Microchip implantation

What is a microchip?

Animals unfortunately cannot ask for help if they get lost. They cannot tell anyone their name or where they live. This is why it can happen that a beloved family pet - desperately searched for by its owners - ends up in a shelter or animal control facility. When this happens, it is often too late. As humans, we need to think about such situations in advance. Many people rely on ID tags attached to collars, containing the pet’s and owner’s details, or on tattoos. Unfortunately, neither is an ideal solution. Collars can be lost or removed, and tattoos may fade over time and become unreadable.

However, there is a simple and quick solution to ensure safe identification of your pet with a completely painless procedure that takes only 2-3 seconds: the microchip. Currently, the microchip and its associated database provide the only reliable method of identifying an animal. Through an online database, the owner’s contact details (e.g. phone number) can be retrieved within a minute, allowing immediate notification. Personal data can only be accessed by veterinarians and shelters with authorized access to the database. The microchip number cannot be changed or falsified. Nowadays, all veterinarians and shelters have microchip scanners and access to the database, so they can easily identify the owner of a lost pet.

The microchip is a tiny implant, about the size of a grain of rice, made of biocompatible material and containing a 15-digit identification number. It only needs to be implanted once and provides lifelong security. The chip is invisible, does not move, does not emit radiation, requires no battery, and is not a GPS device. It is implanted under the skin (usually on the left side of the neck) with a procedure similar to an injection. The process is simple and causes minimal discomfort. For more sensitive animals, or upon request, a local anesthetic (lidocaine) can be administered beforehand. It is also worth considering implantation during another procedure that involves anesthesia (such as neutering).

Prices

Database

In Hungary, the most advanced system for registering animal identification microchips is the online database operated by the Hungarian Veterinary Chamber, as it is accessible 24/7 and only registered veterinarians and shelters can access the stored data.

Can you check whether your pet is registered in the database? Yes! Visit the website www.petvetdata.hu, and in the search field select the search type as “microchip” (this is the default setting). Then enter the 15-digit microchip number found in the vaccination booklet or passport, and click search.

If your pet is registered, its name and species will be displayed. The owner’s name and address are only accessible to registered users, such as veterinarians and shelters.

Have your veterinarian check whether all your details (address, phone number, etc.) are correctly recorded in the online database. In addition, inquire about your pet at nearby shelters and at the municipal animal control facility, and provide the necessary information.

What should you do if you find a lost animal?
If you find a stray dog or cat, you should take it to a veterinarian or a shelter. Only these places have microchip scanners and access to the database. Once the chip number is read and the owner’s details are retrieved from the database, the owner can be notified immediately.

What should you do if your pet gets lost?

Is it foolproof? - Yes!
Is it perfect? - We must make it so!

However, for this system to work flawlessly, responsible ownership and proper awareness are essential. In the case of microchipped animals, any change in data (owner’s name, address, phone number) should be reported to the veterinarian immediately so it can be updated in the database.

We provide microchip implantation at any age. After implantation, it is important to check within 1-2 weeks whether your pet has been registered. If you cannot find your pet in the database, please let us know. It is also important that in case of any data changes (phone number, address, etc.), you visit the clinic so the information can be updated.

Further information can be found here.