How to Check and Update Your Pet's Microchip Registration

Written by Elle Padgham, Communications Lead.

A pet microchip is useful only when its identification number is registered to accurate contact details. The chip itself does not contain GPS, cannot show a live location and normally stores only a unique number. A shelter or veterinary clinic scans that number, searches participating registries and uses the record to contact the registered owner.

That makes the unglamorous admin just as important as the implant. A moved household, changed phone number, uncompleted transfer or registration in the wrong name can slow a reunion when every hour matters.

How pet microchipping works in the United States

A veterinarian or trained professional places a small radio-frequency identification device under the skin, commonly between the shoulder blades. A compatible scanner energizes the passive chip and displays its number. The chip has no battery and does not continuously transmit.

The number must lead to a registry record. In the United States there is no single mandatory national database for every privately owned pet, and state or local rules can differ. Keep the implantation paperwork, chip number, manufacturer and registry contact details together. Ask your veterinary team which registry received the initial information and whether the registration was completed.

Find the chip number and registry

Start with adoption, breeder or veterinary records. A microchip number is usually 9, 10 or 15 digits, depending on the system. Do not publish it on social media or attach the complete number to a public lost-pet post.

If the paperwork is missing, ask a veterinary clinic or shelter to scan the pet. A scan is quick, but the operator should move the scanner slowly over the shoulders and along the body because chips can migrate. If no chip is found on the first pass, a second scanner or repeat scan may be appropriate.

The American Animal Hospital Association's universal lookup tool can indicate which participating registry may hold a number. It does not reveal owner details to the public. Contact the listed registry directly and follow its identity-verification process.

Check that the registration is complete

An implanted chip and a registered chip are not the same thing. Confirm that the record includes the current owner's name, at least one reliable phone number, email, address and an emergency contact. Check the pet's name, species, breed, color and distinguishing features for obvious errors.

Adoption and ownership transfers deserve special attention. A prior owner, breeder or rescue may still appear on the record until the new owner submits the required documents. Keep adoption papers, bills of sale or transfer forms available. Never attempt to change ownership information for a pet you do not legally own.

Understand registration and update fees

Some registries include lifetime enrollment with implantation, while others sell optional memberships or charge for certain changes. Ask what is necessary to keep the basic recovery record active, what services are optional and whether the record remains searchable after a membership expires. Do not assume a marketing subscription is required for the chip to be useful.

Save the registry's current phone number separately from your login. If an online account becomes inaccessible during a lost-pet emergency, you should still know whom to call. Review privacy settings carefully and share only the contact details needed for safe reunification.

Update the record whenever life changes

• You move or change mailing address.
• Your phone number or email changes.
• An emergency contact becomes unavailable.
• The pet is adopted, rehomed or transferred.
• The pet develops a distinguishing medical or physical feature that the registry accepts.
• The pet is reported lost, found or deceased.

Set a recurring annual reminder to confirm the details even when nothing seems to have changed. Check before hurricane, wildfire or storm season, before a move and before travel. Keep a screenshot or confirmation email after every update.

Microchip plus collar ID is stronger than either alone

A collar tag can produce the fastest return because a neighbor can call immediately. A microchip remains available if the collar slips off. Use both when safe for the individual pet, and add a current photograph and written description to the household emergency file.

A chip cannot prevent theft, guarantee recovery or replace supervision. Secure doors and fences, use a leash where required and act quickly when a pet is missing. Our guides to puppy microchipping, lost and stolen dog actions and moving with a dog cover the wider plan.

Check the chip before international travel

Destination countries may require an ISO-compatible microchip, a particular order of implantation and vaccination, or documents tied to the exact number. A chip that works for domestic recovery may still need additional travel verification. Start with the official destination rules and a USDA-accredited veterinarian months before departure. Ask the clinic to scan the chip and write the full number on every required record.

What to do when a pet goes missing

1. Notify the registry and confirm all contact details.
2. Call local shelters, animal control and nearby veterinary clinics.
3. Search the immediate area calmly and ask neighbors to check garages and sheds.
4. Post a recent photo and safe contact method without publishing the full chip number.
5. Watch for recovery scams. Do not send money or verification codes to an unknown caller.
6. When reunited, ask a clinic to scan and confirm the chip still reads correctly.

The American Veterinary Medical Association microchip guide explains that registration and current contact information connect the chip number to the owner.

Frequently asked questions

Is a pet microchip a GPS tracker?

No. A standard microchip is passive identification. It must be scanned at close range.

Can I update the chip at my veterinarian?

The clinic can scan the number and may help identify the registry, but the owner usually updates the registry record directly.

Should an indoor-only pet be microchipped?

Indoor pets can escape during moves, repairs, emergencies or open-door moments. Discuss identification with your veterinarian.

How often should I check registration details?

Check at least annually and after every move, phone-number change, adoption or emergency-contact change.