About the size of a grain of rice, a microchip is a small electronic chip, that’s implanted under your pet’s skin and contains a unique number which can be read by a microchip scanner.

Your contact details are logged on a database, so should your pet ever go missing or be stolen they can be scanned by the authorities and returned to you quickly and safely.

If you move or change phone number, it’s vital that you update your details with the database, otherwise there is no way of you being contacted if your pet is found.

If your vet doesn’t have your pet’s microchip number on file, you can simply bring your dog to your local veterinary practice and have them scan your pet and give you the number.

Although microchipping is a quick procedure, it does involve a needle, so may be uncomfortable for your pet, for a few seconds.

Pet microchips have no power supply to replace or moving parts to wear down, so they can be scanned for the duration of your pet’s life.

Your pet can be checked for a microchip using a handheld electronic microchipping scanner. When this is waved over their neck, the scanner will show the unique number held inside the chip. This allows registered people, like vets, vet nurses and local authority dog wardens to enter the number into the relevant databases and contact you so you can be reunited with your pet.

Keeping your pet’s microchip details up to date will allow you to be contacted if your pet goes missing.