Microchipping is a permanent ID system, which involves a chip no bigger than a grain of rice being implanted under the skin of your pet's scruff. Each microchip has a unique number, which can be read by a portable scanner. Most vets, including us, local authorities and rescue homes, have access to, ensuring your contact details can be easily obtained from the central microchipping database.
Once your pet has been scanned and identified by their microchip, a simple phone call can reunite you with your pet. It is now also a legal requirement for all dogs to be microchipped and owner details to be up to date. All puppies must be chipped by eight weeks of age before ownership is transferred from the breeder. You can be fined if your dog is not microchipped. It is also worth noting that if you plan to take your pet abroad, they must be microchipped.
Microchipping your pet at Pets'n'Vets
Sedation is not necessary for the microchip implantation as this procedure causes minimal discomfort and can be done in a routine consultation. Please don't worry if you can't recall (or know) if your pet is microchipped - It is very easy to check for a microchip using a scanner. We can arrange for a team member at our practice to scan your pet and check for a working chip. Rest assured; we always check that an animal hasn't already got a microchip before implanting a new one.
At the time of implant, you will be asked to complete a registration form, from which your details are then submitted to a national database. It is important to update any changes to your contact details as soon as possible. Here at Pets ‘n’ Vets, all our microchips comply with the International Standard (ISO) and can therefore be recognised by scanners abroad.
For more information, please speak to one of our friendly team members.
