How to Microchip Your Pet: The Complete Guide
Everything pet owners need to know about microchipping dogs and cats — how it works, what it costs, how to register, and how to look up a chip number. Free microchip lookup tool on Afinderly.
Report a Lost PetWhat Is a Pet Microchip?
A pet microchip is a small passive RFID transponder — roughly the size of a grain of rice — implanted under your pet's skin, typically between the shoulder blades. It stores a unique ID number that can be read by a scanner used by vets, shelters, and animal control officers.
The microchip itself does not contain GPS tracking. It cannot be tracked in real time. What it does is provide a permanent, tamper-proof ID that links your pet to you in a database — assuming you register it.
How the Microchipping Process Works
- Visit your vet or a chip clinic: The microchip is implanted with a large-gauge needle — similar to a vaccination. Most pets barely react. No anesthesia required.
- Chip is implanted: The chip goes under the skin between the shoulder blades. The whole process takes under 30 seconds.
- Register your information: The vet gives you the chip number — but you must register it in a database yourself. Registration is separate from implantation.
- Update your info if you move: The chip is only as good as the database record attached to it. Update your contact info whenever you move or change your phone number.
⚠️ The most common reason microchips fail to reunite pets and owners: the chip was never registered in a searchable national database. Always register your chip number.
How to Register a Microchip
The major microchip registries in the US include AAHA Universal Pet Microchip Lookup, HomeAgain, AKC Reunite, and Found Animals Registry. You can register your chip number with any or all of them — most registrations cost $0–$20.
The AAHA Universal Pet Microchip Lookup at petmicrochiplookup.org searches across multiple databases simultaneously and is the industry standard for shelters and vets.
Free Microchip Lookup Tool
Afinderly offers a free microchip lookup tool — just enter the chip number to search registries. Try our free microchip lookup →
Microchip vs. ID Tag: Do You Need Both?
Yes — always use both. A collar tag is visible and immediately actionable by anyone who finds your pet. A microchip works when the tag falls off, the collar is removed, or the finder doesn't know what to do. They serve different purposes and work best together.
Frequently Asked Questions
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