It seems like just a few months ago I was still in veterinary school, practically living in anatomy lab. But it's already been more than two decades since those sleepless, stressful days and nights. If I was asked to compare my job as a veterinarian then and now I would say the greatest change has been about the role of our pets in the family. Historically, we've been enjoying members of the canine family as companions since around 10,000 B.C. The consideration of pets as members of our family is a concept of just the past decade or so. In veterinary medicine this concept is described as the human animal bond.
Evidence of the value of our pets to the family abounds. Dogs and cats receive better nutrition and health care than the majority of the world's human population. Pets are living longer than ever before, and a brand new industry of geriatric pet care has developed. Innovative products that make our pets healthier, more comfortable, and safer are now considered to be essential by many families.
The use of microchips to provide permanent, tamper-proof identification for our pets is an important development in pet care. These microchips are about the size of a grain of rice and are placed under the skin through a hypodermic needle. The microchip can be read with a hand held electronic reader. Once registered to the pet's owner, the microchip identification number is kept in a database that can be accessed over the internet. This form of identification is becoming very popular since it is affordable and virtually never fails.
I want to make some key points about using microchips in your pets. Realize what the microchip is and isn't. A reader is used to get the numbers from the implanted chip. This is not a global positioning system to find a lost dog. Most animal shelters and veterinarians scan found pets upon admission to identify the owners as soon as possible. Also, the microchip number won't provide the owner's information if the chip isn't registered. And there are several registries, so you may need to search several before the owner is identified. In spite of these minor limitations, microchips are still the most reliable means of making sure your lost pet isn't lost for long.
I love telling stories about my work. Some of my favorites are those of lost pets that are reunited with their family. I experienced two such stories in August alone. Last week, a man came into the clinic with Red, a mixed breed, well-mannered dog. While I was performing a pre-vaccination exam, the man told me Red wandered up to his home a few days earlier. He wanted to keep Red, but already had two dogs and was really just hoping he could find Red a good home. Following protocol, I scanned for a microchip. We were both surprised and excited when the microchip reader beeped and revealed a number. After a few minutes, I found the microchip online and sent a notification to Red's real family. Both Red and his family were thrilled.
I'm sure you've heard that necessity is the father of invention. As the value of our pets to our family becomes greater, we will continue to come up with ideas that give our four-legged family members a better quality of life. If there is anything I have learned since graduating veterinary school, it is that the human-animal bond is stronger than ever in Siloam Springs.
-- Dr. Richard McCarver is a veterinarian at Siloam Springs Veterinary Clinic. The opinions expressed are those of the author.
Community on 09/17/2014