FAQ

1. What should you do?
2. What is the microchip?
3. How does the microchip work?
4. Does the microchip allow me to track my animal if it gets lost?
5. What information is required to register my pet?
6. My pet is lost. What should I do?
7. How do I update my contact information on your database?
8. I have found a pet. What should I do?
9. What type of microchip do I need if I am travelling with my pet?
10. Does microchipping hurt the animal?
11. Is my contact information easily accessible when my pets microchip is scanned?
12. My dog always wears a collar and a tag with my personal contact information. Do I still need to microchip my dog?
13. Is it necessary to microchip a cat?
14. I've already purchased a dog license with my city/municipality. Do I also need to microchip my dog?
15. What microchip do I need to register with the Canadian Kennel Club?
16. I have recently purchased/adopted a pet. How do I transfer the ownership details to my name?
17. What's the difference between FDX-A and FDX-B?
18. What’s the difference between FDX (Full Duplex) and HDX (Half Duplex)?

1. What should you do?

Once your microchip has been implanted and registered with the M4S database, you will receive the a copy of the registration, from the implanted of your chip (breeder, rescue, humane society, veterinary professional). Keep the collar tag number and microchip on a card in your wallet (find print-out here) or purse in case of an ownership issue. When traveling outside your home country with your pet, it is very important to have the phone number of the database and your pet’s ID numbers. When you get to your destination, it is a good idea to call the local animal control, know where they are located, give them your pet’s description and the phone number of the database: 877-738-4384. Let them know your local phone number. During your pet’s yearly vaccination, have the chip placement confirmed.

2. What is the microchip?​

A microchip is a Radio Frequency Identification Device (RFID).  It is the size of a grain of rice and stores a sequence of numbers.  This sequence of numbers, when scanned with a microchip reader, is associated with the pet owner’s information that is stored in our secure pet registry database.

Microchipping is most commonly used for household pets such as dogs and cats but can also be used on horses, ferrets, and most other mammals.

3. How does the microchip work?

A veterinarian implants the microchip under the skin of the animal right over the shoulder blades. The chip should come to rest in the cavity between the blades of the animal. There is no guarantee that the chip will stay in place. In most cases the chip will stay in place, but in a small amount of cases, ( reason unknown ) the chip can migrate. Microchip4Solutions Inc. will replace the chip but that is the limit to which Microchip4Solutions Inc. will hold itself responsible. When a reader or scanner is turned on and presented in the area of the implant site the scanner picks up the 10 alpha/numeric or ISO 15 digit code on the display. This is your pet’s positive ID number and coupled with the stainless collar tag makes for one of the best tracking systems for your animal.

4. Does the microchip allow me to track my animal if it gets lost?

Pet microchips are Radio Frequency Identification Devices (RFID) that are for identification purposes only.  The microchip is not a GPS therefore if your animal is lost we cannot track its location.  However, we include a stainless steel collar tag with every microchip that has our toll free phone number along with a reference number that is associated with your pet’s microchip registration.  If you have not received a collar tag, please contact your breeder, veterinary office or humane society that micro-chipped your pet .

5. What information is required to register my pet?

Along with your current contact information (name, address, phone numbers, and email address), we require the following:
– An emergency contact.  In the event that we cannot reach you, we can reach out to someone you trust such as a neighbor or local relative for the secure care of your pet.
– Veterinary Information.  In the event that we cannot reach you and your emergency  contact, we will contact the veterinary clinic that cares for your animal for further instructions.
– Pet Details.  We require the species, breed, markings, date of birth, gender, name, health conditions, as well as other notable registrations (CKC, AKC).
– Collar Tag Number.  When your pet is microchipped, it is up to the breeder or clinic to give you a silver collar tag that we have provided them.  This tag is then associated with your pet’s microchip registration and is very useful for a faster reunion between yourself and your pet.

6. My Pet is lost. What should I do?

If your pet has gone missing, fill out a report form. Alternatively, please call our toll free number (1-877-738-4384) and provide us with your pet’s microchip number or collar tag number. We will put a red flag in our database under that microchip number.

When your pet has been found with its collar tag, the finder usually calls the phone number on the tag and we provide them with the owner’s phone number so the pet and owner can be reunited.  If your pet is lost without its collar tag and ends up at an animal control center anywhere in North America, the officer scans the pet for a microchip.  They would then call us and we would provide them with the owner’s phone number.

In either case, Microchip4Solutions will assist in the reunification of the pet and their owner.

We understand this is a stressful time.  The more people that know your pet is missing, the greater chances your pet will find its way home.  Therefore we highly recommend you notify your local Animal control, Humane Societies, Vet Clinics, etc. that your pet has gone missing.

 7. How do I update my contact information on your database?

There are several ways to update your contact information in our database.  Every method requires that you have your pet’s microchip number:
– Visit our website at www.microchipsolutions.com/register/edit
– Email us at sales@microchipsolutions.com
– Call us on our toll free number at 1-877-738-4384
– Fax us on our toll free number at 1-866-440-9519

 8. I have found a pet. What should I do?

If the animal is wearing a small silver collar tag with our company’s name and phone number, please fill out a report form. Alternatively, please call us at 1-877-738-4384 and we will be happy to assist you further.

If the animal is not wearing an identification tag, please call your local shelter or vet clinic for further instructions.  They will be able to scan the animal for a microchip and contact the corresponding microchip database to arrange for the reunion of the pet and its owner.

9. What type of microchip do I need if I am travelling with my pet?

Please contact the embassy of the country you are travelling to and verify which microchip they require for entry to their country.  Most countries require that your pet be micro-chipped with an ISO chip.

You can also visit www.bringfido.com/travel/international for more info on travelling with your pet to a specific country.

10. Does microchipping hurt the animal?

Pet microchipping is a simple procedure that is often performed during an animal’s surgery.   The microchip is the size of a grain of rice and is inserted with a needle and gentle pressure on the loose skin located between the animal’s shoulder blades.  It is recommended that this procedure be performed by a licensed veterinary technician or an experienced breeder.

11. Is my contact information easily accessible when my pets microchip is scanned?

When your pet has been scanned for a microchip, the only information that appears on the scanner is the 10-15 digit microchip number.Your contact information is stored on our secure database and is only accessible by M4S ID staff members.When an animal professional calls us with a found pet, they provide us with the microchip number and we provide them with the owner’s name and phone number.

Our staff will than follow up to make sure your pet has made it home safely.

12. My dog always wears a collar and a tag with my personal contact information. Do I still need to microchip my dog?

Yes.  Collars and tags are easily removed or broken and a tattoo can fade and stretch and become illegible over time.  Micro-chipping is the only permanent method for pet identification.

13. Is it necessary to microchip a cat?

Yes.  Cats often stray from home and usually don’t wear a collar.  Therefore, the only reliable way to make sure your cat finds its way back home is with the use of a microchip.

14. I’ve already purchased a dog license with my city/municipality. Do I also need to microchip my dog?

Most municipalities require you to purchase a yearly licence.  This is a local registration only.  However, a microchip is a global and permanent registration.   We highly recommend having both.

15. What microchip do I need to register with the Canadian Kennel Club?

As of August 1, 2005 only an NCAC approved FDX B ISO microchip can be registered with the CKC. M4S ID has NCAC approved FDX B ISO microchips.  Ask your veterinary for an ISO microchip.

16. I have recently purchased/adopted a pet. How do I transfer the ownership details to my name?

In order to change ownership details in our database, we require the following:
– A signed document from the previous owner stating that they are transferring ownership to you.  This document must include the microchip number, the previous owners name and signature, the new owners name, address, phone number and emergency contact name and phone number.  Fill out our Ownership Request Form and return via Email or Fax.
– If this is not possible, please contact us at sales@microchipsolutions.com and we will be happy to assist you further

17. What’s the difference between FDX-A and FDX-B?

18. What’s the difference between FDX (Full Duplex) and HDX (Half Duplex)?