Is your pet microchipped? If not, then now is the time to schedule a microchipping appointment with our San Diego vet here at Tierrasanta Veterinary Hospital. In addition to our wide range of veterinary services, we're happy to offer affordable microchipping to help increase your chances of recovering your pet if he or she were to go missing.

Our veterinary team has taken to the time to answer some of our most commonly asked questions for your reference.

Microchipping refers to the process of embedding a small chip underneath the surface of your pet's skin. This chip is encoded with a totally unique ID number that is then linked to key information about you and your pet. This allows your pet's name as well as your contact information to be obtained in the event that your pet goes missing and is recovered.

Microchipping gives you a better chance of being reunited with your pet when compared to using a collar and ID tags alone due to the fact that collars are often lost and ID tags can fall off when a pet runs away from home.

The process of placing a microchip is quick and easy, and can typically be done in just a matter of minutes in our office. The chip itself is no larger than the size of a grain of rice and can be embedded under the skin using a small injection tool. The sensation felt by your pet is similar to that of getting a routine vaccination. As a result, many pets won't even realize the microchip has been placed. From there, all that's left to do is to register your chip with your contact information.

One of the most important things to be aware of when microchipping your pet is that you have to register the chip with the microchip company itself. Furthermore, anytime you move or change phone numbers, it's important to contact the chip company with your pet's microchip number so this information can be updated. All you need to do is call the chip company and provide them with your pet's microchip number in order to update your contact information.

If you're interested in having your pet microchipped, now is the time to schedule an appointment with Tierrasanta Veterinary Hospital. You can get in touch with us by calling (858) 292-6116. We'd be happy to find an appointment slot that suits your busy schedule.