To Chip or Not to Chip
... that is the question.My Mom has been talking all last week about getting me a microchip sometime soon, but my Dad has been wary because he is afraid problems might develop, afterall, it is not natural to have a foreign item lodged underneath the skin. And then last Saturday an article came out suggesting chip implants are linked to animal tumors. Of course, it is dog nature to develop tumors or cancers, just like in peepol, so what's a dog to think. Did the chip cause the tumors or not? My Mom also knows the benefits of microchipping me..... ya know, someone might want to dognap me because I am so cute!!
So, I wanna know:
- Are you microchipped?
- If you are microchipped, have any issues developed or not?
- Do you know of any other dogs who have had issues with microchips?
Below is the article from the Associated Press (AP) in case you are interested. And here is an article on microchipping itself.
boofed by Hana at 9/10/2007 09:50:00 PM
22 Comments:
I've known of many doggies who have been microchipped. So far didn't know of any that had problems from it
~ Girl girl
Mitch is microchipped. That's the way he came to us from the pet store and we haven't had a single problem.
I am not chipped. Mom says I'm too bitchy and no one would want me anyway! Mean mom!
Love ya lots,
Maggie
I'm not microchipped... here are anorther way to track you, is cellphone for dogs: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qUojLuiQ64g
Our Papa is in the Army so if we live in on-post housing we have to have a chip...SO...China has had a chip for years and never had any problems and Madie is about to get one. We've never heard of any health problems because of them.
Hope that helps!
Licks'n'Sniffs,
China & Madie
Casper is microchipped. He has no problem at all. He's such a runner without leash, so we thought it's the best protection we can have for him i n case he runs away.
Btw, my cat is microchipped for almost 10 years now, but he has no problem at all :)
Just a tip, I got a dog name tag with Casper's microchip no. and contact phone no. (HomeAgain)engraved, and keep it with my keys.
Hi, Hanna
Microchips here are useless. Thee is no way to track you if you have one!
Sure our friends advices will help your mom and dad to take the right decision for you!
Have a nice day
Lorenza
My parents would put a GPS chip in me if they could. I have a chip, I got it when I was just 5 months old, and I have no problems. I don't think chips are useless, yes there is no way to track you, but they are for if you get lost and don't have tags, or lose your tags while traveling, then anyone who finds you can take you to any vets office, of shelter and have them scan you for a chip. I have heard of people not wanting chips, but instead they will tatoo the dog (like in the back leg area) But I guess that wouldn't work too well if you had lots of fur, no one would see it. More than anything it provides my parents with peace of mind. If I got lost, because I have a chip, my parents could alert all of the local vets and shelters via the internet to keep a look out for me if someone finds me and brings me in.
Oh I forgot to say, the last house that my parents lived at there was a stray dog that had no tags on. The neighbors kept him in their yard and then the next day took him to the vet and because he was microchipped, he was reunited with his owners, so they do work.
Are microchips really small potato chips? I'll have one in that case.
[Mom says: The furball doesn't have a chip. I know of dogs that do and haven't heard of any problems]
I have a chip. We didn't have a choice. I couldn't get my passport or anything if I didn't.
But master and mistress maybe wouldn't have done it otherwise. If you have a choice we would say no.
And it hurt - big time.
Pippa
PS thanks for all the links, just waiting for |Gus
Hi hana!
Sister wanted me to tell you that she and the doctors microchip doggies AND kitties alllllllllll the time! She's never had anyone come back with any kind of problems because of micro chipping. However, my mom hates the idea a whole lot. She feels the same way as your dad does. Sister thinks its a good idea.
She told me they have people bring in lost dogs all the time and have a real hard time finding owners because they're not chipped. And a month or so ago, a pup came in and WAS chipped, and the owner got their doggie back really quickly. She was only 6 months old and went for a walk around the town.
She's never seen cancer or tumors, but that doesnt mean it doesnt happen. Its very rare.
You probably have more of a chance of having a tumor due to a vaccine. And you get those all the time.
Hope that helps a little bit!!!!
-isis
Also about them being useless- Home Again has a new program, that actually lets you track your dog online. Where it updates all your vaccine information, so if anyone found you they'd know all about your history, and if a doggie is lost, it now has people send out calls to all local vets saying to look out for this doggie with this chip number!
Its a great new program!
Hana,
Sister says, because its a little chip they have to use a big needle. I dont know if you know anything about gauge needles, but its an 18.
The standard size on the syringes her clinic uses is 22. Sometimes, they use a 20 (they go by 2's) because it makes the passage of vaccines or skin injections go faster. 18 is 2 sizes bigger than the standard vaccine needle.
Its the same size as you would give if you had to give fluids. It definitely has to hurt more than a shot, but the way a dog reacts all depends on the dog. Some doctors do it right in front of the owners, some of them do it in the back because some dogs jump and it bothers the owners to watch.
Some animals dont make a sound, but some really hate it.
I dont think i'd enjoy a needle in my back either though.
But, the whole process takes under 1 minute.
Yeah, I had to get chipped to leave doggie jail. But sometimes my lady wonders if it is worth it, apparently if someone finds you and the vet noticies that you have a chip, it is up to the person that finds you to call you. No laws requiring hte vet to contact you, which seems crazy!
But we figure a collar with tags and a chip are a good idea, just in case....
Murph
My nails chip if Mom doesn't clip them fast enough. Is that what you mean?
No, I don't have one. Maybe I need one. I'll ask Miss Cindy.
Hi Hana,
I have a chip and the only problem I have with it, is my Mom hasn't switched the contact info on it into her and dad's names. I came with it from the rescue place. My old family had it put it and I don't even notice it's there. I'm not much of a runner though so Mom hasn't been too worried about it not having the right contact info. I don't know of anybody else having problems either. I only know a couple other dogs with the chips though and they're bigger.
Kaos
My claire got a "blast fax" from WSU vet school at work and they said there is only one dog ever that could have had cancer caused by a microchip, but the jury's still out on that pup...that's pretty small...and the study they did was on rats and rats get cancer very easily compared to other mammals. I've gotten back to my claire once becuase of my microchip. And you're darn cute...like me...i wouldn't want you to get dognapped without permanent ID. It's a very good idea and it only hurts a little:)
Oh yes...and get a Home Again chip...Avid chips tend to migrate...and Home Again chips are read by ALL scanners...and Avid ones aren't.
Hey Hana, I'm chipped and have had no problems. Mom wanted me to be safe if I got lost.
Husky Hugs, MayaMarie
Hi Hana, Tasha here. I have been microchipped for almost 10 years now and have not had a problem. Well, not with the chip anyway! I did have a non-cancerous tumor removed, but it was nowhere near where the chip is. Have you and your humans seen the beer commercial with the two Eskis gaurd dogs. When we first saw that one we thought of you right away! Belly Rubs, Tasha.
I don't have a microchip--my mommy and daddy are waiting to decide when they get me neutered if they will do the chip. My gramma's dog Milo has a chip because he runs a lot. But my gramma lives in the woods and he would have to run real real far to be near a town where someone might see him and bring him to the vet or shelter, so I think it depends on where you live.
also, Ginny has a chip and we're real glad she does because sometimes she gets out and we live in a town where someone would bring her to the shelter and they'd scan her and we'd get her back ASAP.
I guess it's up to your mom and dad!
I got an Avid chip before the girl adopted me and brought me home. So far no problem.
The girl is afraid to get BLU chipped in case the scan her to make sure the new chip works. Even though the pound and vet scanned BLU and didn't find a chip when the girl first found her (she was a stray) the girl is paranoid that on the next scan they will find a chip and send BLU back to her original owner.
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