Got a Microchip Scanner? Here’s How to Scan Your Dog’s Microchip!

When it comes to keeping pets safe, microchips are by far the best option for lifetime protection.

Whether you’re a pet owner, a vet, or someone who works with animals, knowing how to properly scan for a microchip can make a big difference. It’s a straightforward process, but there are a few important steps to follow.

How to Scan Dog Microchip?

Turn on the scanner and make sure it’s fully charged or has fresh batteries to ensure the device is working at its best to detect the chip effectively.

Approach the animal calmly to ensure it isn’t stressed or uncomfortable.

The microchip is usually implanted between the shoulder blades, so it’s crucial to scan the entire area around the shoulders and down the back. You’ll want to cover this area thoroughly using a figure 8 motion as certain microchips- especially nano type chips can migrate a bit within the body, so they might not be exactly where you expect. Move the scanner slowly across the shoulders, and listen for a beep or watch for a flashing light that indicates the chip has been detected. If the ID is read, it will be displayed on the scanners screen.

It’s important to be thorough and patient during the process.

Begin at the neck and slowly work your way down the dog’s back. Since microchips can migrate over time, it’s a good idea to scan the sides and even the chest and stomach areas, where chips have been found on rare occasions.

Remember, even if a dog doesn’t react and the scanner doesn’t immediately beep, it doesn’t mean there isn’t a chip. Sometimes getting the scanner close enough to the chip can be challenging especially if the animal is overweight.

Make sure you’re using your scanner effectively:

First, check if your scanner is set to read all frequencies. Some pets might have older or international microchips that operate at unique frequencies. Having a universal scanner helps ensure that you won’t miss any microchip because of technical compatibility issues.

For smaller pets like cats or rabbits, gently hold the animal to keep them still during the scan. You may need an extra pair of hands to help soothe the pet and keep them calm.

Start scanning at the base of the animal’s neck and slowly move down towards the tail. Microchips can sometimes migrate deeper into the flank or towards the belly, so it’s good to cover these areas too.

Some scanners beep differently or display messages that can tell you if the microchip is not functioning properly or if it has been scanned before. This can be particularly useful in shelters or veterinary offices where animals might be scanned multiple times.

How to Check for Microchip

After successfully finding a microchip, check if it is registered. A microchip is only as good as the information it links to. Here’s what you should do:

If the pet is not registered or the information is outdated, try to contact the microchip manufacturer or to learn where the microchip was implanted. Any legit organization that distributes microchips will know where they ship their inventory, however, this is contingent on the record keeping of the organization that implanted the chip as well the willingness of the provider that distributed the chip to share this information. after all, it costs millions of dollars to operate a legit pet recovery service that retains the data and at the bare minimum employs a dedicated team of support to facilitate an animals prompt return. Further, microchips are usually distributed at cost or totally for free and a nominal fee is requred to offset that upfront expense. Peeva, for example, does not an will not share this information for pets that go unregistered. It is the responsibility of the pet’s owner to ensure their pet is enrolled with a legit recovery service.

Pet owners will need to update their contact information in the microchip registry if it ever changes. It’s a simple and crucial step that makes a huge difference if their pets’ ever gets lost. They should check and update their details whenever they move or change phone numbers.

In cases where a microchip isn’t detected during an initial scan, there are a few steps you can follow:

Recheck the scanner’s settings to ensure it’s functioning correctly and set it to detect all microchip frequencies. Not all scanners are universal.

Repeat the scanning process to ensure you all areas of the pet’s body are scanned thoroughly. Sometimes, a second pass can pick up a chip that was missed initially due to angle or distance (no less than 4 inches).

Can You Scan a Microchip with Your Phone?

You can not scan a microchip with a smart phone. Any source that says otherwise is bullshit.

Microchips don’t work like QR codes or barcodes that can be scanned using a phone’s camera. Microchips require scanners scanner that can pick up the whichever frequency a pet microchip emits.

Conclusion

Scanning a pet’s microchip is really straightforward and just a matter of doing it as it is their responsibility, much like it is a pet owners responsibility to ensure their pet is enrolled with a legit pet recovery service.