If you have a dog, one of the best things you can do for their protection and overall well-being is to get them microchipped. This is where a small chip inside a cylindrical tube is placed in their body, which makes them easy to identify if they ever get lost or stolen. Having this service performed on your dog can go smoothly if you take these steps. 

Make Sure Dog Doesn't Already Have a Microchip

If you adopted a dog from the shelter or just purchased them at an older age, you want to see if they already have a microchip before scheduling to have a new one installed. Most veterinary practices in your area can perform this assessment. 

If there's a microchip already around your dog's spinal area, then you can just use the same one. Whereas if the scan comes back negative for this chip, you'll know to schedule microchipping services with a veterinary practice you feel comfortable working with. 

Keep Your Dog Calm

In order to get a microchip inserted into your dog, a needle will be used to puncture the skin. This usually happens around the spinal area, but you want to make sure you have a way to keep your dog calm. It will then be easier for the vet to be methodical with the needle.

As long as you keep your dog calm and still, the microchip will be placed in the right part of your dog without causing them any sort of harm whatsoever. 

Continue to Make Sure the Microchip Functions Normally

After you get your dog microchipped successfully, you'll want to continue checking to see if the chip works. You can easily do this by scheduling a visit with the veterinary practice that put the chip in. They can simply scan the chip and see if it brings up a unique identification number.

If it does, then you know the microchip is still working and nothing needs to be done on your part. Just keep checking this chip's performance every couple of months or so when your dog is examined by a veterinarian.  

If you have a dog, it's a smart idea to look into microchipping services. They let you place a microchip in your dog for tracking purposes, which might come in handy if they ever get lost. You just want to make sure you handle this standard service like a responsible dog owner the entire time. 

For more info, contact a company like Wolfchase Animal Hospital.