Chipping dogs and cats
Safe on the move and clearly identifiable with a microchip

More safety for your pet - why a chip is so important

Captive identification
A microchip is the only permanent way to clearly and securely identify your pet. While collars can be lost, damaged or stolen, the microchip stays safe and inconspicuous under the skin for life. It cannot fade, be tampered with or removed. Even after years, the chip reliably provides the stored information so vets and animal shelters can identify your pet at a glance. This ensures your pet can always be assigned to you—no matter where it is.

Faster back home
Scientific studies prove it: chipped dogs are returned to their owners 2.5 times more often, cats even 21 times more often. Animal shelters, vets and even the police scan for a chip as standard - so your pet can be quickly and clearly identified in an emergency. In the event of theft, the chip also serves as legally secure proof of ownership for you. At filu, we only use tested ISO standard chips that are reliably readable worldwide.

Taking responsibility
With a microchip, you are not only protecting your own pet, but also making a contribution to animal welfare. Identified animals are less likely to end up in overcrowded animal shelters and help prevent epidemics, for example through rabies monitoring. In many countries, the chip is also mandatory when traveling. Implantation takes just a few seconds, is virtually painless and requires no aftercare - a small measure with a big impact!

This is how the chipping process works

Preparation
Before chipping, we check together whether your pet is healthy and relaxed. The puncture site - usually on the left side of the neck - is thoroughly disinfected. You can of course be very close to your pet and stroke their fur to reassure them.

Chipping
The small microchip is inserted under the skin with a special, sterile needle - this only takes a few seconds and feels like a short prick. No anesthetic is required and your pet can move freely again immediately afterwards.

Inspection
Immediately after insertion, we use a reader to check that the chip is correctly positioned and can be read without any problems. The unique chip number is then entered in the EU pet passport so that all important information is immediately available.

Registration
After visiting the vet, you should register the chip free of charge with a central database such as TASSO or FINDEFIX. This is the only way animal shelters and vets can find your contact details in an emergency and return your four-legged friend to you quickly.
Chipping dogs and cats: Everything you need to know!

The digital ID card for animals
The chip practically gives your animal friend their own ID card. The chip number - together with your contact details - is stored in a central database. If your pet gets lost, it can be found and returned to you much more quickly. Important: Remember to always keep your contact details up to date!
Travel, rules and chip obligation
If you are planning a vacation abroad or a move, the chip is often mandatory - for example for the EU pet passport and when crossing borders. In many countries, you won't get far without a chip, so chipping is also practical for hobby adventurers. This ensures that your pet is considered to “belong to you” everywhere.


Creative extras: What else you should know
There are now apps that allow you to easily manage the chip number and important data. Also keep an eye out for free chip campaign days that vets or animal welfare organizations often offer. And remember to have a quick check at your next vet visit to make sure the chip is still in place and working properly!

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At what age should a dog be chipped?
It's best to have your dog chipped as a puppy, usually between eight and twelve weeks of age. This is a good idea because the first vaccinations are due during this time anyway and you can take care of everything during one visit to the vet: In Hamburg and Schleswig-Holstein, for example, the chip must be inserted from the third month of life at the latest, elsewhere by the sixth month at the latest. However, older dogs can also be chipped at a later date without any problems as long as they are healthy - if in doubt, simply ask at your veterinary practice what the regulations are in your region - we will be happy to advise you!
At what age should cats be chipped?
You can have your cat chipped from around eight weeks of age. Many vets recommend simply combining chipping with the first vaccinations or neutering - this way you save your pet an additional visit to the vet and everything can be done in peace at one appointment. Adult cats can also be chipped at any time as long as they are healthy. Basically, the earlier your cat is chipped, the better protected it is in case it gets lost.
Can I locate my cat if it is chipped?
No, you cannot locate your cat with the chip alone. The microchip placed under the skin only serves to uniquely identify your cat - it contains an individual number that can be read by vets or at the animal shelter using a reader if your cat is found. If you really want to track your cat, there are special GPS trackers for collars. These send the current position of your cat to your cell phone, allowing you to track it on a map.
Translated with DeepL.com (free version)
Does the chip make a dog calmer?
A normal microchip for identification has no influence on your dog's behavior. It is only used for identification purposes and does not make your dog calmer or more restless, but the so-called “castration chip” (hormone chip) has a different effect: This chip is sometimes used on male dogs to temporarily castrate them hormonally. This can reduce certain behaviors such as mounting or marking, and some dogs actually seem more relaxed during this time. However, this does not work the same for every dog - there are also animals that show no change at all or even develop undesirable side effects such as restlessness or anxiety.
Wie teuer ist ein Chip für Katzen?
Das Chippen deiner Katze kostet in der Regel zwischen 39 und 80 Euro. Der Preis setzt sich aus dem eigentlichen Mikrochip und dem Einsetzen beim Tierarzt zusammen. Beim Termin wird deine Katze, wenn nötig, noch kurz untersucht. Am günstigsten ist das Chippen während der normalen Sprechzeiten – außerhalb dieser Zeiten oder im Notdienst können die Kosten etwas höher ausfallen.
Der Chip hält ein ganzes Katzenleben und macht es einfacher, deine Katze im Fall der Fälle eindeutig dir zuzuordnen. In besonderen Fällen ist das Chippen deiner Katze sogar vorgegeben, wenn du z. B. planst, mit deiner Katze ins Ausland zu verreisen. Tipp: Viele lassen ihre Katze beim Impftermin oder einer anderen Behandlung gleich mitchippen – so spart ihr euch einen Extra-Besuch. Manche Tierkrankenversicherungen übernehmen die Kosten sogar ganz oder teilweise.
Wenn du Fragen zu Ablauf oder Kosten hast, sprich uns gerne an!
How long does a chip last in cats?
The microchip normally lasts a lifetime and does not need to be replaced or maintained. It does not contain a battery and is only activated when it is read with a special reader. Once your cat has been chipped, you no longer need to worry about its durability - the chip will work reliably for the cat's entire life.
How much does dog chipping cost?
Chipping your dog normally costs between 40 and 80 euros, depending on the vet, region and chip model. This price includes the microchip itself, the insertion and the necessary documentation. Registration with TASSO or FINDEFIX is free of charge for you and very important so that your dog can be quickly assigned to you in an emergency, and if you adopt a dog from an animal shelter, the chip is usually already in place. And sometimes vets or animal welfare organizations have special offers where chipping is cheaper.
Is chipping cats painful?
Chipping is usually hardly painful for your cat. The process only takes a short moment and feels similar to a vaccination - so at most it's a small prick. After insertion, your cat will not even notice the chip in everyday life. In rare cases, the insertion site may be slightly irritated or swollen, but this usually heals quickly on its own.
Is chipping a dog painful?
Chipping is not usually painful for your dog. The procedure only takes a few seconds and feels like a short prick at most - comparable to a vaccination. Anesthesia is not necessary. Some dogs may react sensitively to the puncture site for a short time, but the chip itself does not cause your dog any pain afterwards and is usually not noticed at all.
Is it possible to read a dog's chip with a cell phone?
No, you can't simply read the normal microchip that your dog wears under its skin for identification purposes with your cell phone. Although smartphones use NFC, they transmit on a completely different frequency to animal chips. These chips can only be read with special readers, such as those used by vets or animal shelters, but there are special digital dog tags that are specially made for cell phones - but they work differently and do not replace the implant chip under the skin. In short, you always need a special reader to read the actual animal chip.
Should I be able to feel my dog's microchip?
Sometimes you can actually feel your dog's microchip as a small, firm stick under the skin, usually on the left side of the neck. This is particularly common in dogs with thin fur or little subcutaneous fat. In other dogs, however, the chip is usually not felt at all - this is completely normal and no cause for concern, and the chip can sometimes move a little in the tissue, for example towards the shoulder, but this is usually harmless. If you are unsure whether the chip is still in place or working properly, you can have it read at any time by us or another veterinary practice. The most important thing is that it can be scanned without any problems - whether you can feel it or not is irrelevant.
What does it mean when a dog is chipped?
If your dog is chipped, it has a small microchip under its skin - usually on the left side of its neck - about the size of a grain of rice. This chip has a unique number that can be used to identify your dog anywhere in the world. If your dog escapes and is found, the chip can be read at any veterinary practice or animal shelter using a special reader. In contrast to collars or tags, which can be lost, the chip remains in the dog's body for the rest of its life and works reliably.
When should a cat be microchipped?
It is best to have your cat microchipped as early as possible - this is recommended from around eight weeks of age. It is particularly practical to have your cat chipped at the same time as its first vaccinations or neutering, as this will save you an additional visit. If your cat is allowed outside, it should definitely be chipped and registered before it is allowed outside for the first time. However, a chip is also useful for indoor cats, as they can sometimes escape, for example through an open door. In principle, chipping is possible at any age, even adult cats can be chipped without any problems.
Will the microchipping procedure harm my cat?
Microchipping is considered to be very safe for cats and usually has no complications. The procedure is only a small prick, comparable to a vaccination. The chip itself is made of well-tolerated material and usually stays in place without any problems. Very rarely, there may be slight swelling, itching or redness at the injection site immediately after chipping. However, these symptoms usually subside quickly and serious side effects or complications are extremely rare. An increased risk of cancer has also not been scientifically proven. Overall, the benefits of a microchip far outweigh the very rare and mostly harmless side effects.