A pet microchip is one of the easiest ways to give your dog or cat permanent identification. But simply having a microchip implanted does not always mean your pet is fully protected. The microchip needs to be connected to an owner record with accurate contact information.
If you adopted a pet, moved to a new home, changed your phone number, or simply don’t remember where your pet’s microchip was registered, it is a good idea to check the registration status.
The good news is that checking a pet microchip can be simple. You first need to find your pet’s unique microchip number and then use a pet microchip lookup tool to determine whether the number is registered.
NMR provides an online microchip lookup service that allows pet owners to enter a 9-, 10-, or 15-digit microchip number and check whether it is registered with NMR.
Check your pet’s microchip registration with NMR and make sure your pet’s identification information is up to date.
What Is a Pet Microchip?
A pet microchip is a small identification device implanted beneath a pet’s skin. It contains a unique identification number that can be read using a compatible microchip scanner.
The microchip itself is not a GPS tracker. It does not show your pet’s location on a map or allow you to follow them from your phone. Instead, it provides a permanent identification number that can be used to look up registration information.
When a lost pet is found, a veterinarian, shelter, rescue organization, or animal control professional can scan the animal for a microchip. The identification number can then be searched in a microchip registry.
If the chip is registered and the information is current, the registry can help connect the pet with the owner.
This is why pet microchip registration is such an important part of responsible pet ownership.
Why Should You Check Your Pet’s Microchip Registration?
Many pet owners assume their dog’s or cat’s microchip is automatically registered after implantation. However, having a chip and having an active registration record are two different things.
Checking your pet’s registration can help you find out:
- Whether the microchip is registered
- Which registry has information about the chip
- Whether your contact information is available
- Whether your pet’s ownership information needs updating
- Whether an old owner or breeder is still associated with the chip
NMR explains that a microchip lookup can help identify the registry connected with a particular chip number and determine whether registration information is available.
How to Check If Your Pet’s Microchip Is Registered
The process is straightforward.
Step 1: Find Your Pet’s Microchip Number
Before performing a microchip registry lookup, you need your pet’s unique microchip number.
You may find it on:
- Veterinary records
- Adoption paperwork
- Breeder documents
- Previous registration paperwork
- Pet medical records
If you cannot find the number, don’t guess.
Take your pet to a veterinarian, animal shelter, or rescue organization and ask them to scan the microchip. NMR notes that veterinarians and rescue organizations can provide the 9-, 10-, or 15-digit microchip number when the chip is scanned.
Step 2: Enter the Microchip Number Into a Lookup Tool
Once you have the number, you can use an online pet microchip lookup service.
NMR’s lookup tool allows you to enter a 9-, 10-, or 15-digit microchip number without spaces or punctuation to check whether the microchip is registered with NMR.
Use the NMR Microchip Lookup to check your pet’s registration status.
Step 3: Check the Registration Information
If the microchip is registered with NMR, the available registration information can help identify the owner. NMR states that its lookup can show information such as the registered owner’s name, address, and email when the chip is registered with the service.
Review the information carefully.
If you recently moved or changed your phone number or email address, make sure your pet’s record is updated.
Step 4: Contact the Registry If You Need Help
Sometimes a microchip number may not appear in a particular registry.
That doesn’t necessarily mean your pet has never been registered. The chip could be associated with another pet recovery registry or database.
NMR’s Universal Pet Microchip Lookup Tool is designed to check participating pet recovery registries and identify where registration information may be available.
If you are unsure what to do next, contact the appropriate registry or ask your veterinarian for assistance.
What If Your Pet’s Microchip Is Not Registered?
If you discover that your pet’s microchip isn’t registered, don’t panic.
The next step is to register the chip with a pet recovery registry using your current contact information.
NMR’s registration page allows pet owners to register a pet’s microchip and connect it with owner and pet details. The current registration form asks for information such as the owner’s name, email, phone number, address, pet name, breed, gender, date of birth, and microchip number.
Register your pet’s microchip with NMR to create a registration record.
What If Your Pet’s Microchip Is Registered to Someone Else?
This can happen with adopted pets.
For example, you may adopt a dog from a rescue organization and discover that the microchip was originally registered to the breeder, shelter, or previous owner.
In this situation, you should make sure the ownership information is updated.
An old owner’s phone number may no longer work, and a breeder may not know where the pet currently lives.
The goal is to make sure the registration information connects the microchip to the pet’s current owner.
What If Your Contact Information Is Outdated?
An outdated microchip record can create problems when your pet is lost.
Imagine that your dog has a registered microchip, but the phone number on the record belongs to you from five years ago. A shelter scans the chip, finds the old number, and tries to contact you.
If that number is no longer active, reaching you may be difficult.
That’s why checking your pet’s microchip registration isn’t something you should do only once.
Update your information whenever you:
- Move to a new address
- Change your phone number
- Get a new email address
- Change your emergency contact
- Transfer pet ownership
NMR also recommends keeping pet microchip information updated when your address, phone, email, or ownership details change.
How Does a Microchip Help When a Pet Gets Lost?
Imagine your dog escapes through an open gate while you’re away.
A neighbor finds your dog and takes them to an animal shelter.
The shelter scans the dog and finds a microchip.
The scanner provides a unique identification number. Staff then use a microchip lookup to determine whether the number is associated with a registered owner.
If the registration information is available and current, the shelter may be able to contact you.
If the microchip isn’t registered, the scanner may provide only the chip number without a useful connection to the owner.
NMR describes the process simply: when a lost pet is found, the microchip needs to be scanned and the information searched in the appropriate database.
Can You Check a Microchip With Your Phone?
No. A standard pet microchip cannot normally be scanned directly with a regular smartphone.
Pet microchips use RFID technology and require an appropriate scanner to read the identification number.
If you don’t know your pet’s microchip number, ask a veterinarian, animal shelter, or rescue organization to scan your pet.
Once you have the number, you can use an online microchip lookup tool to check its registration.
Can You Track Your Pet With a Microchip?
A standard microchip does not provide GPS tracking.
This is an important distinction.
A microchip provides permanent identification, while a GPS tracker is designed to provide location information.
A microchip can help identify your pet after someone finds them and scans the chip. It cannot tell you where your dog is while they are running around the neighborhood.
For better protection, consider using several identification methods together:
- Registered microchip
- Collar
- ID tag
- Current owner information
- Emergency contact information
Together, these provide multiple ways for someone to identify your pet.
When Should You Check Your Pet’s Microchip?
There is no need to wait until your pet goes missing.
It’s smart to check the registration when:
You Adopt a New Pet
If you adopt a dog or cat, ask whether they already have a microchip.
Have the chip scanned and verify the registration information.
You Move
A new address should be reflected in your pet’s registration record.
You Change Your Phone Number
Make sure your new number is associated with your pet’s record.
You Change Your Email
An old email address may prevent important communication from reaching you.
You Transfer Ownership
If another person becomes the pet’s owner, the registration should be updated.
You Are Preparing for Travel
Checking your pet’s identification information before a trip is a smart part of travel preparation.
Common Mistakes Pet Owners Make
Assuming Microchipping Means Registration
A pet can have a microchip without having current owner information connected to it.
Always check.
Losing the Microchip Number
Keep your pet’s microchip number with their important veterinary and adoption records.
Forgetting to Update Contact Details
Your pet’s microchip information should change when your contact information changes.
Assuming One Registry Covers Every Chip
Different microchip records may be associated with different registries. A lookup service can help identify where information is available. NMR’s universal lookup system checks participating pet recovery registries.
Relying Only on the Microchip
A microchip is an important identification tool, but a visible ID tag can allow someone to contact you without needing to take your pet to a scanner.
Using both is a practical approach.
How to Register Your Pet If the Chip Isn’t Registered
If your lookup shows that your pet’s microchip is not registered with NMR, you can complete the registration process online.
Start by gathering:
- Your pet’s microchip number
- Pet’s name
- Breed
- Gender
- Date of birth
- Your full name
- Phone number
- Email address
- Current home address
Then visit the NMR registration page.
The current NMR registration form requires a 15-digit microchip number for its registration process and includes fields for both owner and pet information.
Make sure every detail is correct before completing the registration.
Why Keeping Your Pet’s Information Updated Matters
Checking whether your pet’s microchip is registered is only the first step.
The information connected to the microchip needs to remain accurate over time.
Your dog may have the same microchip number for their entire life, but your:
- Address may change
- Phone number may change
- Email may change
- Emergency contact may change
- Ownership situation may change
The microchip remains the same, but the information connected to it needs to be updated.
This is why pet owners should make microchip information part of their regular pet records.
Final Thoughts
Knowing how to check if your pet’s microchip is registered can give you greater confidence that your pet has a reliable form of permanent identification.
Start by finding your pet’s microchip number. If you don’t have it, ask your veterinarian, animal shelter, or rescue organization to scan your pet. Then use a trusted pet microchip lookup tool to check whether the number is registered.
If the chip is registered, review the available information and make sure your contact details are current. If it isn’t registered, take the next step and create a registration record.
A microchip is only one part of your pet’s safety plan, but accurate registration can make it much easier to connect a lost pet with their family.