How To Update Your Pet's Microchip

As your life changes, so should the contact information linked to your pet’s microchip. Whether you’ve recently moved or changed your phone number, or never actually registered their chip after you adopted them, set aside a few minutes today to make sure their microchip registration is up to date.

How Microchips Help Lost Pets Find Their Way Home
When someone finds your pet, they can bring him or her to a shelter or veterinarian to have their microchip scanned. The scanner will bring up your pet’s microchip registration number and the phone number of the microchip company. Then, the veterinarian can call the microchip company so they can, in turn, contact you to let you know your pet has been found.
If your pet is wearing the collar tag that came with their microchip, the person who finds them will not necessarily need to take them to get scanned. The tag shows the same information loaded onto the chip - the registration number and company phone number - so the person can call them so they can contact you.
So, the person who finds your pet will not gain access to your contact information by looking up your pet’s collar tag number. Even so, you may decide to also have a collar tag that’s inscribed with your phone number and address if you wouldn’t mind being contacted directly. A microchip acts as backup in case your pet is found without their collar.

What’s Your Pet’s Number?
Most microchip companies allow you to check and update your contact information through their website. You just need to the chip registration number. The 9, 10, or 15 digit number is on the collar tag you received when your pet was chipped.
Some of the most popular microchip companies in the United States are HomeAgain, 24PetWatch, Avid ID, AKC Reunite, and PetLink. If you don’t know the brand of your pet’s microchip, you can find it by typing in your pet’s ID number on AHAA Pet Microchip Lookup.
From there, you can login to the company’s website with your pet’s microchip number and view or edit your contact information and your pet’s primary veterinarian.

Help, I Lost My Pet’s Registration Number!
Don’t know where your pet’s microchip collar tag went? Lost their adoption papers with microchip information? Not a problem. You can have your pet’s microchip scanned at their next vet visit. Your veterinarian can tell you your pet’s chip number and company of registration. Then, you can login to the company’s website and update your pet’s profile.
If you adopted your pet from a shelter or rescue organization, your pet’s microchip will bring up their contact information. It’s best to contact your rescue organization directly so they can transfer your pet’s microchip registration over to you.