Microchipping your Pet
At Maven Veterinary Clinic we provide Microchipping. This is a simple and safe way to identify your pet.
Since April 2016 it is also a legal requirement that all dogs in the UK over 8 weeks old are microchipped and their details logged with an approved database. You can be fined up to £500.00 if your dog is not microchipped. It is also worth noting, that if you are planning on taking your pet abroad, they must be microchipped and have a pet passport.
At Maven Vets we recommend microchipping for all pets.
Members of Pet Health for Life also receive a discount on microchipping.
Book a microchipping appointment
Microchipping is a permanent ID system, which involves a chip, no bigger than a grain of rice being implanted under the skin of your pet’s scruff.
Each microchip has a unique number, which can be read by a portable scanner, which most vets, including all Maven Vets in Sutton, local authorities and rescue homes have access too; ensuring your contact details can be easily obtained from the central microchipping database. Once your pet has been scanned and identified by their microchip, a simple phone call can reunite you with your pet.
Microchipping is not only for dogs, but also for cats, ferrets, rabbits, snakes, parrot, tortoises and horses and comes highly recommended by all the team at Maven Vets. It is now also a legal requirement for all dogs to be microchipped, and all puppies must be vaccinated by 8 weeks of age before ownership is transferred from the breeder.
Microchipping your pet at Maven Vets
Sedation is not necessary for the implantation of the microchip as this procedure causes minimal discomfort and can be done in a routine consultation. And don't worry if you can't recall (or know) if your pet is microchipped - It is very easy to check for a microchip using a scanner. We can arrange for a member of the team at our vet practice in Sutton to scan your pet and check for a working chip. Rest assured, we all always check that an animal hasn’t already got a microchip before implanting a new one.
At the time of implant, you will be asked to complete a registration form, from which your details are then submitted to a national database by a Maven Vets team member. Your details are kept on the database for your pet’s lifetime, and the fee for this is included in the cost of implantation.
It is important to update any changes to your contact details as soon as possible. At Maven Vets, all our microchips comply with the International Standard (ISO) and can, therefore, be recognised by scanners abroad when used in the Pet Passport scheme.
For more information, please speak to one of our friendly team members at our vets in Sutton by contacting us or book an appointment below.
Book a microchipping appointment
What is a microchip for your pet?
A micro-chip is a small implant approximately the size of a grain of rice.
Once your pet has been microchipped, the chip sits under the skin and, when scanned, will provide the scanner with a bar code number.
THE MICRO-CHIP DOES NOT CONTAIN YOUR PERSONAL INFORMATION.
Why should I microchip my pet?
From April 2016 it became a legal requirement that all dogs over 8 weeks old in the UK are microchipped.
Most importantly, microchipping identifies your pet as yours.
Rescue centres and veterinary surgery's routinely scan stray or injured animals brought in as strays.
In many cases these animals are not strays but a much-loved pet and, if micro-chipped, the worried owner can be easily contacted and reunited.
What is involved in getting my pet microchipped?
Placing a microchip is a simple procedure where the small chip is injected through a needle under your pet’s skin.
This can be done by our vets or nurses.
A form is completed with your details, your pet’s details and, most importantly, your contact details.
This form is submitted to our micro-chip company who register the chip we have implanted with your information.
We will also give you copies of your pet’s unique micro-chip number for your records.
Is microchipping permanent?
In the majority of cases, yes.
Once the chip has been placed, it will remain under your pet’s skin.
It is very common for the chip to move from the original place it is injected.
Professionals are aware of this and will check the whole animal with the microchip scanner!
Please note that it is possible for a microchip to come out after it has been injected. This is very rare.
At Maven Vets in Surrey, if your pet’s microchip can-not be found after we have implanted it we will replace it free of charge.
What happens if I move to a new house?
If you move to a new house, you must contact your microchip company to update your contact details.
At Maven Vets we can provide you with the number to call as well as updating your details on your veterinary file.
Can all pets be microchipped?
Most pets can be microchipped including larger birds and tortoises.
If you are unsure if your pet can be micro-chipped please call us on 0208 337 2214 to enquire.
What happens when you find a pet that is microchipped?
If a stray or injured animal is brought to us at Maven Veterinary Care, we always check for a micro-chip.
As the chip can move, we scan the whole animal.
If the animal does have a microchip the scanner will detect a bar code number.
This number is checked in our database and, if the animal is a patient with us, we immediately identify and contact their owner.
If the animal is micro-chipped but the number is not registered on our database, we contact the microchip service for lost pets.
The microchip company will use the number to identify the pet and directly contact the pet’s owner.
All dog wardens and rescue centres will follow a similar protocol.
