Changing Microchip info?

[Cinder & Smoke]

Most vets have scanners available to read the most common systems out there:

There are also local microchip companies, which service a set geographic region.
Only vets in that area are going to have scanners which can read the chip.

- changing companies, find a vet who will use the microchip of the company you want,
and have a new microchip injected. Then register it.

It's not a universal truth that "most vets" have scanner/readers!
Vets in SOME areas of the USA and Canada do have one or two of the MANY
brands and types of scanner/readers; but MANY areas, and some whole states,
do NOT have Vets, Shelters, nor Rescues that can read microchips!

Before spending money on microchipping a pet, make some phone calls to
area Vets, Shelters, and especially Animal Control - and ASK if they have
a scanner/reader and if they USE IT on all stray dogs and cats.
Unless a majority of the institutions have and USE a scanner/reader, the
probability of a lost pet being returned because of a microchip being detected
is pretty small.

As for having a "second" microchip inserted into a pet ...
I think that might cause some real problems!
If the microchips are similar in design and operating frequency, the TWO chips
might interfere with each other and give a meaningless indication on the
reader/scanner.

Lastly, here's a very lengthy discussion of the pros & cons of microchipping -
a must study for anyone who has or is thinking of purchasing pet microchips.

"Microchips & Your Pet" >>> http://home.att.net/~rfid/pet-chip.htm

/s/ Phred

[Freedom]

Wow, thanks Phred!

[Taz_Zoee]

Well, I took Zoee to get hers read yesterday and I forgot to ask what I was going to ask. But they do have a universal scanner and the ID number came up on it.
Take them to a vet that has a universal scanner and see if they can identify the company and get the ID number, then see if you can go online to change info. OR contact the shelter the man got them from, if you know what shelter it was, and ask them for the info.

[sirrahbed]

We had all of our cats microchipped with HomeAlone chips - this is what they use on the military bases and also at our local veterinarian. I don't know anything about the other companies - but HomeAlone has a nice website where I can easily go and update anything in a couple minutes. I even have uploaded pictures of each kitty and little plastic ID tags to keep on my keyring. Since they are indoor only, I never really gave it much thought until reading about Kuhio and then the Katrina mess and figured it may or may not help me find my pets again if anything disastrous should happen where I live - but worth doing anyway. They do not wear collars at all so I feel better knowing that they have the chip. I am curious about the local shelters and will give them a call to see if they have scanners and routinely use them. I am one who thought it was very common these days Better than NOT having anything on them though.

[mruffruff]

Over the weekend a Jack Russell came to visit. He had a Home Again tag but no phone number or address. I called Home Again, but the tag was registered to a far away shelter. Home Again tried to call the shelter, but of course the shelter was closed for the holidays!

I ended up walking the street and asking neighbors. I finally found the owner. She had no idea she had to update the info at Home Again. She said she would call Home Again, but I did anyway and gave them her name and street address.

A chip is only as good as the information on the computer. Tags with good info are invaluable.

[lvpets2002]

All of my babies are microchipped thru Bayer brand && the web site link is PetLink International.. I can go in there & make changes on their profiles & pics.. Now you have to sign in with your sign on & password.. There is no prob..