What is Microchipping?

A microchip is a small chip that is placed under your pet’s skin between the shoulder blades. It is no bigger than a grain of rice and will sit comfortably under the skin. When the chip is scanned a unique number will appear on the reader which is your pet’s microchip number.

If your pet goes missing most veterinary surgeries, animal charities and local authorities have microchip readers, so when someone finds your pet they can read the chips unique number.

All microchip numbers are stored on a national database and this will give you all of the pet’s details, your name, your address and phone number. Only veterinary surgeries, animal charities and the dog warden. This identifies your pet’s individual microchip number on the database where your contact details are registered. The database is accessible 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

Why should I Microchip my Pet?

Every year more than 300,000 family pets go missing. Microchipping your pet will give you the best possible chance to be reunited with them.

When a pet is found it is normally taken to the nearest vets which may not be your own, however the microchip database is available to all veterinary surgeries so your pet can still be identified. If your pet is bought to the surgery following a road traffic accident or injury you will be quickly notified. If your pet is a picked up as a stray, the microchip prevents unwanted fees from where your pet is being boarded.

The microchip cannot be tampered with and is the only method of permanent identification.

It is really important if your contact details change you ring your microchip company to inform them. A microchipped pet with the wrong details might as well have no microchip at all.