People usually look up pet microchipping when they’re about to adopt a puppy or kitten, moving house, or trying to reduce the risk of a permanent “lost pet” situation. The stakes are plain: if your details aren’t linked correctly to the microchip number, a found animal can still end up unclaimed.
Microchips are simple, passive ID devices. They don’t track your pet, and they don’t store your address inside the chip. What matters is the link between the chip’s unique number and an up-to-date registry record that vets, councils, and shelters can check when they scan a stray animal.1, 2, 3
Understanding pet microchipping
A pet microchip is a tiny radio-frequency identification (RFID) device, usually implanted under the skin between the shoulder blades at the back of the neck. When a scanner passes over it, the chip transmits a unique identification number.1
That number is then used to search a registry record where the owner’s contact details are stored. In other words, the chip itself is an ID key, not a portable file of personal information.1, 2
What a microchip does (and doesn’t do)
- Does: provide a unique ID number that can be read by a compatible scanner and matched to a registry record.1, 2
- Doesn’t: work like GPS, show your pet’s location, or broadcast continuously. It’s a passive device activated by the scanner at very short range.3
How microchipping is done
Microchipping is typically performed by a veterinarian or an authorised identifier. The chip is inserted using a sterile applicator needle. The process takes seconds, much like a routine injection, and most animals react only briefly.1
After implantation, the critical step is registration: ensuring the microchip number is correctly recorded and linked to current contact details in the relevant database.1, 2
Microchip types and frequencies (what matters in practice)
Pet microchips come in different frequencies. In practice, what matters is scanner compatibility and standards compliance, especially if you travel or import an animal. Australia’s import conditions specify that cats and dogs must have a microchip that can be read by an ISO-compatible reader, and problems with a non-functional or mismatched chip can lead to serious delays and costs.4, 5
The widely used international standard for animal identification uses 134.2 kHz (ISO 11784/11785), which is why “ISO-compliant” is the phrase you’ll see repeated in travel and import guidance.6
How microchips help locate lost pets
Microchips don’t prevent a pet from going missing, but they change what happens next. When a found animal is taken to a vet clinic, council, or shelter, staff can scan for a chip and use the number to contact the registered owner.1
Large shelter studies have found markedly higher return-to-owner rates for microchipped animals compared with non-microchipped animals.7
The weak link: outdated details
A microchip is only as useful as its registry record. If you move, change phone numbers, or adopt a pet and never complete the ownership transfer, a scan may not lead back to you.1, 2
Microchipping as a standard identification method in Australia
Across Australia, microchipping is widely treated as a baseline requirement of responsible pet ownership, and in many places it is compulsory. As one concrete example, in NSW, cats and dogs must be microchipped before being sold or given away, or by 12 weeks of age, and the details are recorded in the NSW Pet Registry.2
Collars and tags still matter, because they provide instant visual identification and don’t rely on someone taking your pet to be scanned. Think of the collar as the quick handshake, and the microchip as the backup identity check when everything else has fallen away.2
Microchips and travel (including importing pets to Australia)
If you’re importing a cat or dog to Australia, the Australian Government requires the animal to be identifiable by a working, ISO-compliant microchip, and the microchip number must match the import documents. If the chip can’t be read or the number is inconsistent, the animal may not be cleared as planned and can face extended quarantine or other serious outcomes.4, 5
For travel planning, it’s wise to have your vet scan the chip well ahead of any deadlines, and ensure the microchip number is recorded accurately on every form that relies on identity verification.4, 5
Health tracking and veterinary benefits: what microchips actually enable
A standard pet microchip does not store your pet’s medical history. What it does provide is a stable ID number that can be linked, through clinic systems and registries, to the correct animal—especially useful if a lost pet arrives at a shelter or veterinary clinic with no other identification.1
Claims that routine microchips “monitor activity”, “detect disease early”, or “track vital signs” belong to future-facing concepts and specialised devices, not the typical identification microchip used for companion animals today.
Longevity, durability, and practical maintenance
Pet microchips are designed to last for the animal’s lifetime and do not need a battery. They are passive devices that respond when energised by a scanner at close range.3
Maintenance is mostly administrative:
- Keep your phone number, email, and address current on the relevant registry.1, 2
- After adoption or sale, ensure the ownership transfer is completed, not just “handed over” informally.2
- Ask your vet to scan the chip occasionally (for example during annual check-ups), especially before travel.4, 5
What about microchip migration?
Microchips are usually implanted between the shoulder blades, but they can sometimes move slightly under the skin. This is one reason shelters and vets scan more than one area when checking for a chip, and why travel/import guidance recommends verification scans during the process.4, 5
Common concerns and myths
“Can a microchip track my pet?”
No. A microchip is not a GPS tracker. It can only be read when a scanner is held close enough to energise it.3
“Does the microchip expose my personal information?”
The chip contains an identification number. Your personal details sit in registry systems and are accessed by authorised organisations (such as vets, shelters, and councils) when they need to contact an owner of a found animal.1, 3
Costs and low-cost options
Microchipping costs vary by clinic, state/territory requirements, and whether it’s offered through council or welfare programs. The cost is usually once-off for implantation, but some registries may charge fees for transfers or updates, depending on the provider and jurisdiction.
If cost is a barrier, check your local council and major animal welfare organisations for periodic discounted microchipping events and programs.
Emerging technologies: what’s real versus what’s speculative
The core idea of microchipping—permanent, scan-readable ID—has stayed steady for decades because it’s simple and robust. More advanced concepts (such as health monitoring implants) are sometimes discussed in the broader tech landscape, but they are not the standard microchips used for everyday pet identification and recovery.
References
- RSPCA Australia – Microchipping
- NSW Office of Local Government – Microchipping (NSW Pet Registry)
- RSPCA Pet Insurance – Pet microchipping myths
- Australian Government (Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry) – Microchips for importers of cats and dogs
- Australian Government (DAFF) – Cats and dogs frequently asked questions (microchip requirements)
- ISO 11784 and ISO 11785 (overview of animal RFID standards and 134.2 kHz carrier frequency)
- Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association (JAVMA) – Microchipped animals and return-to-owner outcomes (shelter study)
- RSPCA Queensland – Important update: Pet microchipping (HomeSafeID closure and checking registration)
- RSPCA Knowledgebase – Who to contact to change microchip registry details
Veterinary Advisor, Veterinarian London Area, United Kingdom