Microchipping

What is a microchip?

Microchips are small devices about the size of a grain of rice, that carry a unique 15-digit code. This code is registered with a microchip company, which also holds your personal data. If your pet were to become lost but was then found by a member of the public, they could be taken to any vet, police station, council warden or many rescue centres. All of these companies will have microchip scanners, so your pet’s code should be picked up.

All that is visible to the scanner is a series of 15 digits. They then have to contact the microchip registration company to access your details. This can only be done by verified organisations, so your details will never be publicly available. Once they have your details, they (or we) can give you a call to reunite you with your loved friend.

How is the microchip placed?

Insertion of a microchip is via an injection into the subcutaneous fat. The needle is quite large – about the size of a needle used to give blood – so that the rice-sized chip can fit through the centre of it. This can be a little bit of a shock on insertion and a little uncomfortable, so some pets may squeal or wriggle. Distraction with bribery is certainly recommended!

Which pets can receive a microchip?

We are able to microchip most species, including dogs, cats, rabbits, guinea-pigs, and ferrets. If you have a bird or a reptile, these can certainly also be recipients of a microchip: birds usually require a short anaesthetic. Birds and reptiles do not have elasticated skin like mammals, so we have to apply a little skin glue to stop the microchip from falling out of the hole we have just created!

Very small patients such as geckos or budgerigars may be too small to receive a microchip, so your vet will assess each pet on an individual basis.

Legal requirements

Most people are aware that it is a legal requirement to microchip pet dogs, but were you aware that this will also be true for cats, as from April 2024? From this date, no matter how old your cat is or whether it stays indoors or goes outside, it must have a microchip to comply with the law.

Whether you are aware of these legislative requirements or otherwise, we hope that as a caring pet owner who doesn’t want to lose their pet, you are prepared to consider a microchip for your loved pet anyway!