2019s important to remember to also get your dog registered with a local vet, book them in for their vaccinations, and to update their microchip details. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
During this transition period, it\u2019s really important, and a legal requirement, that you update the microchip information to your own details, and continue to do so should you move home. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Unfortunately, in many cases of stray pets, the microchip shows the pet as still registered with the breeder or the first owner and sometimes has no information at all making it harder to reunite lost pets with their loved ones.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It is also really important that you ensure that your microchip is registered with a DEFRA-approved database. This not only makes sure that your personal information is securely stored but also ensures that should your pet ever go missing a vet, warden or rescue will be able to get in contact with you. If you\u2019re unsure of where your information is stored, reach out to your vet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We hope it’s a little clearer for you now why microchipping your dog is important. Do you get your dog’s chip checked regularly? Do you have any top tips of your own? Let us know in the comments below.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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