Preventative Care
Microchipping in Lincoln, AR
Welcome to Smithers Animal Hospital-Lincoln, where a quick microchip appointment can give your dog or cat permanent identification and a much better chance of finding their way home.
Understanding Microchipping
Every pet parent should have a plan in place for their pets in case of an emergency. In the event of a natural disaster or a fire, things can get hectic, chaos happens, and sometimes our pets get lost or left behind. Even when life is normal, something as ordinary as leaving the gate to your yard open can result in a missing pet.
Microchipping is a method of providing permanent identification for your four-legged friend that can’t get lost, stolen, or damaged. It is a safe, simple form of identification that can significantly increase the chance for a happy reunion between you and your lost pet.
Each microchip has a unique registration number that is linked with your pet’s name, owner’s name, and contact information in a national recovery database. At Smithers Animal Hospital-Lincoln, we use PetLink microchips.
What to Expect When Your Pet Is Microchipped
Microchipping is quick and can be completed during any visit to Smithers Animal Hospital-Lincoln, including a physical exam or vaccination appointment.
A Quick, Simple Procedure
A microchip is about the size and shape of a grain of rice. It is injected beneath the surface of your pet’s skin between the shoulder blades in a process similar to a vaccination. The procedure takes only a few minutes.
Registration
We will register your pet’s PetLink microchip following the procedure. After that, you will need to keep your contact information updated when changes occur, such as a move or a new phone number.
If Your Pet Is Ever Lost
It is standard practice at animal shelters and veterinary offices to scan stray pets for a microchip as soon as they are found. The scanner reads the microchip’s unique ID code, which is used to identify the pet and retrieve your contact information. The appropriate pet recovery center will then contact you to arrange a reunion with your pet.
Why Microchip Your Pet
We highly recommend microchipping your indoor and outdoor pets because we love happy endings to stories about lost pets.
- Permanent identification. A microchip can’t get lost, stolen, or damaged the way a collar or tag can.
- Quick and simple. The procedure takes only a few minutes and feels similar to a vaccination.
- Scanned everywhere. Shelters and veterinary offices routinely scan found pets for a microchip.
- Registered for you. We register your pet’s PetLink microchip following the procedure.
- Protection for indoor pets too. Even indoor pets can slip out an open door or gate, or get separated during an emergency.
A microchip works best alongside a collar and ID tag, and it only helps if your contact information is current, so be sure to update it whenever it changes.
Schedule Your Pet’s Microchip Appointment Today
Please consider microchipping your pet today. It only takes a few minutes, and we can do it at your pet’s next visit.
Call us at (479) 824-3299 or visit us at 2157 E Pridemore Dr. in Lincoln. We’re open Monday through Thursday 7:30am–5:30pm and Friday 7:30am–5:00pm.
Microchipping: Frequently Asked Questions
Does microchipping hurt my pet?
Microchipping is a quick procedure similar to a vaccination. The chip, about the size of a grain of rice, is injected beneath the skin between the shoulder blades. Most pets tolerate it well, and the procedure takes only a few minutes.
Is a microchip a GPS tracker?
No. A microchip does not track your pet’s location. It holds a unique registration number that a scanner can read when your pet is found. That number is linked to your contact information in a national recovery database so you can be reached.
What brand of microchip do you use, and do you register it?
At Smithers Animal Hospital-Lincoln we use PetLink microchips. We will register your pet following the procedure. After that, you will need to keep your contact information updated when changes occur so the recovery center can reach you.
Should I microchip an indoor pet?
Yes. We highly recommend microchipping both indoor and outdoor pets. Indoor pets can slip out an open door or gate, and pets can get separated from their families during a fire or natural disaster. A microchip gives them permanent identification that can’t get lost or damaged.
How do I schedule a microchip appointment and what are your hours?
Microchipping can be done during any visit. Call us at (479) 824-3299 or visit us at 2157 E Pridemore Dr. in Lincoln. We’re open Monday through Thursday 7:30am–5:30pm and Friday 7:30am–5:00pm.