Microc­hipping your Dog

Reasons to Microchip Your Dog

A recent change in the law states that every dog owner in England will have to microchip their dog from 2016. Owners who do not comply could face fines of up to £500. News item detailing the new regulations.

A microchip will permanently identify your dog. If your dog goes missing and is found, animal shelters, the dog warden, vets and most charities will scan your dog with a microchip reader and find your dog unique number hidden in the microchip. They will then ring the UK central database to find your details so that he or she can be returned to you.

If you want to travel abroad with your dog a microchip is essential for identification and a Pet Passport.

When to Microchip

We use IdENTICHIP®  microchips. They are roughly the size of a grain of rice and are ISO standard.

Dogs can be "chipped" at any time just ring the practice for an appointment, however since the change in regulations, puppies should be microchipped by the breeder prior to moving home.  We can also microchip dogs who havent been chipped already, when they are neutered, so that they are asleep and do not feel the injection.

Make sure if you get any of your animals chipped that the microchips are ISO standard so can be read by a variety of microchip readers. The cost of a microchip is about £30.00 or £18.00 if placed when your dog is under going any anaesthetic proceedure such as neutering.

Checking Your Pets Details

You can check your pets details by searching the databases. Start by searching at "check-a-chip" and then follow to the database that holds your pets details.

Changing Your Details on the Central Database

If your dog is microchipped and you move or change your telephone numbers you must let the people at the central database know so your dog can be returned to you. If you rehome your dog please change the details to the new owner.

Only a number is stored on the chip not your address and telephone number. Please ring 08444633999 to change your details. There is a small charge for changing the information on the database.

Collar and Name Tag

It is still a legal requirement to have a visible form of identification on your dog, in addition to an Identichip. Include on the tag your own and your vet's phone number (01254 53622) so that if your dog is lost or injured locally it can be dealt with by your own vet.

30 years ago..... (David Higginson MRCVS remembers)

No fancy electronics then! Maybe we didn't need them so much as families and dogs didn't move about so much. Now that dogs travel all over the country, even overseas, and families re-locate around the country more than ever before, permanent identification is a very sensible idea.