Microchipping your Cairn Terrier is an essential step if you have one. Cairn Terrier are bright dogs that can easily slip out of their collar or escape from the yard. Microchipping these animals is thus critical so that they can be tracked down if they ever go missing. We’ll cover all you need to know about microchipping your Cairn Terrier in this blog post!
What is a pet microchip?
A microchip is a tiny computer chip, which is placed by a qualified microchip implanter under your pet’s skin, between their shoulder blades. The physical chip is very small, about the size of a grain of rice, and it will remain in your Cairn Terrier pup for its entire lifetime. This microchip contains all the information about you and your pet, including their vaccinations, medical records, breed type, etc. Microchips are not only used for identification but also to combat dog theft.
Why should you microchip your Cairn Terrier?
Microchipping is the best way to identify your Cairn Terrier. By law, all dogs should be microchipped. Although microchipping your dog is now compulsory, it also makes life easier to keep your dog safe. If he or she ever gets lost and ends up at the vets in which does happen more than you think to microchipped Cairn Terriers are much easier to reunite with their families than those who aren’t microchipped.
How can microchipping help me reunite with my missing Cairn Terrier?
Microchipping is a kind and safe method to reunite you with your Cairn Terrier if they get lost. When their microchip is scanned, it would return to you as the owner if someone discovered your missing dog and took them to the veterinarian or rescue facility.
It’s critical that your dog’s microchip information is up to date and registered in order to ensure that microchipping is effective. If you just got a new Cairn Terrier, make sure the microchip database firm has your most recent contact information so they can notify you when your missing pet is discovered. You may find it difficult to be reunited with your Cairn Terrier if the microchip contact information isn’t current.
At what age do I get my Cairn Terrier microchipped?
Cairn Terriers can be microchipped at any age, but it’s better if they are at least seven or eight weeks old. If you get your Cairn Terrier puppy microchipped before they are seven weeks old, their immune system is not fully formed. This could result in them rejecting the chip implant or it failing to work correctly.
If you live in the UK, by law your Cairn Terrier pup must be microchipped by the time they are eight weeks old. Typically, your breeder will have undertaken this exercise before you pick up your Cairn Terrier puppy, but it is always worth confirming with the breeder that this is the case. If you are not sure, you can go visit your local vet who will be able to provide you with that information. If they cannot find a chip, microchip implantation is a simple procedure they can do whilst you wait.
Does my elderly Cairn Terrier need microchipping?
Some people think that if their dog is old, they are not required to get it microchipped. This is not true unless your veterinarian says that the Cairn Terrier can’t be microchipped for health reasons. The vet will provide a certificate stating the exemption. In the UK, as regulations have made microchipping dogs compulsory, it is likely that your canine companion will already be chipped. Having them chipped is not enough, we would recommend that you check with your microchipping database that the details are correct and up to date.
Will microchipping hurt my Cairn Terrier?
Microchipping your dog is not only a painless procedure, it is a simple process that causes no discomfort. Don’t be concerned if you’re worried about having unpleasant pain inflicted on your Cairn Terrier. With today’s technology, the operation is incredibly quick and simple, with a fast injection that provides no discomfort to your dog. When a veterinarian uses a microchip scanner to identify the number on your Cairn Terrier’s microchip, it’s another painless procedure that takes just seconds.
Are there any side effects of microchipping my dog?
Some people are concerned about side effects when it comes to microchipping their Cairn Terrier. There are some side effects that can happen with these chips but most of them are minor and not really something you need to worry about.
Microchips can cause allergies in your dog which will lead to irritation by the area where the chip was inserted or redness around it. This is very rare since they have been used for many years now without any major side effects being reported yet.
Another possible side effect might be an infection at certain sites although this isn’t common either according to research done on over 100 dogs who were all microchipped successfully and safe from side effects. With proper care and cleaning of the area chipped, microchipping side effects can be avoided.
Where can I get my Cairn Terrier microchipped?
Every breeder that sells dogs should make sure they are microchipped, but if your Cairn Terrier puppy is not yet microchipped, there are a variety of locations where you can get it done. This service may be obtained from veterinarians’ offices, animal shelters, rescue groups, as well as certain pet shops for an expense; the dog’s owner will receive a certificate and correct microchip paperwork. Some rescue organizations may do this work for free.
How much does it cost to have my Cairn Terrier microchipped?
It costs about £20 in the United Kingdom to have a microchip implanted in your Cairn Terrier. The microchip implantation fee will be determined by the microchip brand you select, as well as other services you purchase with it. If you buy multiple services at once, such as vaccinations or pet identification tags, some microchipping businesses provide discounts. This cost could range between £20 and £30 if you don’t want to buy any more services from them.
I got my Cairn Terrier microchipped, what’s next?
When you get your dog microchipped, you should make sure you register your pet’s microchip details and your contact info with a government-approved UK pet database. Click here to read about the different pet database companies and what they offer.
Once your Cairn Terrier’s microchip is registered, it is your responsibility as the keeper to update it, especially your address and personal contact details, whenever you move to a different location. This makes it easier to reunite you and your pet when they go astray.
How can I update the information for my Cairn Terrier’s microchip?
You can update the microchip information at your local vet clinic or by getting in touch with the microchip company where your pet’s microchip details were registered.
Changing and updating a dog’s details on a pet microchip database costs between £6 and £20 in administration fees. Some charge you each time you modify your information, whereas others charge an upfront fee that covers all changes throughout your dog’s lifetime. Check with your database to see how they’re managed.
If you don’t keep your information current, the prospect of being reunited with your Cairn Terrier if they go missing is considerably less. Don’t put yourself in a position where you may never see your dog again. If the details of your Cairn Terrier remain unchanged, it will be the previous owner’s details that will be held on file with the microchip database as opposed to yours.
Please note, there is also a £500 fine due if your contact details registered with a government approved pet database is inaccurate.
Conclusion
Microchipping your dog is a critical part of pet ownership. If properly inserted, it is a quick and painless procedure with no negative side effects. It’s critical to microchip your dog and have their microchip information registered in an authorised pet microchip database so you’ll be easily reunited with them if they go missing.
I hope you found this post useful, and that it answered all of your questions regarding microchipping your Cairn Terrier! If so, please share it with others who could benefit from learning more about it.