Your Pet's Microchip Details Are Out of Date: What to Do (and Why It Matters)

If your dog or cat ever wanders off, a microchip can be the difference between a quick reunion and days of worry. But there's something many people don't realise: a chip only works if the details linked to it are correct. An old phone number or an address from two house moves ago can make a microchip almost useless. The good news is that fixing this is simple, and you can do it now, before any emergency.

Why a microchip with old details won't help find your pet

A microchip is a small device under the skin that holds a number code. On its own, that code says nothing: it points to a record in your national or regional pet registry, where your contact details are stored. If someone who finds your pet (a vet, a shelter, a kind stranger) scans the chip but reaches a disconnected number, the chain breaks at the very last step.

• A changed phone number means nobody can call you.
• An old address sends letters to the wrong place.
• An outdated owner record (after an adoption or a gift) creates confusion about who to contact.

In short, taking a moment to update your pet's microchip details matters as much as having the chip fitted in the first place.

When to update your pet registry details

There are clear moments when it's worth pausing to check your pet's record. Update the details whenever:

• you've changed your phone number or email;
• you've moved home, even just to another neighbourhood;
• there's been a change of microchip owner (adoption, a gift, inheritance).

Don't wait until you "need" it: the right time to fix your details is now, while everything is calm. A five-minute check today can save you hours of frantic searching tomorrow.

How to update the microchip: practical steps

Registries are run at a national or regional level, so the exact process can vary, but the essentials are the same. Here's how to go about it:

• Have the microchip number ready (you'll find it in your pet's health booklet or European passport) and a form of ID.
• Contact the body that manages your pet registry. In Italy this is the veterinary service of your local health authority (ASL), or simply ask your trusted vet, who can often do the update for you.
• Give the correct details: phone, address, email and, if needed, the new owner.
• For a change of microchip owner, you'll usually need signatures from both the person handing over and the person receiving the animal; ask in advance which forms to bring.
• Keep the receipt or confirmation of the update.

If you're not sure whether your pet is already registered, or with which details, the registry can check this using the chip number.

How Orma uses the microchip number for automatic matching

With Orma, the community app for lost pets in Italy, your microchip becomes even more useful. When you report your pet as lost and enter the chip number, the app compares it with reports of found animals: if someone has found a pet with the same code, automatic matching connects you through a secure in-app chat.

• Report a lost, found or sighted animal in just a few taps.
• People nearby get an alert and can help.
• The map location is blurred by about 150 metres to protect privacy.
• You can generate a PDF flyer with a QR code straight from the app.

The microchip number stays the common thread: the more up to date the linked details are, the better this tool works for you. You can start using Orma on Android and iPhone.

A small act that means a lot

Updating a microchip doesn't take much: one call to the registry or a visit to the vet, and your pet's record becomes genuinely useful again. It's one of those quiet tasks you do once and then stop worrying about. Take five minutes, check your details and, if anything has changed, sort it out today: your friend will never know, but you'll rest a little easier.