If you have a dog with a microchip, it is important to know how to scan that chip. This article will cover the basics of scanning with your phone (including why it’s not really possible) and what you should do if your pet gets lost. Read on for more information!
So… how do you scan a dog microchip with your phone?
How to scan a dog microchip with a phone
First, before we get into the “hows,” it’s SUPER IMPORTANT to note that, at this time, there is NO foolproof way to scan your dog’s microchip with JUST a phone. I’ll explain more about that in a moment. The steps below assume that you have a scanning device that can transmit data to your phone (like the one below).
This portable pet ID chip scanner can read virtually all FDX-B (15-bit) microchips for animal identification that comply with ISO 11784 and ISO 11785 specifications. It is widely used in animal management, resource management, and railway inspection. If a dog or cat is found without a collar, you can scan to see if they have a chip implanted, increasing the chances of identifying your pet. Note: Reader cannot read Avid chip. The 9-bit ID is not recognized.
We’ll also go over some basic steps on getting your chip set up in the first place so that you CAN scan it and have the correct information show up.
Scanning a dog’s microchip with a smartphone is a great way to quickly and easily identify your pet. In order to do this, you will need a few items: a smartphone, a microchip scanner app, and of course a microchip implant.
- Get the chip number and registration information from your dog’s vaccination records. This has important data that you will need in case of an emergency, such as:
- Owner contact information and address
- Pet name
- Type of animal (dog)
- Breed group (i.e., terrier)
- Any other relevant info like medical conditions or medications your pet needs regularly
- Make sure your phone has a scanning app AND a scanning device. As of 8/2023, most of the free microchip scanner apps have vanished from the App Store, and the few that remain have less-than-stellar reviews. That said, if you stick with the free ones and you’re just using it as a backup (or out of curiosity), then even those cruddy ones are better than nothing.
- Next, you’ll need to locate the microchip implant. Microchips are typically implanted just beneath the skin above or between your dog’s shoulder blades.
- When you have located the implant, use the scanner to carefully scan the microchip. The scanner will then interpret the information from the chip and display it on your phone.
- Finally, you should check the information to make sure it is correct. This will help ensure that your dog’s microchip is properly registered and that anyone who finds your lost dog knows who to contact in case of an emergency. If the information is incorrect, you can contact the manufacturer of the microchip to have it updated.
If you have a microchip implant in your dog, there’s a good chance that someone who finds your pet can scan the chip with their smartphone. Contact local shelters to let them know about your missing pup, and make sure they’re aware that Fido is “chipped.” Include the chip number, breed, and color of your pet.
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How to Use a Microchip to Reunite a Lost Dog With His Owner
So far, we’ve mostly talked about scanning a dog’s microchip in terms of YOUR dog. What if you find a lost dog, though? If you suspect the dog has a microchip (and you DON’T have a fancy scanner), here’s what you need to do:
- Safely Contain the Dog
If possible, gently contain the dog in a fenced area. If he’s friendly, you can consider using a leash to hold onto him. If he appears injured, aggressive, or scared, it may be better to contact local animal control for help rather than trying to handle the dog yourself. - Check for Identification Tags
Before you assume Fido has a microchip, check for any tags on his collar. Sometimes dogs have tags with contact information or a personalized ID number that you can call right away. It’s always worth checking before moving on to other steps. - Visit a Veterinarian or Shelter
If there are no visible tags, the next step is to take the dog to a local vet clinic, animal shelter, or pet supply store that offers microchip scanning services. Most veterinarians and shelters have universal microchip scanners that can detect chips from various manufacturers. - Contact the Microchip Company
If a microchip is found, the scanner will reveal a unique identification number. The vet or shelter staff will use this number to contact the microchip company, who can provide the owner’s contact information—assuming the chip has been registered and the details are up-to-date. - What if There’s No Microchip?
If the dog doesn’t have a microchip, you can still help by notifying local animal shelters, posting on social media (especially in local lost-and-found pet groups), and putting up flyers in the area. Be sure to include clear pictures and any identifying details to help the owner find their lost pet.
Limitation on microchip scanning apps
As Scott Taylor pointed out in the comments, there are some MAJOR limitations to using a microchip scanning app. I’m going to share his words here because he does an excellent job of explaining the issue in plain terms without being condescending.
He writes, “…an off-the-shelf SmartPhone (iPhone or Android) cannot read a pet microchip without an external pet microchip scanner. The reason is that the RFID frequencies (125kHz, 128kHz, 134.2 kHz) used for a pet microchip are much lower than the RFID frequency (13.56 MHz) used for NFC devices (like a credit card), so the antenna needed is larger than the SmartPhone itself. Most modern SmartPhones have the much smaller antenna needed to work with high RFID frequencies, but not the very low frequencies used for pet microchips. (The linked app gets low reviews because it also glosses over that fact.)”
So, the bottom line (and disappointing fact) is that while you CAN scan a microchip with a smartphone, you CANNOT do it with JUST your phone and the microchip. There’s absolutely no way around this at all at this time. Who knows what the future of pet tech holds, though, right?
What is a dog microchip for and what does it do?
A microchip is a device the size of a grain of rice that has information stored on it about your pet. The implant process is fairly quick and painless. In fact, it can often be implanted at the same time as your dog’s routine vaccinations.
The purpose of a dog microchip is to provide a permanent form of identification for your pup. It contains a unique identification number that is linked to a database with your contact information (provided you finished the registration process). If your pup ever gets lost or stolen, shelters or vets can scan the microchip to retrieve your contact information.
Last, but not least, a microchip provides peace of mind for you. If your pup ever goes missing, you can rest assured that there’s a way for them to be identified and returned to you. In this day and age, it’s a must-have for any pup parent who wants to keep their best friend safe. These devices are used all over the world to help reunite lost pets with their families.
Tracking Your Dog – What Other Options Do You Have?
Microchipping your dog is a great way to ensure that he’s easily identified should someone locate him and take him to a shelter. However, it won’t do much good if he’s lost in the woods with no one around for miles. It also does no good if he’s too afraid of strangers to allow anyone to catch him.
Fortunately, there are many ways to track your dog, including GPS dog tracking devices, like the new Halo Collar 5. If you’re on a budget and just want something that lets you track your dog’s location, you can also go with Tractive.
Of course, if you want to go “old school,” you can also just attach a tag with contact information on it so someone who finds them will know where to return them. There are even a bunch of options out there that let you add a QR code. In that case, someone actually CAN just scan your dog with a phone and easily find your information.
I recommend Fido Alert. It’s totally free to sign up. You don’t even have to pay shipping on the tag.
Conclusion: Yes, in Theory You CAN Scan a Microchip with a Phone…But Only With Major Caveats
The very long story short is that, at this moment, there isn’t really a super reliable way to scan a microchip using just your phone. If you really want to be able to do it, you can buy an actual scanner that attaches to your phone.
Honestly, though, even though they’re cheap, I think it’s really only worth it if you live somewhere that tends to draw a lot of lost dogs. For some reason, literally every runaway hound within a 5-mile radius ends up at my house. Nine times out of ten, I’m able to find the owner just using the ID tag or by going on the local lost pets group on Facebook.
Where do I get the app for a scanner at? All of the ones I’ve seen need a actual scanner.
The article should have mentioned that an off-the-shelf SmartPhone (iPhone or Android) cannot read a pet microchip without an external pet microchip scanner. The reason is that the RFID frequencies (125kHz, 128kHz, 134.2 kHz) used for a pet microchip are much lower than the RFID frequency (13.56 MHz) used for NFC devices (like a credit card), so the antenna needed is larger than the SmartPhone itself. Most modern SmartPhones have the much smaller antenna needed to work with high RFID frequencies, but not the very low frequencies used for pet microchips. (The linked app gets low reviews because it also glosses over that fact.)
Thank you, Scott, for explaining that in very clear terms and without being condescending (that isn’t sarcasm, I genuinely appreciate you taking the time to go over that and being kind about it).
Are there any similar devices that size for a dog that can be implanted and used as a GPS for a phone app? I know they have collars and probably little dog tags that can but a lot of dogs don’t always have a collar on them or he can easily slip out of it while you’re walking them including the a happy go lucky dog like my Chihuahua who if he sees people or a dog will run to them in excitement and if there was a car with his door open he will try to jump right in because he loves people so there are evil people out there and maybe not evil but just bad enough to take the dog and let them jump in the car and keep the dog if they think it’s cute enough and want to or try to sell it for drugs who knows what some people will do if given the chance
Unfortunately, there isn’t such a thing yet that I could find. Although by the time I finish writing this sentence, it very well could exist! It’s crazy how fast new dog technology emerges. But for now (as far as I could find), no, they don’t make an implantable dog GPS chip.
The concern I have even about his microchip is I wasn’t told that after a year or two it expires when I brought my dog to have him neutered at the veterinarian he told me the cost and said if he was ever a loss that they would be able to know who the owner is but when I got home and read the flyer with it and registered it I noticed that it’s only good for a couple years it’s not like you can pay money to keep it activated which I wish I was told that because I would imagine they must have them, I don’t think people have the chip that stops working every couple years pulled out and pay for another one to be implanted that’s foolish, not to mention even if it is still working if someone finds the dog veterinarian is not going to scan it if they make an appointment and bring it in as their new pet that they claim to have bought or took in because “it belonged to their aunt who passed away” they adopted it whatever they want to say to the vet or if the vet asks during conversation. Too bad any time a dog is brought to the vet that has never been there before they don’t take it in the back and scan it everywhere to see if there is a chip just in case”
Hi Bobby, I’m not sure what service you are referring to, but we have our pets tagged with HomeAgain microchips, and they do not stop working after a set amount of time. There is an annual subscription fee for their premium services, but as I understand it, that’s not a requirement for the chip to work–the info on the chip is kept in their database permanently and can be accessed by anyone who scans the chip in the future, even if you don’t pay for the membership. You may want to look into them next time you are in need of microchipping your pet.