PERMANENT IDENTIFICATION FOR DOGS & CATS

Pet Microchipping in Laguna Beach

A collar and identification tag are important, but collars can break, slip off or be removed. A pet microchip provides a permanent form of identification that stays with your dog or cat if they become lost. Aliso Beach Animal Clinic offers pet microchipping and microchip scanning at our independently owned veterinary hospital in Laguna Beach. The implantation procedure takes only a few moments and can usually be performed during a routine wellness visit without sedation or anesthesia. Microchipping is only effective when the chip is properly registered and the owner’s contact information remains current. Our team will explain the registration process and help you understand how to maintain your pet’s information over time. REQUEST A MICROCHIPPING APPOINTMENT CALL (949) 499-4190

What Is a Pet Microchip?

A pet microchip is a small electronic identification device approximately the size of a grain of rice. It is placed beneath the skin using a sterile applicator. Each microchip has a unique identification number. When a veterinary hospital, animal shelter or animal-control agency passes a compatible scanner over the pet, the scanner displays that number. The number can then be entered into a microchip-registry lookup system to identify the company that maintains the owner’s registration information.

What Information Is Stored on the Microchip?

The microchip itself does not contain your name, address, telephone number, medical history or GPS location. It contains only a unique identification number. Your contact information is stored separately in a microchip registry and connected to that number. Depending on the registry, your account may include:

Your name
Primary and alternate telephone numbers
Email address
Home address
An emergency contact
Your veterinarian’s information
Your pet’s name and description
Selected medical or behavioral notes

The registry information—not the physical microchip—is what allows someone to contact you when your pet is found.

A Microchip Is Not a GPS Tracker

A standard pet microchip cannot show your pet’s current location or transmit a real-time signal. The chip has no battery and does not continuously broadcast information. It becomes readable only when a compatible scanner is passed close to it. When a lost pet is found, the usual process is:

The pet is taken to a veterinary hospital, shelter or animal-control facility.
A team member scans the pet for a microchip.
The scanner displays the chip’s identification number.
The number is used to identify the appropriate microchip registry.
The registry contacts the owner using the information on file.

A GPS collar can provide location tracking, but it should be considered an additional tool rather than a substitute for permanent microchip identification.

Why Should I Microchip My Pet?

Pets can become separated from their owners unexpectedly. A dog may slip out of a collar, a frightened cat may run through an open door or a pet may escape during fireworks, construction, travel or an emergency evacuation. A microchip may help identify your pet when:

A collar or identification tag is lost
A frightened pet travels far from home
A pet is found without visible identification
A dog escapes from a yard or vehicle
An indoor cat unexpectedly gets outside
A natural disaster separates pets from their families
A pet is found months or years after disappearing
Ownership information needs to be verified

Microchipping does not guarantee that every lost pet will be recovered. The pet must be found, scanned and connected to an accurate registry record. However, it provides an important permanent layer of identification that cannot simply fall off like a tag.

Should Indoor Pets Be Microchipped?

Yes. Indoor pets can still become lost. Common situations include:

A guest leaving a door open
A cat pushing through a damaged screen
A pet escaping during a move
A frightened animal running during fireworks or construction
A natural disaster or emergency evacuation
A pet slipping out of a carrier
A service worker entering or leaving the home

Indoor cats may be particularly difficult to identify when found because they may not routinely wear collars. A registered microchip provides permanent identification even when there is no visible tag.

What Happens During a Microchipping Appointment?

Step 1: We Scan for an Existing Microchip

Before placing a new chip, our team may scan your pet to determine whether a microchip is already present. Pets adopted from shelters, rescue organizations or previous owners may already have a chip even when the new family was not given complete registration information.

Step 2: The Microchip Is Implanted

The microchip is supplied in a sterile applicator and placed beneath the skin. For dogs and cats in the United States, the standard location is generally between the shoulder blades. The procedure takes only a few seconds. The needle is larger than a routine vaccination needle, so the pet may feel a brief pinch or pressure. Most pets do not require sedation or anesthesia and can resume normal activity afterward.

Step 3: We Confirm the Chip Can Be Read

After implantation, the chip is scanned to confirm that it is readable and to verify its identification number.

Step 4: The Microchip Is Registered

The identification number must be connected with your current contact information in a reliable microchip registry. Our team will provide the chip number and registration instructions. Ask us whether the registration has already been submitted or whether you must complete an additional step online or by telephone.

Does Pet Microchipping Require Anesthesia?

Microchipping generally does not require anesthesia. It can usually be performed during:

A puppy or kitten visit
An annual wellness examination
A vaccination appointment
A newly adopted pet examination
Another routine veterinary visit

Microchipping may also be coordinated with a spay, neuter, dental cleaning or another anesthetic procedure. This can be helpful for a particularly small, sensitive or anxious pet, but anesthesia is not ordinarily required solely for microchip implantation.

When Should a Puppy or Kitten Be Microchipped?

A puppy or kitten can be microchipped during the first-year veterinary-care period once the veterinarian determines that implantation is appropriate for the individual patient. Common opportunities include:

An early puppy or kitten wellness visit
The final appointment in the initial vaccination series
A spay or neuter procedure
Before travel
Before boarding or increased outdoor activity

There is no benefit to waiting until a pet has already escaped. Microchip identification is most useful when it is implanted and registered before an unexpected event occurs. LEARN ABOUT PUPPY & KITTEN CARE

Registration Is the Most Important Follow-Up Step

A microchip number without accurate registry information may not lead a finder back to the pet’s current owner. After implantation, confirm that the registry has:

Your correct name
Your current mobile telephone number
A second telephone number when available
Your current email address
Your current home address
An alternate emergency contact
Your veterinarian’s contact information

Consider using an alternate contact who lives in a different household. During a natural disaster or family emergency, someone outside your immediate area may be easier to reach.

When Should Registration Information Be Updated?

Update the registry whenever you:

Change your telephone number
Change your email address
Move to a new home
Change your emergency contact
Transfer ownership of the pet
Adopt a pet that was previously registered to someone else
Travel for an extended period

Updating information with your veterinary clinic does not necessarily update the separate microchip registry. Owners should contact the registry directly and confirm that the changes were accepted.

What If I Do Not Know Which Registry Has My Pet’s Information?

If you have the microchip number but do not know the registry, the AAHA Universal Pet Microchip Lookup Tool can identify the companies associated with that number. The lookup tool does not display private owner information. It directs the finder or pet owner to the registry that may hold the record. If you do not know your pet’s microchip number, schedule a scan at a veterinary hospital. Once the number is identified, the registry record can be located and updated. USE THE AAHA MICROCHIP REGISTRY LOOKUP TOOL

Have Your Pet’s Microchip Scanned Annually

AAHA recommends having a pet’s microchip scanned every year to confirm that it remains readable and can be located. An annual wellness examination is a convenient time to:

Confirm that a chip is present
Verify the identification number
Check that the chip can be detected
Confirm the correct registry
Review your contact information

Microchip migration is uncommon but possible. Scanning the pet systematically helps locate a chip that has shifted from the original implantation site. LEARN ABOUT PET WELLNESS EXAMS

Are Pet Microchips Safe?

Microchipping is widely used and generally considered a low-risk procedure. Most dogs and cats experience only brief discomfort during implantation. Possible complications are uncommon but may include:

Temporary tenderness at the implantation site
Minor swelling
Bleeding
Infection
Movement of the chip from its original location
Failure of a scanner to detect a chip

No identification method is completely fail-safe. This is why microchips should be used together with current identification tags, secure carriers, leashes, appropriate fencing and other lost-pet precautions.

Contact us if you notice persistent swelling, increasing pain, drainage, significant redness, or another concerning change near the implantation site. If the problem develops suddenly or cannot comfortably wait for a routine appointment, Aliso Beach Animal Clinic provides same-day urgent veterinary care in Laguna Beach during regular clinic hours when availability allows. Call (949) 499-4190 before arriving.

Does a Microchip Replace a Collar and ID Tag?

No. A microchip and visible identification serve different purposes and work best together. A collar tag allows a neighbor or passerby to contact you immediately without taking the pet to a facility for scanning. A microchip provides permanent backup identification if:

The collar comes off
The tag becomes unreadable
The pet is found far from home
The person finding the pet takes the animal to a shelter or veterinary hospital

Dogs and cats should generally wear a secure collar with current identification in addition to having a registered microchip.

Microchips and Pet Travel

Microchip identification may be required for certain forms of domestic or international pet travel. International destinations may specify the type of microchip, the order in which microchipping and rabies vaccination must occur and the documents that must accompany the pet. Travel rules vary by destination and can change. Begin planning well before departure so there is time to complete required identification, vaccination, laboratory testing and documentation. Bring your pet’s microchip number and registration information when discussing travel with our veterinary team.

What If My Newly Adopted Pet Already Has a Microchip?

Do not implant another chip automatically. We can scan the pet and provide the identification number. You can then use the registry lookup tool to determine which company maintains the record. The registry may require documentation to transfer the account from the previous owner, rescue organization or shelter. Keep adoption papers, veterinary records and transfer documents available. Confirm that the new registry record includes your information rather than assuming that a shelter or rescue completed the transfer.

What Should I Do If My Pet Is Lost?

A microchip is only one part of a lost-pet response. Act quickly and use several strategies at the same time.

Contact the microchip registry and report your pet missing.
Confirm that the registry has your correct telephone number and email address.
Contact local animal shelters, animal control and veterinary hospitals.
Search your neighborhood and likely hiding areas.
Post clear, current photographs on community and lost-pet platforms.
Notify neighbors, delivery drivers and local businesses.
Continue checking shelters rather than relying only on an online report.

For a missing indoor cat, search nearby hiding locations carefully. Frightened cats may remain silent and hide close to the place where they escaped.

Why Choose Aliso Beach Animal Clinic for Pet Microchipping?

Locally Owned Veterinary Care

Aliso Beach Animal Clinic is an independently owned veterinary hospital serving Laguna Beach pets and families. Our recommendations are made locally by the veterinary team caring for your pet.

Microchipping With Medical Oversight

Microchip implantation and registration are incorporated into your pet’s broader preventive-care plan. We can evaluate your pet, scan for an existing chip and determine whether implantation should be performed during the current visit or coordinated with another procedure.

Registration Guidance

We explain that implantation alone is not enough. The chip must be registered and the owner’s information must remain current.

Ongoing Microchip Checks

We encourage owners to have the chip scanned during annual wellness care and to confirm registry details after moving, changing telephone numbers or adopting a previously microchipped pet.

Frequently Asked Questions About Pet Microchipping

Does a pet microchip contain my contact information?

No. The microchip contains only a unique identification number. Your contact information is stored in a separate registry linked to that number.

Can a microchip track my dog or cat?

No. A standard pet microchip is not a GPS tracker and cannot show your pet’s real-time location. It must be scanned at close range to reveal its identification number.

Does microchipping hurt?

The pet may feel a brief pinch or pressure because the implantation needle is larger than a standard vaccination needle. The procedure takes only a few seconds, and most pets do not require sedation or anesthesia.

Does a microchip need to be replaced?

A functioning microchip is intended to provide long-term identification and does not ordinarily require routine replacement. It should be scanned periodically to confirm that it remains readable.

Can a microchip move?

Migration from the original implantation site is uncommon but possible. Veterinary professionals generally scan beyond the original shoulder-blade area when looking for a chip.

Can a microchip stop working?

Microchip failure is uncommon, but no technology is perfect. Annual scanning helps confirm that the chip can still be detected.

Do I need to pay every year for the microchip to work?

The physical chip continues to display its identification number when scanned. Registry companies may offer different free or paid services, so review the specific company’s terms. Regardless of membership level, confirm that the basic owner contact information remains active and accurate.

Can I register a chip with more than one registry?

Some owners choose to enroll a chip with more than one registry. The most important requirement is that the records are accurate, current and connected to a registry that can be identified through a widely used lookup system.

Should I microchip an indoor cat?

Yes. Indoor cats can escape through doors, windows, carriers or damaged screens and may not wear collars. A registered microchip provides permanent backup identification.

Can you scan a pet I recently adopted?

Yes. We can scan for an existing microchip and provide the identification number. Ownership information must then be updated directly with the appropriate registry.

Can microchipping be performed during a spay, neuter or dental procedure?

Yes. Microchipping can be performed while a pet is already under anesthesia, although anesthesia is not normally required solely for implantation.

How often should the microchip information be checked?

Review the registry information at least annually and whenever your telephone number, email address, home address or emergency contact changes. The physical chip should also be scanned during routine wellness care.

Schedule Pet Microchipping in Laguna Beach

Give your dog or cat a permanent form of identification that cannot simply fall off or become unreadable like a collar tag. Aliso Beach Animal Clinic provides pet microchipping, microchip scanning and registration guidance at our locally owned veterinary hospital in Laguna Beach. CALL (949) 499-4190 REQUEST AN APPOINTMENT Aliso Beach Animal Clinic 30816 Coast Highway Laguna Beach, CA 92651 Directly across from the Montage Laguna Beach Monday–Friday: 7:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m. Saturday: 8:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m. Sunday: Closed

Medical review: Reviewed for medical accuracy by Bryan Hayter, DVM. Last reviewed July 2026.