Why keeping your pet's microchip records up to date matters

Keeping your pet’s microchip details up to date is important for their safety and well-being. If your pet goes missing, accurate contact details in the microchip database ensure they can be returned to you as quickly as possible. Regularly checking and updating your pet’s microchip details ensures they are always protected. 

What is pet microchipping?

A microchip is a small implant placed under your pet’s skin, that when scanned, shows a unique set of numbers. The registered keeper (legal speak for ‘owner’) gives their contact information to the microchip company when the pet is registered and these details link directly to your pet’s unique microchip number.

Your contact details can only be given out to someone with the correct credentials, such as a police officer, vet practice, dog warden or welfare organisation that can provide a PIN or identifier, allowing them access to the data. If they don’t have this, the microchip company have protocols in place to ensure you are reunited with your pet without any data being released to an unauthorised party.

When to update your contact information

• As soon as you take your new pet home
• As soon as you move house
• As soon as you change your contact phone number(s)

If someone is caring for your pet while you are away or in hospital or your pet has additional carers, you should speak to your microchip company about adding additional phone numbers as emergency contacts (you will still be the legal registered keeper and owner).

If you don’t keep your contact information up to date you risk not being reunited with your pet if they are lost. If your pet is lost and not able to be identified as belonging to you, they could end up with a vet practice, dog warden, police, or kennels, and they could be rehomed or lack veterinary care as you are unable to give consent.

Problems often happen when an owner has just moved house, the pet becomes lost and disorientated, and if the contact details are not up to date, it can lead to a delay in reuniting them with their owner.

What are the benefits of a microchip?

• Identify an individual animal and their registered keeper (their legal owner).
• Reunite lost and found animals with their owners.
• Allow vets to quickly contact owners if a found pet is injured and needs veterinary treatment.
• Resolve ownership or legal disputes
• Check against vaccination and travel documents where animals are exported or travel on passports for holidays.

What can’t a microchip do?

• Track an animal’s movements via GPS. Special collars and attachments can be bought to use with GPS software if this is what the owner is looking for. This cannot replace microchipping and does not help with reunification if the animal is found by anyone other than the owner.

With most microchip companies allowing you to update your details online or by phone, it doesn’t take long to do. Remember, updating your details with your vet does not update your microchip details, you must still notify your database.

If you would like any more information on this topic or any other pet health related queries, the Scratch & Patch 24/7 Vet Careline is available to all our members, day or night, 365 days of the year.