Dr. Ford’s Blog – July

Last month we featured an article on our website about traveling with your pet, and in that article we briefly discussed microchips.  In my blog this month, I would like to further address and inform you about what microchips are and why it is so important to microchip your pet.

The number one cause of pet death is getting lost.  Over 10 million pets are lost every year and, without any form of ID, 17 percent of dogs and just two percent of cats ever return to their rightful home.  Most of the rest - roughly three- to four-million - are euthanized.

The most effective way to prevent your dog or cat from becoming one of the aforementioned statistics is to have it tagged with a microchip.

A microchip is a small computer chip that is implanted just under the loose skin between the shoulder blades via a hypodermic needle.  The process is simple and absolutely painless; most animals don’t react at all to the implant.  Microchips are also anti-migratory; once the chip is in place, a layer of connective tissue forms around it and prevents it from moving through the body.  What’s more, no long-term health implications due to the presence of the chip have ever been manifest.  Programmed into the microchip is an identification number specific to your pet.  This tiny computer chip, with its unique code, could save your pet’s life.

The brand of microchip we use at Quail Point Veterinary Hospital is HomeAgain.  The HomeAgain recovery network is exclusively designed to further ensure the chance of reuniting you with your lost pet.  If your pet becomes lost, you may call HomeAgain and report the lost pet.  Recovery specialists will take down vital information and immediately issue a Lost Pet Alert, which is sent to local HomeAgain PetRescuers as well as local veterinary clinics and shelters.  You will then be given the opportunity to print detailed and specific “Lost Pet” posters from the HomeAgain website.  You will be provided with a list of local shelters and veterinary clinics to which you may take the “Lost Pet” posters.  HomeAgain boasts an astonishing 500,000 lost pets returned home every year with the help of their recovery network.

Including the exceptional recovery network, HomeAgain membership comes with unheralded and exclusive benefits.  One such benefit is the 24/7 Emergency Medical Care program.  We have provided HomeAgain with our precise medical policies and procedures for a number of emergencies, as well as a list of our preferred emergency veterinary clinics.  If, in the event of an emergency, we are closed or you are unable to reach us, you may call the HomeAgain 24/7 Emergency Medical phone number.  You will be advised on what specific actions to take and, if necessary, will be directed to our preferred emergency clinic.

Another perk of HomeAgain membership is Lost Pet Medical Insurance.  The insurance, with a $50 deductible, covers up to $3,000 for medical bills for any injuries your dog or cat incurs while lost, including medications prescribed by a veterinarian; diagnostic procedures, including X-rays and lab tests; surgical procedures necessary to treat injuries suffered while lost; dental services; and overnight hospital stays.  Coverage is not automatic but is a great offer to consider.

Finally, HomeAgain membership provides Travel Assistance for Found Pets.  If a lost pet is found 500 miles or more away from home, HomeAgain will pay up to $500 to fly the pet home to be reunited with its family.  There is no deductible to pay for this benefit; it is automatically included with your HomeAgain membership.

In summary, HomeAgain Membership provides an Advanced Anti-Migration Microchip; the outstanding Lost Pet Recovery Network; the availability of Rapid Lost Pet Alerts; Personalized “Lost Pet” Posters; on-staff 24/7 Lost Pet Specialists; the completely cost-free 24/7 Emergency Medical Hotline; Travel Assistance for Found Pets; and lastly, Lost Pet Medical Insurance.  All-in-all, a HomeAgain microchip and membership is an extraordinary deal.