You may wonder, why get a dog microchipped? Losing your dog can be a very distressing experience, and if this happens, you want to be reunited with your pet as soon as possible.

Previous methods for identification included tattooing and relying on identification through tags on collars. These methods were ineffective; tags could be lost, and tattoos could be tampered with.

If lost, dogs are often taken to veterinary practices, local authority dog wardens or rescue centres. Every effort is made to reunite owners with their lost pets, but sometimes ineffective identification methods make this not always possible. This led to many lost pets ending up in animal shelters because it was impossible to identify and, hence, reunite them with their owners.

Microchipping is a safer and more reliable method of identifying dogs. Microchipping cats and dogs has been compulsory in the UK since April 2016, under legislation, and owners can be fined up to £500 if their dog is not microchipped. Microchipped dogs have a much higher chance of being found and reunited with their owners.

What is a Dog Microchip?

A microchip is a small device approximately the size of a grain of rice. The microchip is implanted under the skin at the back of the neck or under the skin between the shoulder blades. The microchip is implanted using a large bore needle and no anaesthetic, sedation or pain relief are required.

Over time, the microchip can shift and potentially migrate away from its original location. Thankfully, the microchip can be read wherever it is in the body. Veterinary practices, rescue centres, and local authority dog wardens are all trained to scan the whole dog for a microchip.

Do Dog Microchips Expire?

No, most of the time, they continue to work throughout the dog's life. As with any device, occasionally microchips do malfunction.

The microchip should be implanted by a veterinarian, a veterinary nurse or technician, or another suitably trained professional. The microchip contains a unique 15-digit microchip number. This unique number is then registered on a microchip database and associated with the owner's provided details.

When a dog is found, a special handheld device called a microchip scanner is used to locate the microchip and read its unique number.

What Details Need to Be Registered?

Once the microchip has been implanted, your pet's microchip details are registered in a national microchip database. This unique number is then associated with the owner's details. An up-to-date address and current contact information must be provided.

It's important to update your details if you change address or phone number. It's likely that you will also need to provide an email address and more than one phone number to maximise the chance of finding you if your pet does get lost. It's also a legal requirement in the UK that your dog wears a collar and tag with the owner's contact details inscribed on the tag, attached to the collar, or engraved into the collar itself.

How Do I Find My Dog's Microchip Number Online?

Your vet will provide you with the microchip number and the database that is registered to. You can contact the database to set up an online account, which allows you to easily update details when they change.

What Age Can a Puppy Be Microchipped?

It's natural to ask, do puppies have to be microchipped? Or when should I have my dog microchipped?

In the UK, it's a legal requirement that dogs must be microchipped. Compulsory puppy microchipping means that all dogs should be microchipped and registered from the age of 8 weeks.

The only exemption from this is for unwell pets that qualify under health concern grounds or a temporary exemption for those considered too small. Your vet will need to provide an exemption certificate if any of these circumstances are met.

Dog Microchip Databases

There are numerous dog microchip databases, and your veterinarian can verify that your dog's microchip registration is associated with a database that conforms to government standards. Your vet will ensure that your pet has an effective microchip and is registered correctly at the time of microchip implantation.

The database your pet is registered in will depend on which one your vet chooses to use. If the chip is not implanted or registered by your vet, it's the owner's responsibility to ensure their pet is microchipped, appropriately registered, and the details are up to date and accurate.

You may wonder, do puppies need to be microchipped before being sold? And the answer is Yes!

How Much is Microchipping a Dog?

You may wonder how much is microchipping a dog Vs. microchipping a puppy?

Thankfully, microchipping puppies costs the same as the microchip implantation for dogs of any age or size. There will be variations in cost between different areas and veterinary practices, but microchipping prices generally range from £10 to £30. This cost normally covers the implantation procedure and the registration process.

If you need to change details throughout your pet's life, a further fee may be applicable for updating your information. If you're adopting a dog, the rehoming or rescue centre will likely pay to microchip your pet as part of the adoption fee. 

Check Your Dog's Microchip

When visiting your vet, remember to ask them to check your dog's microchip. A microchipped and registered dog is more likely to be found and reunited with their owner. It's very important, and a legal requirement, that you ensure that your pet is microchipped and the contact details are up to date and correct.

Microchipping is a quick and straightforward procedure performed during a routine appointment and is the most effective method for pet identification. 

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Content provided from Vetstream's Vetlexicon Canis – www.vetlexicon.com/canis

Vetlexicon is the world’s largest peer-reviewed online clinical reference source. All our content is written and peer-reviewed by over 1,000 of the world’s leading veterinarians, ensuring relevance, accuracy and quality.