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Here's how to update microchip information: find your pet's microchip number, figure out which registry holds it, then log in to that registry's website or call them to change your address, phone number or email. The chip itself only stores an ID number. It's the registry record that gets a lost pet home, so an old phone number makes the chip far less useful.
Moved apartments? New phone? Rehoming a pet, or adopting one that's already chipped? All of those mean an update. Below are the steps, the registries used in Canada, and the other records worth fixing on the same day.
Why the registry record matters more than the chip
The registry record matters more because the chip can't tell anyone who you are. The Ontario SPCA explains that a microchip is a permanent implant about the size of a grain of rice, with no battery, that a scanner reads to show an ID number. It isn't a tracking device.
So the chip only works if that number is registered in a database with your current details. The Ontario SPCA tells owners to keep that information up to date and to contact the provider after a move.
A shelter or vet that scans a found pet sees a number, not your name. The registry links the number to you, so it has to be current.
How to update microchip information, step by step
Updating microchip information takes five steps, and you can usually do it from your couch:
- Find the microchip number. It's usually on your adoption papers, the registration letter or card, or in your vet's records. Can't find it? Ask your vet to scan your pet. It takes seconds.
- Work out the registry. The registration paperwork should name it. If it doesn't, your vet or the shelter that placed the chip can usually tell you, or you can contact the registries listed below with the number.
- Log in or call. Most registries let you change details in an online account. If you never set one up, call with the chip number and your old details to prove you're the owner.
- Update every field: address, mobile and home phone, email, and an emergency contact who doesn't live with you.
- Make sure it saved. Ask for or download a confirmation, and check that the record shows your new details.
Was your pet chipped at Toronto Animal Services' Chip Truck? The City says registration details come by mail from 24-Hour Pet Watch, and it asks owners to check them, add emergency contacts and update them after a move.
Which microchip registries are used in Canada?
Canada doesn't have one central database; it has several registries. Alberta Animal Health Source lists organizations that maintain pet microchip registries in Canada, including these:
| Organization | Also known as |
|---|---|
| Pethealth | 24PetWatch |
| Petidco | Avid Canada |
| Datamars | PetLink |
| EIDAP | |
| Microchip 4 Solutions |
If your pet came from another country, the chip may be registered outside Canada. Update that registry too, or register with a Canadian one as well.
Special cases: new owner, adopted pet, or a pet that has died
When a pet changes hands, the registration has to move with it. Here's what to do in each case:
| Situation | What to do |
|---|---|
| You adopted or bought a chipped pet | Ask the shelter, breeder or previous owner for the chip number and the registry, and transfer the registration to your name |
| You're rehoming your pet | Contact the registry together with the new owner so the record moves to them |
| You moved to a new province | Update the registry and any local licence; your new vet can scan the chip at the first visit |
| Your pet has died | Tell the registry so the record can be closed |
Update these records on the same day
Moving day, or the week after, is the best time to fix every record that leads back to you, not just the chip.
Start with your city pet licence. In Toronto, all dogs and cats must be licensed and wear a tag, licences are renewed every year, and the City says a licence helps lost pets get home faster. You can update your account information online. Then get a new ID tag engraved with your current phone number, and let your vet clinic know, so reminders and records actually reach you.
Don't forget your pet's records app, so a sitter or a new vet has the right contact. The free PetGrid app keeps the microchip number with the rest of your pet's health records, so it's right there when a registry asks for it. And if your pet ever goes missing, lost mode makes a lost pet poster and a public page in a minute, without showing your address.
Ask your vet to check the chip once a year
The City of Toronto suggests having your vet scan the chip at the annual visit. It confirms the chip still reads, and it's a nice nudge to check your registry details while you're thinking about it. Not chipped yet? The City's Chip Truck offers low-cost microchips for cats and dogs, and you'll need a current City pet licence.
Perguntas frequentes
How do I change the address on my pet's microchip?
Contact the registry that holds your pet's chip number, online or by phone, and update your address, phone and email. The chip itself only stores a number, so nothing has to be done to your pet.
How do I find out which registry my pet's microchip is with?
Check your adoption or registration papers first. If they don't say, ask your vet or the shelter that placed the chip, or contact the Canadian registries with the chip number.
Does it cost money to update microchip information?
It depends on the registry and the plan you have with it. Check your registry's website before you start, because some changes, like a transfer to a new owner, may be handled differently from a simple phone update.
Can a vet update my pet's microchip details?
Usually not directly, because the registry keeps the record and needs to hear from the registered owner. Your vet can scan the chip to find the number and can often tell you which registry it belongs to.
Does a microchip track my pet's location?
No. The Ontario SPCA notes that a microchip isn't a tracking device. It has no battery and only shows an ID number when it's scanned.
What should I do when I adopt a pet that already has a microchip?
Get the chip number and the registry from the shelter or previous owner, and transfer the registration to your name. Then add your phone, email and an emergency contact.
Em resumo
Once you know how to update microchip information, it's a five minute job. Find the number, find the registry, change your details, check it saved. Do it every time you move or change numbers, and sort out the licence and ID tag while you're at it.
The PetGrid app is free for pet owners and keeps the chip number, your pet's records and a lost pet poster one tap away. Our guide on what to do if your pet is lost covers the rest.
Guarde os registros, as vacinas e as consultas do seu pet em um só lugar seguro. O app PetGrid é gratuito para tutores, com ou sem clínica.
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