Microchipping
For Dogs & Cats

The answer is a resounding yes, as long as your pet’s ID number is registered. In fact, according to the American Veterinary Medical Association (AMVA), microchipped dogs are twice as likely to return home to their pet parents than pups without microchips. And microchipped cats are 20 times more likely to be reunited with their family than their unmicrochipped counterparts.
Unfortunately, nearly 40% of cats and dogs with microchips aren’t registered. In fact, incorrect or missing pet parent information in the microchip registry is the main reason lost pets don't make it home.

Several different registries offer pet microchips, and each registry keeps its own database. Most registries charge a small upfront cost for a lifetime membership.
Some shelters will microchip all the pets they place and include the registration cost in the pet’s adoption fee. In those cases, the paperwork you'll receive as part of your adoption should include the information on your pet’s microchip, including the microchip ID number and the microchip’s registry.
The day you bring home your new dog or cat is an exciting one, but don't get so caught up in the fun that you forget to update their microchip. You can either call the registry to submit your information or create an account on the registry’s website. It only takes a few minutes to help ensure your pet makes it back home if they ever get lost. If your pet isn't microchipped before they become yours, it will be up to you to take care of that important procedure.
Fortunately, although different microchips transmit their information on different radio frequencies, most shelters, vet offices and animal control offices possess scanners that can read any type of microchip. And Petco’s veterinary services are here to help you get registered or get microchipped.

Yes. Collars can get loose and come off when a pet gets lost, especially if they wear a breakaway collar. Additionally, the engraving on ID tags can wear down over time, making it difficult for anyone to read them. Microchips and a collar with an ID tag are not mutually exclusive—your pet needs both.

The microchip is extremely small, about the size of a grain of rice. Some pets may feel a little pain when it's implanted. Anesthesia is not needed, but you can ask your vet to apply a numbing agent. Your pet can go home with you and engage in everyday activities immediately after the procedure. Keep in mind that they may feel temporarily sore at the injection site.

Whenever your contact information changes, be sure to update your pet’s microchip information. Call the microchip registry or sign into your online registry account to update your information. Our vet’s office can help you with this step.

If you think your pet may already have a microchip from a previous pet parent, ask one of our Petco vets to scan for the microchip. The vet can give you the microchip’s ID number and registry information. You’ll then need to contact the registry to change your pet’s contact information.

In many cases, a pet will need to have a microchip to travel to another country. Before traveling with a pet, review your destination country’s rules about microchipping, vaccinations and quarantine periods. Even if a microchip is not required for travel, it is still highly recommended for proper identification and tracking purposes.

Within 24 hours of being microchipped, your pet’s tissue will bond to the chip, which usually prevents it from moving around. In rare cases the chip may migrate under the skin, but it will not fall out.

Microchips are detected using scanners that emit radio waves of certain frequencies that activate and identify the microchip. The most common scanners in the US emit 125, 128 and 134.2kHz. If the implanted microchip is only read by a specific scanner, this can cause confusion for pet parents. At Petco, we always utilize the ISO microchip (134.2mHz) which is recognized nationally and internationally. This is important especially when travelling with your pet or if your pet is lost as the ISO microchip is more widely recognized and used in patients.

There is no maintenance needed for your pet’s microchip. But it is important for you to maintain your microchip ID number and registry. Your contact information should stay current with the registry so you can be contacted if your pet is lost.
You can learn more about how to care for your pet with Petco’s Animal Care Sheets.