NASHVILLE, Tenn., July 26, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Murphy Road Animal Hospital is raising awareness about the importance of microchipping pets with a special "Check the Chip Day" on August 15. A microchip greatly increases the chances that a pet can be safely returned, but the chip is only effective if the registration information is accurate. In conjunction with the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), Murphy Road Animal Hospital is reminding pet owners to have their pets microchipped and to keep the registration information associated with this microchip up to date.
Nashville veterinarian Dr. I. Craig Prior is reminding pet owners about the importance of keeping contact information up to date for microchipped pets.
"Since there are many different microchip manufacturers, sometimes pet owners can forget where their pets' microchip is registered and fail to keep the registration up to date with their latest contact information," said Dr. Prior. "That's why we are hosting a 'Check the Chip Day' event on August 15. Pet owners can bring their microchipped pets in and we'll check their chip for free."
A microchip is a small chip, roughly the size of a rice grain, encoded with a unique serial number. The chip is typically implanted between a pet's shoulders. Animal hospitals and animal shelters are able to scan a pet for the microchip and using the serial number, access the microchip database to find a pet's owners contact information.
On 'Check the Chip Day', veterinarians at Murphy Road Animal Hospital will check and confirm that a pet is microchipped. If a pet is not microchipped, the animal hospital can schedule an appointment to have the pet microchipped.
To update a pet's registration, pet owners will need their pet's microchip information. The American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA)'s Universal Pet Microchip Lookup Tool is an Internet-based application that allows veterinarians to quickly match a pet's microchip number with the corresponding manufacturer's database. Pet owners will then be able to create an account with the corresponding manufacturer and save their contact information.
"Once a chip is registered, manufacturers send annual reminders to update contact information," said Dr. Prior. "Pet owners can also upload photos and descriptions of their pets. This information is especially helpful if a pet is lost, as animal shelters and veterinary hospitals will know exactly what to look for thanks to these helpful details."
Murphy Road Animal Hospital was one of the first animal hospitals in the United States to begin offering microchipping, says Dr. Prior.
"Microchips are an important means for reuniting lost pets with their owners," said Dr. Prior. "We're proud to be at the forefront of this critical technology." Microchips cannot be altered and are proof of ownership. The animal hospital offers some of the most widely used microchips that increase the chances for a safe recovery.
For more information, visit http://murphyroadvet.com.