Frequently Asked Questions
Microchip Lookup & Search
How can I search for a microchip?
Use our free microchip lookup page at https://petidco.com/microchiplookup. It is linked from the main website menu and lets you check whether a microchip number is in our PETtrac database.
Online Registration
How do I log in to my online account?
Go to petidco.com and choose "Pet Owner Sign In" at the top of the page, then enter your registered email address and password.
How do I register for an online account?
Go to petidco.com and select the Pet Owner menu. On the pet owner page, fill out your details in the "create your online account" box and click register. You will receive a confirmation email; click the link in that email to confirm your account, then log in.
How do I register my pet's microchip?
Most microchips are already registered by our staff or your veterinary clinic. After logging in, choose "View Pet List" to see previously registered pets. If none appear, choose "Add Pet" from the left menu and enter your microchip number. The system will tell you if the chip can be registered, or ask you to contact us so we can verify ownership.
How do I report a lost pet?
Report a lost pet online by going to petidco.com and choosing "Report Lost Pet". If you have an account, log in first so the form prefills your data and lists your registered microchips, then select the missing pet and mark the location on the map. Your registration includes 3 free auto lost-pet reports sent immediately to clinics and shelters in the area. You can also call 1-800-338-1397 or email lostpet@petidco.com.
About Microchips
What is a microchip?
A microchip is a low-frequency (LF) computer chip with a unique identification number, encapsulated in biocompatible material. Small enough to fit inside a hypodermic needle, it is injected under the skin where it stays for the life of the animal, providing permanent identification that cannot be lost, altered or removed.
How does a microchip work?
The chip contains a unique number that no two animals share. A scanner sends harmless radio waves that prompt the chip to transmit its code back, all in less than 0.04 seconds. Think of the chip and scanner as a tiny radio station and receiver.
How much does the injection cost?
The fee is set by your veterinarian, typically ranging from about CAD $45 to $80 depending on location and whether other services are performed. Many vets offer a discount when your pet is microchipped during another procedure.
Can anyone implant microchips?
Implantation should be performed by or under the supervision of a licensed veterinarian to ensure the chip is placed correctly and safely, safeguarding your pet's health.
How long does a microchip last?
A microchip is expected to last for the life of your pet. Once injected, it is anchored by a thin layer of protein. It has no power supply or moving parts, so it can last for decades — well beyond the lifespan of most pets.
How is a microchip placed in my pet?
The chip is injected under the skin with an instrument much like a hypodermic needle, no different from a routine vaccination. The procedure is simple, quick, causes minimal discomfort and can be done in the vet office while you wait.
What keeps the microchip in place?
Just seconds after implantation, the body's healing process forms a small blood clot around the chip, holding it in place almost immediately. Within days the wound heals and a thin layer of connective tissue keeps the chip secured.
What is the youngest age a pet can be microchipped?
Animals of any age, or any animal two inches (five centimetres) or greater in size, can be microchipped.
My pet never leaves my yard — why microchip?
It takes only a moment for a gate to be left open or a door ajar, and unspayed or unneutered pets in particular tend to roam. Pet theft is a daily occurrence, and most shelters euthanize impounded pets when owners cannot be found. A microchip greatly improves the odds of a safe return.
Does my pet need to be sedated for the injection?
No. Injecting the microchip is like any other injection or vaccination. Anaesthesia is not required or recommended, as there is minimal discomfort. The animal is simply gently restrained as for a routine injection.
How much preparation of the injection site is required?
A complete surgical preparation is not required. Your veterinarian will determine the correct site preparation and ensure aseptic handling of the pre-packaged sterile microchip.
Is there a standard scanning technique?
Yes. With the scanner held in slight contact with the skin or fur, scan slowly in small circles down the midline and back up, repeating four times. If no chip is detected, scan horizontally from the opposite shoulder, starting at the nape of the neck and continuing back to the rib cage.
Could my pet be allergic to the microchip?
No. The microchip is inert and biocompatible, so there is virtually no chance of the body developing an allergy or rejecting it when properly injected.
How do I know a shelter can check for the microchip?
We have supplied microchip scanners and readers to shelters, SPCAs, humane societies and rescue organizations for many years, and these facilities routinely scan animals for implanted microchips.
What is PETtrac?
PETtrac is a nationwide computerized recovery system for companion animals identified with a microchip. When you become a member, PETtrac can reunite your pet directly with you. It is not a GPS tracking system.
What does it cost to register with PETtrac?
PETtrac registration is usually included with the microchip implant, with no annual fees, no recovery fees and no address-change fees. There is a fee for a change of ownership or for registering a CKC, competitor, tattoo or rabies-tag microchip: CAD $25.24 (not including taxes). Replacement collar tags are $10.00 plus GST/HST where applicable. Fees may change at any time.
I sold or gave away my pet — how do I transfer ownership?
We require written consent of the previous owner or a copy of the transfer-of-ownership certificate before a change of ownership is completed. The transfer form is on our website under the Transfer Owner menu.
What happens if I am on vacation and my pet is brought to a shelter?
If you provided alternate contact information, PETtrac maintains it and your pet can be released to your authorized alternate contact. Your pet is protected even when you are away, so provide as much contact information as possible for a successful recovery.
Are microchips safe?
Yes. The main component is silicon — the same compound found in sand and glass. There is no radioactivity, no battery and no harmful material. The chip is sealed in biocompatible glass, so only glass contacts the animal’s tissue.
Why microchip my pet?
A microchip provides permanent identification that will not fade or be lost over time, unlike tattoos or collar tags. Owner information can be accessed immediately for a rapid return, and it works across Canada and the United States with no geographical boundary — the best insurance for your pet’s quick return home.
How does the PETtrac Recovery System work?
When a lost pet is presented, a shelter, humane society or veterinarian scans it for a microchip. If a chip is present, its identification code displays on the scanner, and the facility contacts our office or uses our online software to perform a recovery. The secure online database is available to qualified individuals 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
Where can I purchase this product and service?
Ask your family veterinarian for more information. If you do not have a family vet, contact us and we will direct you to a certified clinic nearest you.
I have an AVID microchip done at a vet clinic or shelter and registered on PETtrac. Is there an annual fee?
No. We do not charge an annual fee. All PETtrac registrations are currently a one-time fee (included in the cost of the implant) for as long as you own your pet.
I have an AVID microchip from a breeder. Is it registered on PETtrac?
Possibly not. If the breeder bought the chip directly from the Canadian Kennel Club (CKC), it may only be on the CKC’s Canada Chip registry, not PETtrac. If the breeder bought it from a vet clinic, it is probably on PETtrac. Please contact us to verify the information we hold and decide whether to update it.
I have a non-AVID microchip in my pet. Can I register it on PETtrac?
Absolutely. We register all competitors’ microchips on our database for a one-time fee of CAD $25.24 (not including taxes). Being on multiple databases is a risk because you must update every registry on each change, so keeping a single current registration is important.
I do not have a microchip in my pet. Can I still register on PETtrac?
Yes. We accept tattoos, city licenses and rabies tags as alternate forms of identification. Registration requires a one-time fee of CAD $25.24 (not including taxes).
What are the implications of travelling with a microchipped pet between Canada and the USA?
There are no specific requirements for companion animals travelling with their owners across the Canada–USA border. Any AVID reader in the USA can identify a Canadian AVID microchip, which is compatible with all low-frequency scanners and easily traceable throughout Canada and the United States. Most readers today are universal.
I am travelling overseas. Will my AVID FECAVA microchip be readable?
Most countries have switched to the ISO standard, so a FECAVA microchip may not be accepted. We recommend carrying a microchip reader (available from us) so the chip can be read at the customs station. Check with your travel agent and the customs agency of the destination country.
How many animals have received microchips?
Exact industry figures are not available, but estimates currently indicate the number exceeds one billion worldwide.
For travel between countries, you may also wish to consult the relevant government authorities, including the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (inspection.gc.ca) and the destination country's customs and animal health agencies.
