IDENTIFICATION

At the Roses Naturcan veterinary center we can check the reading of your pet's microchip, implant a microchip if you don't have one, register it in the database and we can even proceed to make data changes if you have changed your phone number or address.

Identifying or microchipping a pet is a mandatory step by law (since 1998), but what do you know about the microchip?

What is it?

The microchip is a small technological device, the size of a grain of rice, that is inserted under the animal's skin. This microchip contains a 15-digit number that functions as a serial number to identify each animal unambiguously (like the chassis number of a car). The microchip does not contain any extra information apart from these 15 digits, so it is very important to register it in the database where the animal lives.

What databases are there?

In Catalonia, we have two databases: AIAC and Anicom. You can read about them and see the differences in our article: Identify me with a microchip! - AIAC or AniCom?

In Spain there is a database for each autonomous community, except Catalonia which has two. There is also a generalized Spanish database, it is called REIAC and contains all the Spanish databases except Anicom.

Each country has its own database and it is very difficult for veterinarians to access information from other countries. That is why it is very important to transfer from one registry to another if we are going to live elsewhere.

Remember to keep your contact details updated in your pet's microchip registry!

How does the microchip help me find my lost pet?

The microchip is not a GPS, and it does not allow your pet to be tracked. If your pet is lost (or stolen) and arrives at a shelter, shelter, kennel or veterinarian, the microchip will be read, and if it has one and the owner's data are correct, you will be contacted so that you can recover your pet.

You can read Cuqy's real story here.

What is the microchip for?

As veterinarians, in our opinion, the most useful thing about the microchip is the speed with which it allows us to contact the owners. Often, in clinical practice we have come across badly injured animals (run over, fallen from the balcony, freed from a car with heat stroke... ). If this animal has a microchip, it is registered in the area where it was found and the contact details are correct, it allows us to contact the owner in a matter of minutes. For us it is very important, especially if it is necessary to notify the condition of the animal or make difficult decisions regarding its health or even authorize the necessary surgeries to save its life. If the microchip is registered in another area, it can take hours or even days to get the owner's contact.

The microchip also allows us to corroborate that we are the owners of the pet, that is, that we are the owner

It also allows you to report theft or loss with the unequivocal identification of your animal. In this way, in the event of loss or theft, when the animal arrives at an animal collection center or a veterinarian, we will be notified.

It is a mandatory requirement to travel. (If you have to travel, check everything you need >here)

In this blog they add even more reasons:  5 Reasons Why You Should Microchip Your Pet

We always recommend placing a collar with a plate on your pet. The collar and the plate have a clear disadvantage and that is that they can be lost (that's why we have the microchip under the skin) but it can also allow some people to contact us without having to transfer the animal to a collection center or to a veterinarian who may not have a 24-hour service . 

Remember that you must also register your pet at the Town Hall of the municipality where it resides.