How Pet Microchips Work (and Why Registration Matters)

Microchips might be tiny, but they play a huge role in keeping pets safe. Most shelters, rescues, and vets will tell you microchipping is essential, but how do they actually work, and what makes them effective? Let’s break it down.

What Is a Microchip?

A pet microchip is about the size of a grain of rice. Inside, it holds a small antenna and a chip encased in safe, medical-grade glass. A vet implants it under the loose skin between your pet’s shoulder blades in a quick procedure that feels a lot like a vaccine. Most pets hardly notice.

How Does It Work?

Microchips are passive transponders — they don’t have batteries or power of their own. They stay inactive until a scanner passes over them.

• A scanner sends a signal to “wake up” the chip.

• The chip responds with a unique ID number.

• That number is matched to owner contact details in a registry.

Since the chip itself only carries the ID, registration is everything. Without your updated information in a database, the number alone can’t bring your pet home.

The Frequency Puzzle

Microchips transmit on different radio frequencies: 125kHz, 128kHz, or 134.2kHz. In the U.S., we use universal scanners that can detect all three, so no chip is missed. Many countries have standardized on the ISO frequency of 134.2kHz, and the U.S. is moving that way too.

Why Registration Is Critical

A chip without registration is useless. The numbers speak for themselves:

• Microchipped dogs are ~2 times more likely to be reunited with their families.

• Microchipped cats are ~20 times more likely to make it back home.

The catch? If your contact details aren’t linked to the chip, or they’re outdated, shelters and vets won’t know who to call.

How Registries Work

When a pet is scanned, vets and shelters use a registry to look up the owner. Depending on the database, this might mean:

• Calling a customer service line that connects them to you, or

• Getting your info directly so they can make contact themselves.

How Pawbase Helps

At Pawbase, we’ve built a system designed to be faster and easier. You can register any brand of microchip for free, update your details anytime, and even add optional premium features like instant scan alerts and lost-pet posters.

But we also know that when a pet goes missing, time is critical. That’s why Pawbase is built to get pets back to you as quickly as possible:

• You stay in control. Choose what info (name, phone, email) is visible when your pet’s chip is scanned, so the finder can reach you directly, without waiting on a registry operator.

• Direct connection + backup support. Pawbase also provides a lost pet hotline to step in and guide the reunion if needed.

• Peace of mind with real-time alerts. Premium members get notified instantly with the time and GPS location of every scan, so you know exactly when and where your pet was found.

With Pawbase, your pet’s microchip isn’t just a number, it’s a lifeline that puts you back in control.

Final Thoughts

Microchips are powerful technology, but they only work if you take the final step: registration. Keeping your contact details up-to-date is the key to getting your pet home if they’re ever lost.

With Pawbase, registration is always free, updates are simple, and premium features give pet parents extra peace of mind.

Register your pet’s microchip with Pawbase today — it only takes a minute, and it could make all the difference.