Check and Update Your Dog's Microchip Details

Microchiping your dog is compulsary in the UK. They make it much easier to reunite lost dogs with their owners; however, the chip is only useful if the information associated with it is correct. It's vital you keep your dogs microchip details up to date.

What is a microchip?

A microchip is a tiny computer chip, which stores a number which can be read by a microchip scanner. The chip is implanted under your pets skin with a quick injection (it's about the size of a grain of rice). The chip number is unique to your pet and is registered alongside your details in the microchip provider's database. If your pet is lost and someone finds it they can scan with a handheld device to obtain the chip number and then find your details to get intouch with you to reunite you with your pet.

It's really important that you keep your contact details up to date... many pets with chips aren't able to be reunited because the contact information orginally registered is nolonger current - their owner has moved or changed phone numbers and can't be tracked. You should regularly check that the contact information registered against your chip number is correct and hasn't changed or been entered incorrectly. There are numerous different providers though, so to check and update your details you need to know your dog's microchip number as well as the database your microchip is registered with. There can also be admin costs associated with updating a chip - best it is possible to swap providers if your pets orginal chip provider charges high fees for changes.

If you already know those, skip to the end of this article to see the list of microchip providers contact details.

Where to find your dog's microchip number

Your dog's microchip number might be on:

• The paper you received when your dog was chipped (it maybe written under a barcode)
• Pet passport
• Pet insurance documents
• Vaccination card
• Paperwork your received when you purchased or adopted your dog
• Your dogs veterinary records (call your vet and ask)

If you can't find your dog's number written down anywhere don't panic! You just need to get your dog scanned and the chip number will display on the scanner. Lots of places can scan a dog's chip including a veterinary practice, dog warden, rescue centre and some boarding services.

For most people the easiest and most convenient option to get scanned is your local vet practice, call and check, but usually there will be no charge and you probably won't need an appointment as a nurse or receptionist can quickly carry out the scan for you.

How to find out your dog's microchip provider

There are multiple different microchip providers in the UK. To check and update your dog's details you need to contact the corresponding provider for your dog's chip. If you found the paperwork that went with your dog's microchip then hopefully you'll also have the microchip provider's name. If not then enter your chip number at Check a Chip and it will tell you the provider:

UK Microchip Provider Comparison

Once you know your dog's microchip number and provider you need to get in touch with them to check the details. Most providers will let you update by phone, online or post.

Here are the details for the DEFRA approved UK microchip providers and a guide on how much you can expect to pay to update. You can transfer between providers so if your microchip provider is expensive or doesn't offer your prefered method of updating then choose another and put a transfer request in.

Microchip Database	How do you update chip details?	How much does it cost to change details?
Animal Data	Update your chip: Online - animaldata.org.uk By phone - 0800 023 9384
Animal Microchips	Update your chip: Online - animalmicrochips.co.uk By phone - 01823 413494
Animal Tracker	Update your chip: Online - www.animaltracker.co.uk By phone - 01279 219777	One off £7.95 on implant or £15 for upgrading to premium account and then you can update as often as you like.
ChipWorks	Update your chip: Online - www.chipworks.co.uk By phone - 0330 107 0958	Varies. Change of telephone number free, change of address £12.
HomeAgain	Update your chip: Online - homeagain.co.uk By phone - 01954 774433	FREE
Identibase (previously Anibase)	Update your chip: Online - www.identibase.co.uk By phone - 01904 487600.	£10 fee to change contact information unless you have a premium account (£30 pa.).
Lost Paws	Update your chip: Online - lostpaws.co.uk By phone - 01799 615020	£13.95
MicroChip Central	Update your chip: Online - www.microchipcentral.com By phone - 01223 790100.	Free if you have an account, one off £12 fee to register an account.
Micro Dog ID	Update your chip: Online - microdogid.org By phone - 0207 8220909.
My Animal Trace	Update your chip: Online - myanimaltrace.com	£30 one off fee unlimited updates.
MyPet	Update online at mypethq.io .	£2.99 life time updates
National Veterinary Data Service	Contact your vet practice, your dog's chip details will be updated automatically when you update your details with your vet practice.
PetChipRegister
Pet Database	Update your chip: Online - petdatabase.com By phone -
Pet Identity UK	Update your microchip details online at https://www.petidentityuk.info or call 0800 975 1960.	£10 when you register your chip, lifetime updates free
Petlog	Update online at https://www.petlog.org.uk/ or call 01296 336579 (updating by phone has an admin fee).	Sign up to PetLog Premium for a one off fee of £17 to update as often as you like online. To update over the phone admin fee of £10.
Pet Scanner
Protected Pet	Update your chip by calling https://www.protectedpet.com or call 0844 414 2262.	£15.99 to set up Gold Membership and then free updates for life.
SmartTrace	Update online at http://www.smarttrace.org.uk or call 01208 420 999.	£9.95 for a one off change or £19.95 for premium membership including unlimited changes.
Track Your Paws	Update your chip: Online - trackyourpaws.co.uk	£ 20 for unlimited updates
UK PETtrac	Update online at https://www.pettrac.co.uk or call either 01273 408722 or 0800 652 9 977.	£6 per change or register for Plus scheme for £16.95 for unlimited changes.
We Trace Pets	Update your chip: Online - wetracepets.com By phone - 01268 533344	£ 23.99 one time fee.

If your dog's chip wasn't registered in the UK, try here for European chips: www.europetnet.com you can also transfer your chips registration to a UK provider to update it.

How much does changing microchip details cost?

There may be an admin fee if you do need to make changes to the information stored in the microchip database. The cost varies between providers, see the table above. Most microchip databases offer two options, either a one-off fee or a membership that lets you change the details as often as you like at no additional charge. In most cases the membership fee is equal to or only slightly higher than the one off fee and works out much more cost effective. You may have already paid the membership fee when you registered your chip.

Microchip Emergency Contact Details

Did you know, as well as your own contact information, the database providers may also let you add an emergency contact? This is someone else they can get in touch with if you aren't available - perhaps you are away or just have your phone switched off. Choose a person who will be able to collect your dog and, if necessary, make decisions about their welfare. Make sure you ask them first before adding their details, and you keep their contact information, as well as your own, up to date. Some people choose friends or family, others their trusted dog walker or boarder.

Temporary / Holiday Microchip Details

Before you go away on holiday you should add the contact details for the home boarder or kennel your dog is staying with. If your dog does get lost they'll be able to get in touch with the boarding service straight away instead of trying, and possibly failing, to contact you when you are away from home or abroad. The database provider will still contact you if they can't reach the boarder.