When the Chips Are in, Your Pets Are Safe

Spring is in the air and it's a great time for an outdoor escape -- just not for your beloved pets.

If your dog or cat has cabin fever, nice weather might be just enticing enough for them to pull a disappearing act.

But local veterinarians say a few safeguards on your part could prevent even the sneakiest of furry flight risks.

Puppy Precautions
Dogs are used to the outdoors and love getting their evening walks or laps around the backyard. Most dog owners can tell you they've initiated their fair share of high-speed chases around the block.

One way to keep your pup safe, even if he strays, is to get a microchip implant.

"I'm a big believer in microchipping," said Lauren Johnson, veterinarian at Southern Hills Veterinary Hospital in Tulsa, Okla.

A microchip is inserted underneath the skin of the dog or cat, just above the shoulder blades, said Mark Shackelford, a veterinarian at 15th Street Veterinary Group in Tulsa. The chip contains a unique ID number that matches to the owner information.

Then, if a lost pet is discovered at a shelter, workers there can scan it for a microchip.

But since many companies offer microchips, some worry that a lost pet might turn up with an incompatible chip reader.

"Most chip companies are getting universal readers, so they can read other brands," Johnson said.

And most veterinarian hospitals and practices also have chip readers, Shackelford added.

"I think almost every veterinary hospital, and certainly the animal shelters like the Tulsa Animal Shelter, have microchip readers," he said. "The beauty of microchipping is if the dog gets loose and loses his collar with the tags, he still has the microchip."