Microchipping Plus The Right Pet Insurance Quote Equals Peace Of Mind
Thousands of pets go missing each year – but sadly many are never reunited with their owners because they have no way of being identified.
This heart-breaking situation is easy to avoid thanks to microchipping. A quick and practically painless procedure, almost any animal, from parrots, cats and dogs to rabbits, goats and snakes, can be safely and permanently tagged for your peace of mind.
How does microchipping work?
A microchip the size of a grain of rice is injected into your animal. It doesn’t hurt any more than a standard injection and once in place, it works as a permanent identification that can’t fall off or get lost. It gives your pet a unique code, which is linked to your address on the national Petlog database. If your pet does become separated from you, any vet or rescue shelter can quickly and painlessly scan your animal, find your name and contact details and reunite your pet with you. It also serves as proof that the pet is yours if your pet is stolen.
If you’ve ever wanted proof that it’s worth microchipping your pet, turn to the recent news story about Moon Unit the cat. This lucky moggy was reunited with its owners at the end of July, eight years after first going missing after being found in Paris, 280 miles away from its London home. It was picked up from the streets by an animal shelter and scanned – and thanks to its microchip, it has found its way back to its owners.
Dogs
In April this year it became compulsory to microchip your dog or face fines up to £500. The microchip is inserted into the loose skin of the neck between the shoulder blades.
Cats
Any cat owner will have listened with horror to the all too often tales of cats jumping through a van window, curling up to sleep and waking up to find themselves half way across the country. Or, if they’re chased by dogs they can quickly find themselves out of their territory and end up walking in the wrong direction for miles. The microchip is injected into the neck.
Parrots
An expensive purchase and long-living part of the family that has a habit of taking flight, microchipping your parrot makes sense. As they don’t have a subcutaneous layer, the chip is inserted into the chest muscle.
Horses
Horses have to be microchipped to get a passport and have to have a passport by law even if they will never leave their field. The chip is injected into the crest on the left side of the neck.
Rabbits
Rabbits can go missing in the same way as dogs and cats can. And just like for dogs and cats, rabbits can have a microchip inserted into the loose skin at the back of the neck.
Snakes
Snakes can escape their homes, so the quickest way to be reunited is to microchip – inserted in the subcutaneous zone on the left side of the neck.
Ferrets
Known for their escape artiste tendencies, it’s no wonder there are currently 11,0000 microchipped ferrets out there. There are two sizes of microchip available for ferrets, the standard and a mini version, and it is inserted into the neck between the shoulder blades.
Get even more peace of mind with the right pet insurance quote
Losing your pet is only one of the major worries of ownership. Even if you’ve only ever taken your pet for their injections or check-ups you’ll know that vet bills don’t come cheap. Depending on the scope of treatment, helping your pet to recover from an illness or accident can run into the £thousands, adding to the stress at this difficult time.
Pet insurance can help give you peace of mind that if anything does happen you’ll be able to help your pet with no worries about the costs. It might seem like a lot to pay out each month if your pet is healthy and happy, but in the long run, it can, literally, prove to be a lifesaver.
Get the best deal on pet insurance
Our top tips:
- Shop around or use a broker to do the legwork for you
- Don’t pay for things you don’t need – if you’re not likely to take your pet overseas, make sure that’s not included in your premium.
- Don’t skimp. You could save money by covering for accident only, but make sure you’re comfortable with covering vets fees (or facing the alternative)
- Make sure that the insurance you buy offers treatment from professional veterinary staff and allows you to take your animal to any surgery in the case of an emergency
- Insure your pet whilst it’s healthy. If you leave it until your pet is older or already has a health problem you’ll find getting insurance harder and more expensive
Our specialist team can find you the best value pet insurance quote with no surprises in the small print. Call us today on 0117 955 6835 or get a quote here.