Microchipping Your Pet: The Complete Guide for New Owners

Quick answer

A microchip is a tiny, permanent identification device about the size of a grain of rice that is implanted just under your pet's skin. It contains a unique identification number that, when registered in a national database with your contact information, serves as a permanent digital lifeline to reunite you with your dog or cat if they ever go missing.

Discover how a simple, five-minute microchipping procedure acts as a permanent l

Why it matters

Every year, millions of pets find themselves separated from their families. While collars and ID tags are excellent first lines of defense, they are not foolproof. Collars can break, snag on branches, slip over a pet's head, or be intentionally removed. A microchip, however, is permanent, tamper-proof, and designed to last for your pet's entire lifetime.

To understand why microchipping is so vital, it helps to understand how the technology works. A microchip does not actively transmit a signal. It uses Passive Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology. This means the chip lies completely dormant inside your pet's tissue, requiring no battery and no internal power source. It only activates when a handheld microchip scanner is passed over the area. The scanner emits a low-frequency radio wave that temporarily powers the chip, allowing it to transmit its unique 15-digit identification number back to the scanner's screen.

:::key-facts

• Microchips do not track your pet's location; they do not contain GPS technology.
• The implant is roughly the size of a single grain of white rice.
• The procedure takes only a few seconds and requires no anesthesia or recovery time.
• A microchip is completely useless unless you register your contact details with a national database.
• Most veterinary clinics, animal shelters, and rescue groups carry universal scanners capable of reading all chip frequencies.
  :::

Without a registered microchip, a lost pet brought to a shelter or veterinary clinic is just another stray. With a microchip, a quick scan reveals a number, a phone call is made to the registry, and you are contacted within minutes. It is the single most effective way to secure your pet's return.

A microchip is incredibly small—roughly the size of a single grain of rice—making the injection quick and easy.

:::ask-boo
Does my indoor-only cat really need to be microchipped?
:::

What good looks like

A successful microchipping setup involves three distinct components: a properly implanted chip, an active registration in a recognized national database, and up-to-date contact information.

When the procedure is done correctly, the microchip is placed safely in the loose skin between your pet's shoulder blades. It should remain securely in this general area, encapsulated by a thin layer of connective tissue that prevents it from moving.

Furthermore, "what good looks like" means your pet's chip is an ISO-compliant (International Organization for Standardization) chip. These chips operate at a frequency of 134.2 kHz, which is the global standard. This ensures that whether your pet is lost down the street or travels with you internationally, any standard universal scanner will be able to read their ID number.

:::pro-tip
Always ask your veterinarian for a printout or a sticker containing your pet's exact microchip number and the name of the registry. Keep this information in your pet's medical file and save a digital copy on your phone for quick access.
:::

Finally, a perfect setup means your contact information is verified annually. If you move, change your phone number, or transfer ownership of the pet, updating the microchip registry must be at the very top of your moving checklist.

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Veterinarians and shelters use handheld scanners to read the unique ID number stored on your pet's microchip.
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Step-by-step

Getting your pet microchipped and ensuring they are fully protected is a straightforward process. Follow these steps to establish this vital safety net.

Step 1: Schedule the appointment

You can have your pet microchipped during a routine veterinary wellness exam. Many owners choose to have it done while their pet is already undergoing a spay or neuter surgery, as the pet is already anesthetized, though anesthesia is absolutely not required for the procedure.

Step 2: The physical implantation

Your veterinarian will first scan your pet to ensure they do not already have a microchip. Next, they will remove a sterile, pre-loaded syringe from its packaging. The vet will gently pinch the loose skin between your pet's shoulder blades, insert the needle, and depress the plunger. The sensation is highly comparable to a standard vaccination injection.

Step 3: Confirming the placement

Immediately after injecting the chip, your veterinarian will pass the scanner over your pet's shoulders to confirm that the chip is reading correctly and displaying the correct identification number on the screen.

Completing the online registration with your current contact details is the most important step of the process.

Step 4: Registering the chip (The most critical step)

Your vet will hand you a registration form or provide an online link. Do not throw this away or leave it in your glove compartment.

1. Go to the designated registry website (such as HomeAgain, AKC Reunite, or the database recommended by your vet).
2. Create an account.
3. Enter your pet's unique 15-digit microchip number.
4. Input your primary phone number, secondary phone number, email address, and physical address.
5. Add an emergency contact (a trusted friend or family member) in case you are unreachable during an emergency.
6. Pay any one-time registration fee required by the registry to keep your details active in their database forever.

Step 5: Double-check the registration

After submitting the registration, wait 24 hours, then use the AAHA (American Animal Hospital Association) Universal Pet Microchip Lookup tool online. Enter your pet's chip number to verify that it correctly points to your chosen registry.

:::ask-boo
How do I update my pet's microchip registry if I move to a new house or change my phone number?
:::

Signs something's wrong

Microchipping is incredibly safe, and complications are exceptionally rare. However, because it involves a needle injection, you should monitor your pet for a few days following the procedure.

In the first 24 to 48 hours, keep an eye on the injection site between the shoulder blades. You should watch for:

• Oozing or discharge: Any blood, pus, or clear fluid draining from the tiny puncture wound.
• Excessive swelling: A firm or soft lump that grows larger than a small pea at the injection site.
• Extreme sensitivity: Your pet crying out, flinching, or snapping when you gently touch their upper back.
• Infection signs: Warmth to the touch, severe redness, or localized hair loss around the injection area.

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Keep an eye on the injection site for a few days to ensure it heals cleanly without redness or swelling.
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Another rare occurrence is microchip migration. Over time, a microchip can occasionally slip from its original position between the shoulder blades and slide down the shoulder, chest, or side of the pet. While this is not physically harmful to your dog or cat, it means a shelter worker scanning only the neck area might miss the chip.

When to call your vet

While minor tenderness for an hour or two after the injection is normal, you should contact your veterinarian if you notice any signs of localized infection, such as persistent swelling, redness, or discharge at the injection site.

:::warning
If your pet develops a high fever, becomes extremely lethargic, or refuses to eat within 48 hours of receiving a microchip, contact your veterinarian or an emergency veterinary clinic immediately. While extremely rare, these can be signs of a systemic infection or severe adverse reaction.
:::

Additionally, ask your veterinarian to scan your pet's microchip during their annual physical exam. If the vet sweeps the scanner over your pet's entire body and cannot detect a signal, the chip may have failed or migrated significantly. Your vet will need to implant a new chip or locate the migrated chip via an X-ray.

Common mistakes

To ensure your pet's microchip actually works when it matters most, avoid these common pitfalls:

• Thinking it is a GPS tracker: Many owners mistakenly believe they can track their lost dog or cat on a smartphone app using the microchip. Microchips do not have GPS. If your pet runs away, you cannot track their live location with a chip; you must wait for someone to find them and scan them.
• Failing to complete the registration: A shocking number of microchipped pets end up in shelters with