This means that most puppies are microchipped by the breeder before you pick your puppy up so you will just need to update the contact details held by the database to your own. Kittens from rescues should also come chipped.

What happens if I do need to get a puppy or a kitten microchipped?

Microchipping can take place in a normal 15 minute consult appointment with a vet or a nurse (there is no need for your pet to stay in or have any kind of sedation or anaesthetic).

The microchip is implanted using a special device which is very similar to a needle used for vaccinations and other injections, only slightly bigger. The microchip is  inserted into the loose skin over the shoulder blades – usually along with a big cuddle and/or some treats – and is often not even noticed by the pet what is happening! The microchip itself is only the size of a grain of rice and so is not felt by and doesn’t cause any pain to your pet in any way.

Can my pet be microchipped under anaesthetic?

We often suggest that kittens are microchipped under anaesthetic when they are being neutered (as the timings fit well from around 4-5 months old); this way they are not aware of it at all. Otherwise, as mentioned above, microchipping can be done without sedation or anaesthesia in a normal vet or nurse consult.

How does the microchip get registered?

The microchip itself does not hold any of your details – it is known as a passive RFID (radio-frequency identification). When a special microchip reader is passed over the area the scanner’s radio waves activates it and it transmits a 15 digit number to that reader. The microchip doesn’t have a battery so it lasts for a lifetime, so that 15 digit number is unique to your pet.

Once the microchip has been implanted and scanned, the 15 digit number is manually input into  one of the databases that provides the microchips and your main contact details will be added. This is done, and can only be done, by a veterinary professional, rescue centre or council office – so your data is kept secure.

What do I need to do to ensure the details are registered to me?

Once this original registration is done (in our case by our veterinary team), you will then receive an email inviting you to create an account and check the details.

We are not able to make any changes for you – this is done by you upon creation of the account. You should check these details carefully.

What do I need to do to ensure the details are registered to me?

Once this original registration is done (in our case by our veterinary team), you will then receive an email inviting you to create an account and check the details.

If I move house or change my telephone number how do I update the details registered to the microchip?

You will need to log in to the account you’ve created originally and update the details on there. We are unable to do this for you.

But if you have lost the details of the account you set up we will be able to help you identify which database it is registered on, and you can then contact them directly and get back into your account.