Microchipping
Microchipping your pet is by far the best way of identification for your pet as it is permanent – collars with tags can come off or be removed.
MICROCHIPPING YOUR PET
Microchipping is one of the safest and most reliable ways to permanently identify your pet. Unlike collars and tags, which can become lost or removed, a microchip stays with your pet throughout their life.
A microchip can make it much easier to reunite you with your pet if they become lost or are found as a stray.
Is microchipping my pet a legal requirement?
Dogs in England must be microchipped and registered on an approved database by the time they are eight weeks old. You must also keep your contact details up to date if you move or change your phone number.
Microchipping is also a legal requirement for cats in England. Since 10 June 2024, all owned cats aged 20 weeks and over must be microchipped and registered on an approved database.
Even where microchipping isn’t a legal requirement, it is strongly recommended for other pets as a permanent form of identification.
Which pets can be microchipped?
Microchips can be used to identify many different animals, including:
- Dogs
- Cats
- Rabbits
- Ferrets
- Some exotic pets
Our veterinary team can advise you on whether microchipping is suitable for your pet.
What is a pet microchip?
A microchip is a tiny electronic chip, approximately the size of a grain of rice. It contains a unique identification number that can be read using a microchip scanner.
The microchip is implanted under your pet’s skin using a needle. The procedure is quick and straightforward and does not require an anaesthetic in most pets.
Remember, microchipping is only effective if your contact details are kept up to date. If you move house, change your telephone number or your pet’s ownership changes, make sure the details registered to the microchip are updated.
Has your pet been microchipped?
If you’re unsure whether your pet is microchipped, our veterinary team can scan them to check.
If your pet isn’t yet microchipped, we can arrange this during a routine appointment.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT MICROCHIPPING
How is a microchip implanted?
The vet or nurse will pinch the scruff (loose skin between the shoulder blades) and then use a specialised needle to implant the microchip under the skin. The procedure takes a couple of seconds, and although it can feel a little uncomfortable, most animals quickly forget about the experience and there is no long lasting pain or discomfort. It is important that we do not stroke around this area for around 24 hours, whilst the skin heals, to reduce the risk of dislodging the microchip.
How long do microchips work for?
Microchips typically last for a pet’s lifetime. In rare cases, microchips can ‘fail’, and stop working. This is why vets routinely check the microchips of pets under our care; if a microchip fails we implant a new one, with no need to remove the defective chip.
Should I microchip my pet?
Under current legislation, all pet dogs and cats must be microchipped, so by law all owners must ensure their pets are microchipped. Importantly, microchips are the best way to ensure that if a pet becomes lost, we are able to contact you as soon as possible to reunite them with you. In cats, if the cat is involved in an accident away from home, being able to contact the owners as soon as possible is important to discuss treatment plans. In addition, sadly pet theft has increased in recent times, and there are many cases of stolen pets being reunited through their microchips.
My pet is already microchipped, do I need to do anything?
Over a pet’s lifetime, it is important to update the database with changes of address and phone numbers. To update the details, you can contact Pet Trac, one of the largest microchip databases (https://www.pettrac.co.uk/). If your pet’s microchip is not registered with this database, they will advise you which database to contact.
As always, please get in touch if you have any questions.