Keeping track of beloved pets
“Time to update your pet’s microchip.” This periodically pops up on social media, but what does it really mean and how do you do it? If your pet came from a rescue or a reputable breeder, there is a very good chance he or she is microchipped. If they did not arrive with a microchip, it is likely a microchip was recommended at the first
vet visit.
Microchips are radio-frequency identification transponders (sometimes called RFID tags) enclosed in a special type of glass about the size of a grain of rice and inserted under the pet’s skin, typically between the shoulder blades for dogs and cats. Microchips serve a single function; when scanned, they transmit a unique ID number. They are not trackers, they have no internal power source, and they do not store an address, phone number or any other information.
When a lost pet is taken to a vet or animal shelter, usually one of the first things they will do is scan for a microchip. If a chip is detected, the scanner will read the unique ID number. The vet or shelter can then look up that number on a special database, where the information the owner has provided will pop up.
This is where that periodic reminder comes in. The information in the database may include the pet’s name, the owner’s name, the owner’s phone number, address and any important medical information about the pet (such as allergies or medications). Any time this information changes, it should be updated. It is a good idea to mark your calendar to review once a year, just in case you get a new phone or your pet has a health change and you do not remember to update the information in the moment.
How does one update their microchip information?
First, you will need to know what company the chip is registered with, as there are many. The company name should have been provided by the rescue, breeder or vet. If you cannot find the paperwork, you can likely just ask since most organizations will have a preferred vendor, even if they no longer have records for your specific animal. If for some reason that does not work, you can use the Microchip Registry Lookup tool, found on the American Animal Hospital Association website at aaha.org/microchip. Note: you will need the microchip number, which you can get by scanning your pet at the vet. Popular microchip companies include 24PetWatch, AKC Unite, PetLink and HomeAgain, but the microchip registry includes more than 40 different companies.
National Check the Chip Day is August 15, serving as a reminder to make sure your cat and/or dog’s microchip information is current.
By Rachel Poe; courtesy photo
