Does my puppy need a microchip?

We do recommend that your puppy receive a microchip implant. If your puppy runs off or goes missing, then the microchip is a permanent form of identification. A microchip may also be required if you plan to take your puppy out of the country.

At Springs Road Animal Hospital, we use HomeAgain microchips. Once the microchip is placed, the information is on file for the life of your pet. It is important that you update your contact information with the HomeAgain company if you move or change your phone number, as they will use this information to contact you if your dog is ever found. (Please see the link below to their website) HomeAgain may offer an optional subscription service after a year, which you can opt out of if it is not of interest to you.

If you need to lookup a microchip in a found pet, you can use AAHA’s microchip lookup service (please see the link below)

How do microchips work?

A microchip is a radiofrequency identification transponder (RFID). This is read by a special microchip reader at a veterinary office or animal control facility. A microchip is not the same as a GPS tracker and unfortunately cannot be used to “track” your dog.

How is a microchip placed?

Microchips are implanted with a large needle and are about the size of a grain of rice. We recommend placing them during your puppy’s spay or neuter surgery, or we can use a small amount of a topical anesthetic cream to numb the area before inserting the microchip.

What should I do if I find a stray animal?

If you find a stray dog, you can contact animal control for your city or county (Catawba Valley Animal Control (828) 464-7686).

Please exercise caution around unknown animals to prevent being bitten. It is always best to be careful and to keep children and other pets away from an unknown animal. You may want to call animal control to come pick up the animal and to try and find the pet’s owners. If you are concerned that a stray dog is acting strange or walking abnormally, it is best to stay away and wait for animal control to come pick up the pet and to try and find the pet’s owners.

If a stray dog is friendly or jumps into your car with you, you can take the pet to be scanned for a microchip. Your local animal control and most veterinary hospitals have this equipment and can quickly scan a pet.

Call to make an appointment!