Where are dogs microchipped?
When dogs get microchipped, the device is usually implanted between their shoulder blades. To access this area, the professional implanting the chip will lift the scruff of your pup’s neck.
Having a standard injection site is important because then vets and rescue workers will know where to scan your pup.
What is a microchip for dogs?
A microchip for dogs is an implantable, scannable device that’s essentially like an ID tag that’s under your dog’s skin instead of around his neck.
“A microchip is a small chip the size of a grain of rice,” Dr. Simon told The Dodo.
Once it’s registered, your pup’s microchip will be assigned a unique number that can be associated with your contact information — like your address or phone number — in the event that your pup goes missing.
“Your dog will be the only animal in the world linked to this number,” Dr. Simon said. “The number can be inputted into an online database and will be linked to an owner’s contact details.”
What is a microchip? How does it work?
A microchip is a permanent method of electronic identification. The chip itself is very small – about the size of a grain of rice – and is implanted with a needle subcutaneously (just under the skin) between the shoulder blades at the back of your pet’s neck.
Each chip has a unique number that is detected using a microchip scanner. The microchip number is recorded on a microchip database registry with details about the animal and owner. Pet owners need to ensure their contact details are recorded on the database against their pet’s microchip number. Should your pet wander or become lost, vets, animal shelters and local councils can scan your pet for a microchip and contact you via the database.
It is very important to keep your contact details up to date on the database so that if you move house or change your phone number you will still be contactable in the event of your pet becoming lost/straying.
If a pet is transferred to a new owner, the new owner must ensure their contact details are recorded on the database.
The easiest way to change your contact details is to search http://www.petaddress.com.au using your pet’s microchip number. Petaddress will redirect you to the database that lists your pet’s microchip number so that you may contact them directly. Some registries provide Change of Address forms on their websites.
If you cannot find your pet’s registry by searching on petaddress please contact your vet or microchip implanter (if you are in NSW your local council may also be able to direct you) to find out which database your pet is listed in. Currently there are 5 private microchip registries and 2 state government registries:
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It is very important to ensure your pet cat or dog is microchipped because if your pet cat or dog becomes lost, you are far more likely to be reunited if they are microchipped.