Pet Microchipping

Veterinarian microchipping a tabby cat on exam table in Midlothian clinic

A microchip is a permanent ID, but the chip holds only a number. What brings a lost pet home is the registration linked to it. At our Midlothian clinic, on Steam Avenue off Midlothian Turnpike, we scan first, implant if needed, and register new chips.

Call (804) 603-9509 or book online. Chipping can be added to a visit you already have.

When it's an emergency: A lost pet usually isn't a medical emergency, but an injured one is. If your pet comes home hurt, was hit by a car, or can't stand, go to a 24-hour emergency hospital when we're closed. Our Midlothian clinic is open 8 AM to 6 PM, seven days a week, and we don't provide overnight care.

Scan Before You Chip

Many shelter, rescue, and breeder pets already have a chip, sometimes registered to someone else. A second chip creates a second record and can confuse a shelter. So the first step is a full-body scan, since chips can shift from where they were placed.

If we find a chip, you get the number and can transfer the registration into your name.

Close-up of microchip syringe near dog's skin during pet microchipping procedure

What Happens at the Visit

The chip is about the size of a grain of rice and goes under the skin between the shoulder blades with a needle. It takes seconds, and most pets react about the way they do to a vaccine. No anesthesia is needed. If your pet is already scheduled for spay or neuter surgery, the chip can go in while they're asleep.

Petfolk registers new chips with PetLink. Before you leave, make sure the phone number and email on the registration are right.

Technician scanning Labrador's microchip after pet microchipping in Midlothian

Keep the Registration Current

Save the chip number and the registry's name in your phone.
Add a second phone number and a backup contact.
Update the record when you move, change numbers, or rehome a pet.
Check it once a year. The AVMA and AAHA's Check the Chip Day on Aug. 15 makes an easy reminder.
Use the AAHA Universal Pet Microchip Lookup to see which registry a chip belongs to.

Pet owner registering microchip online at home with cat nearby in Midlothian

When Your Pet Doesn't Need a New Chip

If a scan finds a working chip, you don't need another one. You need the registration in your name. And if you've moved or changed numbers, you need your registry login, not an appointment.

If Your Pet Goes Missing in Chesterfield County

Stray dogs and cats found in the county typically go to Chesterfield County Animal Services, where they're scanned for a chip. If your pet goes missing, contact Animal Services right away and visit in person, since a description over the phone can miss a match. Call your microchip registry too, so your pet is flagged as lost.

A county dog license is a separate system from a microchip. The license tag doesn't register the chip, and the chip doesn't license your dog, so keep both current.

What Drives the Cost

Microchipping is a one-time cost, and it's easiest to add to a visit you already have, such as a wellness exam, vaccines, or spay or neuter surgery. Ask for the price when you book. You'll get an estimate before anything is done.

"Gave me a quote before starting anything and I didn't even have to ask for it which I really appreciated."
— Megan H., Petfolk client.

Scan, Chip, Register

Add a scan or a chip to your pet's next visit at our clinic on Steam Avenue, and leave with a registration that will actually reach you. Call (804) 603-9509 or book online.