Getting your dog microchipped is a great idea to help you know that a Good Samaritan, rescue shelter, or vet can help get your dog back to you if they should be picked up on your dog’s unauthorized adventure. However, that microchip information is only good if it’s accurate! Have you moved? Here’s what you need to know in order to update your dog’s microchip information!
The Three Main Steps to Focus On
There are going to be 3 main steps to this process of updating information on your dog’s microchip! It’s going to be much simpler than you might think, and you’ll be happy to know that none of the steps involve surgically removing the dog’s microchip!
STEP ONE: Have your dog’s microchip information
You will have to know some basic information about what kind of microchip your dog has, which should all be in the information that your vet gave you when you had the chip put into place.
This information will be the number/ID information for your dog’s specific microchip. It’ll also be the brand information for the microchip itself. This will be important to make sure that you can log into the website (more on that next) as quickly as possible.
If you don’t have access to this information given, such as having lost records, you can call your vet and ask them for it. It should be in their records, too!
STEP TWO: Find the website for your microchip information
Next, you’ll want to find the website that is the server for storing the information for your dog’s chip. This will be the brand name of the chip itself, which is why it’s important to have that.
You’ll have an account created already with them, and that information will be used to log in to the secure section, where you will update the info. This account comes from when you originally registered your pet’s microchip, and that information needed to access that should be held as securely as your personalized log-in information for other websites and accounts!
It should go without saying, but mistaking the brand name for another one means that those login credentials won’t work — this is why having all of the information accessible is so important!
STEP THREE: Log into the website and update the information
With all of the information that you need to log in, you’ll find the information currently stored through the microchip ID. This should be an email address, phone number, and potentially even a location or something similar.
You’ll want to update any and all of this information to your new information. This is what the vet or shelter would see when they scan your pet’s chip, so accuracy is crucial to ensuring your dog makes their way back to you!
BONUS: Verify with your vet
After you’ve updated that information with the server, it may tell you how long it will take for it to update in their database. After that time has passed, or the next time that you are at the vet for your dog’s check-up, ask your vet to check the microchip’s information!
Most vets won’t charge, or it will be a tiny charge if they do. This is perfect for having them show you in real-time what times up with the information that you’ve entered. This is exactly how it would look to anyone, so it’s a really good idea to have this done.
Microchipping at its Root
Remember that you got your dog microchipped so that you always know that they can make their way back to you should they ever escape. Many families don’t realize that they need to update the microchip’s information when they move or change their email, phone number, etc.
The sad reality is that many families never get their lost dog back simply because the vet or other rescue is using the outdated information given in the database scanned!
Many professionals recommend that you treat this microchip information as seriously as you would with something like government details such as confidential mail or health records. After all, that’s essentially what this is!
Updating your dog’s microchip information is very simple and straightforward, especially compared to when you have to change your address on your own mail, government, ID, etc. So, this simple step is fast, effective, and essential to getting your dog back home to your as soon as possible, should the need ever arise.
What Should I Do With a Previously Owned Pet?
If you are adopting a dog from someone and it is microchipped, you’ll need to do this same thing if you want to make sure that your dog is returned to you and not their previous owner, should the need ever arise! Your vet can help you with that and then verify that it’s updated correctly, much the same as recommended above!
Act Sooner Rather Than Later
Realistically speaking, many won’t even remember that their dog’s microchip information is out of date until after the fact. If you want to be as proactive as possible, consider looking at something like checking on the information once a year or every 2 years.
After all, if there’s nothing to update, it’ll take you less than 5 minutes. If there is something to update, it’ll take you only 10 minutes at the most, and it will be one of those things where you’ll be much happier to know than not know!
Just like smoke detectors, government ID, and your online shopping parcels, the information stored with a pet’s microchip server is going to be essential to prioritize as often as needed. Make sure that you protect your dog’s safety and security by remembering to update the information as needed, as regularly as you can! This is never one of those things that you’ll want to learn about after the fact, especially since it can make the difference — and has in many cases — where your dogs may make it home or may not make it home back to you and your loved ones!
Research used from source:
https://www.albertaanimalhealthsource.ca/content/understanding-microchips
Additional research:
https://www.preventivevet.com/dogs/how-to-update-your-pets-microchip
