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Microchipping your pet involves inserting a small microchip under the skin using a specially designed needle. Each chip has a unique number which is logged on a national database linked to your details. If your pet is lost or injured and presented to a vets then a microchip allows quickly identification of the owner so that you can be reunited and the pet can be treated.
As of April 2016 it became a legal requirement to have all dogs microchipped and to keep the registration details up to date. Please remember to update the data base if contact details change.
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 Hawick Veterinary Practice, 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 Hawick Veterinary Practice. 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. 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.
Microchipping your pet at Hawick Veterinary Practice
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 veterinary practice in Hawick 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 Hawick Veterinary Practice 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 Hawick Veterinary Practice, all our microchips comply with the International Standard (ISO).
For more information, please speak to one of our friendly team members at our practice in Hawick by contacting us here.
