Which Animals Can Be Micro-chipped

• Cats and dogs, along with horses and birds, are the most frequently micro-chipped animals, according to the Pet Education website. Dogs and cats should have a microchip implanted and also wear identity tags on their collars. The microchip is an invisible and secure backup should the collar tags get lost or be removed.
  
  

How The Microchip is Implanted

• The microchip is implanted beneath the skin using a large-bore needle. The procedure is very similar to having a pet vaccinated and should cause the animal no more discomfort than a vaccination does. The microchip itself is no larger than a grain of rice and bonds with the subcutaneous tissue between the shoulder blades. It can’t be felt when the animal is stroked or petted and is totally undetectable until the animal is scanned.
  
  

Lifetime Security

• Microchips are designed to last for 25 years so will easily outlive all the but longest-lived pets. Once it is in place there is very little chance of the microchip moving and no chance of it getting lost inside the animal’s body.
  
  

How the Microchip Works

• The microchip uses radio frequency waves to transmit information to a special hand-held scanner. The transmitted information contains the registration number of the microchip which can then be looked up on the registry database.
  
  

Secure Database

• Some pet owners worry that their private contact details will be available to anyone who scans the microchip. This is not the case; the microchip holds only its unique identification number along with the phone number of the registry.
  
  

Staying Up To Date

• Any database is only as good as the information held on it. It’s important to keep your details up date. You should always report a change of address or change of phone number so that if your pet is lost, you can be quickly contacted and reunited.