Microchipping

Pet microchipping involves implanting a small chip under your pet’s skin, usually between the shoulder blades. Each microchip contains a unique identification number linked to your contact details on a secure database. It’s a simple, safe, and permanent way to help identify and reunite lost dogs, cats, and rabbits with their owners.

A microchip is used as a permanent form of identification. If your pet is found, vets, animal charities, and rescue centres can scan the microchip using a handheld reader. This reveals your pet’s unique ID number, which is linked to your registered contact details on a secure database. This allows your pet to be quickly identified and safely returned to you.

The cost of microchipping can vary depending on your pet’s species, and whether it is carried out alongside another appointment, such as a vaccination (insert link to vaccination service) or health check (insert link to puppy and kitten health check service). We recommend contacting your local practice (insert link to find local practice) for accurate information on how much microchipping costs.

During a microchipping appointment, a small chip is implanted under your pet’s skin using a needle. The procedure is quick and usually well tolerated by most pets. The chip is very small and designed to stay in place beneath the skin without causing ongoing discomfort. Our team will always handle your pet with care to keep them as comfortable as possible throughout the process. Once implanted, the microchip is scanned to confirm it is working correctly and then registered with your contact details on a secure database.

Microchipping is a highly recommended form of identification for all pets, and it is a legal requirement for dogs in the UK to be microchipped before they turn 8 weeks old. Since June 2024, all cats must be microchipped by 20 weeks of age. Whilst it's not a legal requirement in the UK for rabbits, it provides valuable reassurance and greatly increases the chances of being reunited if they go missing.