It is a legal requirement for all dogs in the UK over the age of 8 weeks to have a microchip. From the 10th of June 2024 this legal requirement will extend to all cats over 20 weeks of age. A microchip will allow your pet to be identified and returned to you if he were to go missing or be stolen.
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. Microchips can be placed when the pet is conscious. The chip is about the size of a grain of rice and is placed with a large needle in the scruff of the neck. You are responsible for keeping your contact details up to date with the microchip database company.
Each microchip has a unique number, which can be read by a portable scanner, which most vets, including all Forest Vets branches, local authorities and rescue centres 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.
Contact Forest Vets to book a microchipping appointment
Microchipping is not only for dogs and cats, but also for ferrets, rabbits, snakes, parrots, tortoises and horses and comes highly recommended by all the team at Forest Vets in Essex.
It is now also a legal requirement for all dogs to be microchipped 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 and have a pet passport.
Microchipping your pet by Forest 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 one of the Forest Vets branches 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 Forest 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 Forest 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 Forest Vets friendly team members at one of our practices in Essex, by calling the branch most local to your home address.
