More than one million dogs are still yet to be microchipped ahead of Wednesday's deadline when it becomes law to register pets.

From April 6, it will be compulsory for all dogs in England and Scotland aged eight weeks and over to be microchipped.

Here’s a guide to the new law and what it means for you.

What is microchipping?

It involves injecting a chip the size of a grain of rice between the dog’s shoulders.

Will it hurt my pet?

Amy Wilson, Charity Manager at Support Adoption For Pets, says: "Pet owners shouldn’t worry about microchipping their pet. It is a very simple and easy procedure which is almost painless for any animal.

"A microchip is no bigger than a grain of rice and is injected under the skin at the scruff of the animal’s neck. Each microchip has a 15-digit code which is unique to the pet and can be read through a special scanner."

How much does it cost?

The procedure can cost anywhere between £10 to £30. The Dogs Trust offers the service for free, visit chipmydog.org.uk to find your nearest location.

What's the point of it?

The chip, which is designed to last the lifetime of a dog, can be scanned by a dog warden or vet if the dog is ever found after being lost, helping them identify the pet and look up the owner’s contact details which will be stored on a database.

The new legislation is also designed to prevent illegal breeding of dogs and reduce pressure on animal welfare centres who take in dogs when they can’t be reunited with their owner.

What information is stored on the database?

When a pet is microchipped, the owner’s contact details are recorded and stored, together with the chip number, in a national database.

According to the Pets at Home website, there are several of these databases in the UK including Petlog, Anibase, PETtrac and Pet Protect.

Each manufacturer has partnered with one of these databases to store the contact details for the chips they produce.

What happens if I don't get it done?

If you do not get your dog microchipped or your details registered on an approved database, then it will be considered as not complying with the new regulations and a notice may be served.

A court notice will be served informing owners they will have 21 days to get their pets microchipped.

Those who refuse will be prosecuted in magistrates’ courts and will face fines of up to £500.

I've got my dog microchipped, is there anything else I need to do?

You must make sure your contact details are kept up-to-date on the database. That means if you're moving house or staying away from home for an extended period of time with your pet, you'll need to update your details.

How do I update my details?

If you know the manufacturer of your pet’s microchip, you'll need to visit their website. You should be able to update your details on there.

Alternatively, you could contact your vet to see if they have your pet’s microchip number, or take your pet in and have them scanned.

How often will I need to get my dog microchipped?

You only have to this once as the chip will last for its entire life. Just make sure you keep your details up-to-date or you could face a £500 fine.