Think about it. A microchip the size of a grain of rice can mean the difference between being reunited with a lost pet…or not.
“Well,” you may say, “my pet has a collar and name tag.” That’s a lovely fashion statement, but a collar can easily break or fall off. Then if your dog wanders off or your cat scampers up a tree a few blocks from home, a stranger may find them with no ID. But if the pet has a registered microchip, you have definitive proof of ownership. This is particularly helpful in the case of stolen pets.
Once implanted between the animal’s shoulder blades, the microchip is there to stay. All you need to do is have it checked once a year to make sure it’s working properly and that the registration is up to date.
If that happens to you, a chip greatly increases the likelihood that your pet will be returned to you safely. Recent studies have shown that cats with microchips are 20 times more likely to be returned to their owner. And chipped dogs are returned 2.5 times more than unchipped dogs.
That’s a pretty significant difference. And with millions of pets going missing, you want to do everything you can to ensure that yours finds its way back to you.
A story reported in the PetHealth Network newsletter from IDDEX tells about Spice, the 6-month-old grey and white cat discovered 2,300 miles away from her home. Thanks to her microchip, the shelter in Westbrook, Maine was able to identify her guardian in Albuquerque, New Mexico and return Spice to her loving home.
Some manufacturers are enhancing the chips’ capabilities and adding functionality by programming the chip to open your pet door only when your pet approaches. This helps keep out stray critters that may wander into your home. Some chip makers also offer lost pet alerting services and even travel assistance for folks who like to vacation with their pets.
At Hearts Alive Village, every pet we adopt out is microchipped before it goes out the door. If you have a pet who is not yet chipped, our Vet Clinic offers the service for only $25. It’s a simple, painless procedure. Call for an appointment, and put your mind at ease.
Here are more tips on chips:
If you notice your four-legged friend looking glassy-eyed, having difficulty walking or dribbling urine, chances are they’ve gotten into some cannabis edibles. This is not a good thing! THC can be dangerous to the animal’s health.
Other symptoms to watch for include nervousness, tremors or seizures, difficulty regulating body temperature and slow heart rate.
Now that recreational use of marijuana has been legalized in more areas, the rate of toxicosis in animals is increasing. Our curious pets are ingesting unattended edibles. But not to worry, if the edible doesn’t contain THC, your pet will probably be fine.
THC isn’t the only dangerous ingredient lurking in some edibles. Treats that contain chocolate, raisins, xylitol or high fat substances that are known to be fatal can also cause serious problems in pets.
The effects of THC may vary from one animal to another depending on:
Be sure to keep your marijuana, including edibles, away from prying paws and nosy noses.
Supportive care may be needed to regulate the animal’s temperature. Fluids and anti-vomiting meds should be given to prevent dehydration.
Activated charcoal will help bind the toxin in the stomach. As a last resort, the animal’s stomach may have to be pumped to remove the marijuana from its system.
888-426-4435
Or rush your pet to
Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care
8650 W. Tropicana Avenue, #104
702-262-7070
The Hearts Alive Village opened its new low-cost Spay/Neuter Wellness Clinic on Nellis Boulevard Wednesday morning.Anyssa Bohanan got an early preview inside the new clinic and heard why their services are needed in the valley. The facility houses the Veterinary Forensics Program, which has already investigated more than 200 cases of animal cruelty and neglect.
Read more here: https://www.ktnv.com/news/new-low-cost-spay-and-neuter-clinic-aims-to-tackle-pet-overpopulation-in-las-vegas
Think of spay and neuter as birth control for your pet! Both are simple surgical procedures in which the animal’s reproductive organs are removed. A spay is done for females; neuter is for males.
We recommend you spay/neuter your pet between 4-6 months of age.
Why spay your female dogs and cats:
Why neuter your male dogs and cats:
And the most important reason to spay or neuter your pet (drum roll, please!): you’re helping put an end to pet overpopulation in the community!
If your pet is not yet spayed or neutered, please make an appointment now at the Hearts Alive Vet Clinic. We offer low cost spay/neuter services. Simply email frontdesk@heartsalivevillage.org to book your procedure.
