How to Tell if Your Dog Is Microchipped

Microchips may sound like something from the future, but they can be a real help if your dog ever goes missing. At about the size of a grain of rice, a microchip implanted under your dog’s skin is a reliable source of information for a rescuer to reunite you with your dog. Not all dogs have a microchip, though. Before you assume your dog has one, you’ll want to confirm that they are microchipped, and if they are, that the chip is registered with your information. Microchips can be a great, permanent identifier for your dog, so you don’t have to rely solely on their ID tags if they become lost.

Knowing your dog’s microchip status is a proactive measure you can take now to find your dog in the future. In some places, microchipping your dog is even legally required, especially if they are rescued or adopted from a shelter.

TL;DR: The best way to determine if your dog is microchipped is through a quick scan by a veterinarian or animal shelter with a special microchip reader. Once scanned, ensuring the chip is registered in a database is crucial for reunification if your dog were to get lost.

At-home microchip checks: what you can and can’t do

If you have a dog — or find a stray dog — and want to check if they are microchipped, there are a few things you can easily do. Even if you don’t have the adoption or medical records for the dog, you may be able to feel the microchip with your fingers or scan the dog’s body with a special microchip reader to confirm its presence.

Feeling for the microchip

Can you feel a dog’s microchip? And if so, where is the microchip located, so you can feel it? Usually, it is implanted under your dog’s skin in the space between their shoulder blades. In some dogs, especially those who don’t have a lot of fat or thick skin on their necks and shoulders, the microchip can be felt with your fingers.

You won’t be able to feel a microchip in all dogs, so just because you can’t feel one, doesn’t mean it isn’t there. Additionally, some microchips will migrate under your dog’s skin and end up closer to their leg or side of their body — making it more difficult to find and feel it. 

If you think you feel a microchip in your dog, you’ll still want to confirm that’s what it is by using a pet microchip scanner.

Visual inspection (and why it’s not effective)

Unless you have a very thin dog with very short hair, like an Italian Greyhound, a microchip may not be not visible. If you see something under your dog’s skin, don’t assume it’s a microchip. Have a veterinarian check it out to ensure it is not a mass.

Unless you have a pet microchip scanner at home that can detect all the different microchip frequencies, home checks can be limited. Feeling or visualizing a microchip is not always possible, but even if you do see or feel what you think is a microchip, the only way to guarantee that’s what it is, is to scan it with a pet microchip scanner.       

Professional microchip scans: the most reliable method

The most reliable way to have your dog checked for a microchip is to have a veterinarian or shelter scan them. They will have a professional pet microchip scanner that should be able to read all frequencies of microchips.

Who can scan your dog?

Anyone can purchase a pet microchip scanner, but not all scanners are created equally. Veterinarians and animal shelters typically have universal scanners that can detect any type of microchip in your dog. These facilities are available to provide a lost-dog microchip check for no cost or to check your own dog for a chip.

The scanning process explained

Scanning for a microchip is an easy process. A microchip scanner is waved over your dog’s skin in the areas where a microchip is typically located. If a microchip is present, the scanner will pick up the frequency from the microchip. And if you’re wondering whether the scan is painful for dogs, no, scanning a dog for a microchip is not painful. A microchip scanner doesn’t even need to touch your dog to pick up a microchip frequency.

What a scanner reveals

If you’re wondering how to find a dog’s microchip number, that’s where the scanner comes in. When your dog’s microchip is scanned, a unique microchip ID number is revealed on the scanner screen. This ID number is then used to look up the dog in a microchip registry database. This registry lookup tool only identifies the registry where a pet’s microchip is registered; it does not disclose pet parent information or allow updates.

What to do after a microchip scan

The benefits of microchipping dogs rely on the microchip having current information. So, if your dog’s microchip has been scanned and detected, the next thing you’ll want to do is ensure that it’s linked to the correct information.

• Verifying registration: If a previous pet parent, shelter, rescue group, or breeder implanted the microchip in your dog, the contact information that the microchip is registered with may not be accurate. If you want your dog returned to you (if they were to get lost), you’ll want your information recorded in the microchip’s registration.

• How to update: Once you look up your dog’s microchip number and determine what company it is registered with through the lookup database, you can contact that company often by phone or email to verify registration and make any changes.

My dog isn’t chipped: what’s next?

ID tags can become unreadable or fall off your dog’s collar, but microchips are permanent. To increase the odds of your dog being returned to you if they were to get lost, you’ll want to get your dog chipped.

Why get your dog microchipped?

If your dog ever becomes lost, a microchip that is registered with your information can be scanned and traced back to you. Unlike ID tags on your dog’s collar, a microchip is permanent. So even if your dog loses their collar, a registered microchip will enable a rescuer to reunite you with your lost dog. 

The microchipping procedure

The implantation process is done using a special, large-gauge needle loaded with a microchip. Your dog will be poked with this pre-loaded needle, the microchip will be injected, and then the skin around the needle will be held closed as the needle is removed. Sometimes, a small amount of skin glue will be placed to aid in skin healing. If your dog is scheduled to go under anesthesia or sedation for another procedure, you can request that they be microchipped during that time. But since microchipping is such a quick procedure, it is often done while your dog is awake

Maintaining your dog’s microchip information

If you move or change your phone number or email address, you will need to update the microchip registration. To update microchip information, you’ll want to contact the microchip registration company. Sometimes your veterinarian can help you with this process, especially if they placed the microchip.

Commonly asked questions 

Can I buy a microchip scanner for home use?

Yes, you can purchase a pet microchip scanner for home use. A dog microchip scanner usually costs around $35, but be sure to purchase a universal pet-microchip scanner to ensure it picks up all microchip frequencies — since different brands can utilize different frequencies.

How often should I check my dog’s microchip?

You don’t need to check your dog’s microchip more than once. If you’ve confirmed that your dog has a microchip and that its number is registered with your contact information, there is no need to repeatedly check it.

Where is a dog’s microchip usually located?

A dog’s microchip is usually implanted under the skin between the shoulder blades. While some microchips may migrate under the skin, most stay in this area throughout your dog’s lifetime.

Does a microchip replace a dog tag or collar? 

No, a microchip is not visible, so it will not replace a dog tag or collar. You should still have your dog wear an ID tag and collar for easy and immediate identification.

Are microchips painful for dogs to get? 

Yes, a microchip implantation is painful, but only for a moment. As a large-gauge needle is pushed through your dog’s skin and the microchip is injected, most dogs experience some pain. Once the microchip has been injected and the needle removed, the injection site can be sore for a couple of days, similarly to when your dog gets a vaccine, but there is no chronic pain involved.

What if my dog’s microchip isn’t registered? 

A microchip that isn’t registered can still be scanned, but it won’t provide any information when it is scanned. If your dog gets lost and someone finds them and scans their microchip, an unregistered microchip won’t help reunite you with your dog.

Do microchips move inside a dog’s body?

Yes, microchips can move or migrate under your dog’s skin. But since the chip is under the skin, it won’t migrate outside of the skin layer called the subcutaneous tissue.

Can I keep a stray dog I found?

Before deciding to keep a stray dog, first check if the dog has any identification, such as a collar or microchip, which could help locate their pet parent. You should also call local animal shelters or veterinary clinics to see if the dog has been reported missing. If you’re unable to locate the pet parent and decide to keep the dog, ensure you follow proper procedures for registration, vaccination, and ongoing care to provide a safe and loving environment.

References

​​“FAQ: Mandatory Scans for Microchips | Animal Legal & Historical Center.” www.animallaw.info, www.animallaw.info/article/faq-mandatory-scans-microchips.

“Microchip Registry Lookup.” AAHA, 8 Nov. 2024, www.aaha.org/for-veterinary-professionals/microchip-search.

“Microchipping Your Dog.” Vca_corporate, vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/microchipping-your-dog.

“Participating Microchipping and Pet Recovery Services.” AAHA, 14 Feb. 2025, www.aaha.org/participating-companies.