The benefits of microchipping your pet: why it matters and how it works
A microchip is the one form of pet ID that cannot fall off or be removed. Here is how the procedure works, what it costs, and why it still needs a tag as backup.
Microchipping
A microchip has no battery and no GPS
It stores only a fixed ID number. That number becomes useful once a scanner reads it and someone checks it against the correct database. The chip on its own cannot locate a pet or contact an owner.
Most failed reunions trace back to registration, not the chip
A vet clinic or shelter scans a stray, gets a chip number, and finds no registration or a mobile number that's no longer in use. That gap causes far more failed reunions than a chip actually failing, which is rare.
Can a microchip track my pet's location?
No. It has no battery or GPS, so it can't be tracked. It only stores an ID number that a scanner can read at close range.
How do I check which database my pet's chip is registered on?
The vet clinic that implanted the chip can tell you, and AVS or the chip manufacturer can also confirm it. A universal microchip lookup tool helps identify the right database.
How pet microchip registration works: what actually happens after your pet is chipped
The chip only stores a number. Registration links it to your contact details, and it's the part owners most often skip or let go stale.