The ON-LINE edition of our monthly newsletter

MICROCHIP IDENTIFICATION
What You Should Know

WHAT IS A MICROCHIP?

The microchip identifier is a small radiotransmitter about the size of a grain of rice. It is inserted with a special needle in the back of the pet’s neck where there is loose skin.  When the chip is scanned, it receives a signal from the scanner and answers back with its own special code: an identification number unique to your pet.  Scanners are present in most vet hospitals and all animal shelters. If a chip is detected, a toll free number is called and the lost pet’s owner is contacted.

ARE THERE DIFFERENT KINDS OF CHIPS?

Yes, there are three types of chips: the AVID chip distributed by Avid, the destron chip distributed by HomeAgain, and the trovan chip distributed by InfoPET.  Previously scanners could only detect their own brand of chip but currently universal scanners are in use in the shelters so that any of the chip brands can be detected.

IF MY PET IS LOST, HOW WILL I BE CONTACTED?

InfoPET, the first company to offer microchipping, was not initially successful and underwent a reorganizing bankruptcy.  This concerned the other chip companies and pet owners. What would happen to the InfoPET owner database if the company went out of business permanently? To address this, HomeAgain set up its database through the American Kennel Club and AVID has its database backed up by the California Veterinary Medical Association.  When your pet is chipped, you pay the vet for the chip insertion and also pay the registry of the chip number a membership fee to keep chip number in the database.  If your pet is found, the appropriate database is called and your name and telephone number come up. With the HomeAgain system, you also receive a bright yellow ID tag for your pet’s collar so that the pet can still be identified by chip number even if the finder is a private person with no means of chip scanning.

IS IT SAFE FOR MY PET TO HAVE A CHIP IN ITS BODY?

Chips are made of non-reactive materials and do not emit a radio signal unless a scanner is passed directly over them.  Chips can sometimes migrate under the skin (down a front leg, for example) and become difficult to find thus negating their usefulness; however, the HomeAgain chip has overcome this problem by including an “anti-migration device” in its design such that some of the skin tissue can grow into a small hole in the chip casing forming an anchor.  The only adverse effect of chipping is that the insertion needle is rather large so that implantation stings more than a typical injection. This is a very minor disadvantage for such a tremendous benefit.

HAVEN'T THERE BEEN PROBLEMS WITH CHIP READING IN THE PAST?

In the past shelter personnel had not been adequately trained and typically only one brand of scanner was available.  Recently new Animal Regulation administration in Los Angeles has been especially positive regarding chipping and pets are reliably scanned upon entrance to the shelter.

OUR HOSPITAL IMPLANTS THE HOMEAGAIN BRAND OF MICROCHIP IDENTIFICATION FOR A CHARGE OF $30. Save $5.00 with our featured coupon!

For more information on the Home Again microchip, direct from the manufacturer’s web page, click here.

If you are interested in microchip implantation please call for an appointment.

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RIMADYL:
NOW AVAILABLE IN CHEWABLE TABLETS

Rimadyl is now available in Chewable Tablets (the same flavor as Pet Tabs® vitamins). If your dog is on Rimadyl and you are interested in trying the new chewables, let us know. (At this time Chewable Rimayl Tablets are a special order)
 

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LAST MONTH FOR
FLEA PRODUCT SPECIAL OFFERS

Get a leg up against fleas and other parasites! The companies that make Advantage, Frontline and Heartgard are now all offering special incentives to make sure parasites don’t bother your dog or cat, but this is the last month to take advantage of them:

BUY TWO CARDS
of any one size of FRONTLINE
(six applications)
GET ONE APPLICATION
FREE
 

BUY TWO BOXES
of any one size of ADVANTAGE
(eight months of protection)
GET ONE APPLICATION
(ninth month of protection)
OR ONE PREVENTIC COLLAR
FREE
 

BUY A ONE YEAR’S SUPPLY
of any one size of HEARTGARD
GET A
$5.00 REBATE

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Thank-You for our New Referrals

Here are the names of our clients who have referred their family or friends to our hospital in July. Our referring clients receive a $15 credit as a gesture of thanks.

Thank you again for your confidence in us.

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NEW ON OUR WEB SITE

CALCITRIOL

This medication actually represents activated vitamin D. Vitamin D is not a vitamin in the way other vitamins are or in the way we think of vitamins; vitamin D is actually a hormone. It plays a very important role in calcium phosphorus balance and can be beneficial in preventing the progression of kidney failure. Find an explanation of how Calcitriol works, it’s uses, side effects, interactions with other drugs and cautions and concerns on this page in the Pharmacy Center.

PYOMETRA

"Pyometra" is the life-threatening infection of the uterus which generally occurs in middle-aged to older female dogs in the six weeks following heat. The uterus with pyometra swells dramatically and is filled with pus, bacteria, dying tissue, and toxins.  Without treatment, the pet is expected to die.  Despite her serious medical state, she must be spayed quickly if her life is to be saved. While the surgery involved is essentially a spay, it is actually far more complicated. Learn more in this page in the Surgery Suite.

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Featured product of the month:
  MICROCHIP INSERTION

 Make sure if your pet escapes, is lost or is stolen that the animal shelter or another veterinarian’s office can identify you as the owner. A tiny grain-of-rice size microchip sits under the skin, and a pass with a scanner over your pet will identify you as the owner.
 

Normally $30.00.

Print and cut out this coupon for $5.00 off!