Does your pet need to be microchipped? We asked the experts about the benefits.
Dr Sune Pretorius is a small animal vet at the Shelly Beach Veterinary Hospital, and she has been a vet for five years (and an animal lover all her life). She shared her expertise with us on the importance of having a pet microchipped.
Why should pets be microchipped?
“If your pet has been lost and then found by a member of the public, a vet can scan your pet’s microchip for the serial number to find your contact details.”
What are the benefits of having a pet microchipped?
“It is a permanent form of identification and it’s excepted for travelling anywhere outside our borders. The best part is that it helps reunite lost or stolen pets with their owners.”
Have you been involved with a lost pet being reunited with their owner, thanks to a microchip? If so, how was your experience?
“I’ve seen many pets be reunited with their owner on the same day they were lost. A puppy named Chui was lost, he was brought in and scanned. We phoned the microchip company which requested the chip ID, and within minutes they gave us the contact number of the owner and we were able to reunite them that same day.”
Which types of pets can get a microchip?
“Any pet that you love can be microchipped, including snakes and birds. The location of the chip is the only difference.”
Are there any alternatives you would recommend?
“I recommend that your pet still wears an ID tag, with your details attached to their collar.”
Do you have any final thoughts on the topic?
“There are many ways to identify a pet, but it is still our responsibility as pet owners to take care of our fur babies and always ensure their safety.”
Learn more about our Vet Of the Month (VOM)
Dr Sune Pretorius works for the South Coast Vets group, which is a mixed practice focusing mainly on small animals, although they do treat pets of all shapes and sizes.
Dr Sune, have you always wanted to be a vet?
“I’ve known that I wanted to become a vet since I was a little girl!”
Do you have pets?
“I have five dogs, five cats, and a parrot.”
It’s important to note that in rare circumstances, microchips have stopped working. So, ask your vet to check that it still works on your next vet visit!
