For every happy homecoming tale of a
microchipped dog, there is another person advising of the dangers to their dog’s
health because of the chip. What is a new dog owner to do?
There are many happy stories of dogs who get
lost, run away or get separated from their owners to find their way back home
because the owner took the time to microchip. Most veterinarians recommend them and virtually all rescue organizations and human societies implant them in a dog who is being adopted.
Unfortunately, only implanting a dog or puppy
with a microchip is not going to save his life and, in fact, there are some sad
cases where the dog was microchipped, but still euthanized by animal shelters
without the knowledge of the dog’s owner.
A microchip will not bring a stolen puppy back to his owner. This is not a panacea for the happy return of
all lost or stolen dogs.
Dogs are not the only animals being
microchipped. Cats, Zoo Animals, birds, reptiles,
ferrets, and just about any animal can be implanted even fish.
What is the Law?
There are many countries that are now making
it law that dogs be microchipped. Currently
dog are required to be microchipped in Portugal, Singapore, and Bangkok and dogs in England will be required by 2016.
Some states in the U.S. are moving towards a mandatory
law as well; some such as El Paso and Los Angeles County, have already passed
ordinances stating that dogs residing in their jurisdictions be microchipped.
What it is
At a size equal to a grain of rice, Microchips
are injected under the skin of a puppy or adult dog between his shoulder blades.
They use what is called, passive Radio Frequency Identification technology, where
passive means that the chip is inactive or inert until an appropriate scanner
activates it and displays a number. It
is not a GPS and cannot be used to locate a lost animal.
How is it implanted?
Most veterinarians and animal shelters are
capable of implanting these tiny chips, as well as rescue organizations and
some breeders.
Although the needle is larger than one used
for vaccines, the shot usually does not bother most dogs. Puppies that
are 6 weeks or older can be microchipped, but small dogs are usually too small
to chip at that age. The American Kennel
Club recommends that the puppy weigh least 2 pounds before being implanted.
Chips are implanted between the shoulder
blades just under the skin. People worry about whether there
will be pain.
Most dogs tolerate the
injection, but since the size of the needle is very large, (12 gauge) the dog is
going to feel the prick more so than he would a simple vaccination with a tiny
needle (25 gauge). Needles are numbered where
the higher the number, the smaller the needle.
No anesthesia is necessary, but some veterinarians will give the dog a
little local numbing to reduce the stress.
Luckily, they generally last a life time, so it is a one-time deal.
The veterinarian or technician will scan the
dog first to be sure there isn’t already a chip implanted. They will check the bar code on the
microchip, inject it into the animal just as if it were a vaccine or
subcutaneous shot and then recheck to be sure the number can be read by a
scanner.
Registering
Once inserted, you will need to register your
chip. Each microchip comes with
registration paperwork that can be mailed in or completed online. There is usually a fee, and you will need to
renew your information should you move or the animal is transferred to a new
owner. An inserted microchip is useless
unless the owner registers with one of many agencies designed to collect the
owner’s information and microchip number.
Costs
According to Petfinder.com, the average price
to microchip a dog in the United States is $45.00; however, this is only an
estimate depending on where you live and who is implanting the chip. Sometimes, humane society or even a breeder
can do the procedure for less. Some municipalities that offer low cost vaccines
may throw in free microchips, so it is worth watching for these events in your
community. This upfront cost may or may not cover the
cost to register the microchip. Registration
fees are usually separate and paid to the chip’s manufacturer.
When owners decide whether they are going to
have their animals’ microchipped, they must understand that it is a two-step
process. First, the cost to implant a chip, usually performed by a veterinarian, and then the cost to register
the chip, which is often the task given to the owner. Sometimes, the veterinarian will charge a
flat fee and take care of registering the chip.
If money is an issue, ask about costs before continuing with the
procedure.
There are some companies that are now
allowing people to register their animal for free. Found Animals Foundation is one such registry
that will allow you to sign up, register and maintain your records for
free.
Problems
Microchips come in three different
frequencies. The frequency of a
microchip refers to the type of signal emitted by a scanner to activate and read
the microchip. The microchip does not
have a power source and can only be read by a scanner capable of picking up the
chip’s frequency. So, the person or
agency reading the microchip must have the correct scanner.
The three microchip frequencies in the United
States are:
The 134.2 kHz is the International Standards
Organization (or ISO) standard and is the primary frequency used worldwide. It
is also the one that has been endorsed by Professional groups including the
American Veterinary Medical Association, the American Animal Hospital Association,
and the National Standards Institute (ANSI). The 125 kHz microchip is still dominates the
industry.
Problem with Scanners
There are currently several types of scanners
currently in use which also complicates the picture in the U.S. Forward-reading
scanners only detect 134.2 kHz (ISO standard) microchips but will not detect
125 kHz or 128 kHz (non-ISO standard) microchips. Universal scanners, also
called forward- and backward-reading scanners, identify all microchip
frequencies. The main advantage of using a universal scanner is that it improves
the chance of being able to read any microchip, regardless of the frequency and
the chip’s manufacturer.
Unfortunately, not all humane societies,
rescues and animal shelters or veterinarians own a universal scanner.
Poor scanning techniques may also fail to
locate a microchip. There have also been
instances where the microchip migrated away from the insertion site and was not
found by the humane society personnel.
Now, let’s assume you have microchipped your
dog, and he gets lost. A kind person
finds him and takes him to his local vet.
The veterinarian scans for and finds a microchip. Now what?
No Universal Database
At this time, there is not one database in
the U.S. for registering microchips. Unlike many countries, the U.S. has not
adopted the ISO standard, so each microchip company maintains its own registry
and there are many companies out there competing for your business.
In 2009, the American Animal Hospital
Association set up an internet based tool, the Universal Pet Microchip Lookup
Tool which provides a listing of the manufacturer with which the microchip’s code is
associated as well as if the chip information is found in participating
registries.
The key word here is “participating” meaning that not all microchip
companies elect to participate in the program.
It is available to anyone: veterinarians, humane organization, or pet
owner to search the different registries.
The tool does not provide owner information. For that information, the
person using the tool will need to contact the manufacturer associated with the
chip.
There are a few free databases
that are not directly associated with a specific manufacturer, but many of
these agencies are still available in the Universal Lookup Tool
Health Risk to Your Dog
Usually
there are no problems associated with microchipping a pet. However, there have been some reports of
microchips causing cancer, inflammation and problems at the site of
insertion. Relatively rare, dog owners
should be aware that microchipping their dog is not completely risk free.
According to Dr. Karen Becker from Mercola,
there have been two cases of sarcoma or fibrosarcoma have been reported in the veterinary
literature. Additionally, between 1996
and 2006, up to 10% of laboratory mice and rats had a reaction to the microchip
which ranged from a localized inflammation to tumor formation. At this time, there is not a clear
understanding as to why cancer is occurring in lab mice rats and dogs.
In the January/February 2011 issue of Dogs Naturally
magazine, a tiny 6 week old Tibetan terrier suffered neurological damage as a
result of a microchip.
In another case, a three-year-old female
Yorkshire terrier, who had been microchipped 3 years prior, developed severe
lameness and could not bear weight on her front left leg. The muscles in her leg were wasting away, and
a x-ray revealed that the implanted chip had lodged in her spinal column.
Should You Microchip Your Dog?
The real
reason people microchip their dog is the peace of mind knowing that if he gets
lost, he has a higher chance of being reunited with you. There are definite risks, and no system is
fool proof.
Before making
a decision, consider your own dog?
- Does your
dog spend most of his time in your home? - Is he only
allowed out on a leash or within a securely fenced area? Do you supervise all outdoor time? - Does he come
immediately when called? - Has he been
trained to Wait at the door rather
than bolting out the minute the door opens? - Do you live
in an area where implantation is not required by law?
If you
answered yes to all of the above, perhaps your dog does not need a microchip.
But, if your
dog does not consistently come when you call, gets loose from his collar, darts
away each time a squirrel climbs a tree, or bolts out the front door at any
chance he gets, he might be a good candidate.
Additionally if you travel regularly with
your dog, it might be a good idea, especially if your travel plans include
visits to countries where microchips are required.
The best
advice is buyer beware. Do
your research before making any final decision and as a small dog owner, be
sure your puppy is big enough to handle implantation and understand the risks.
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