Micro Chip
I would like to get my corgi mix micro chipped, but I don't know too much about it.. A quick search yielded a cost of up to $50, which is absolutely fabulous! I would like to get it done with a company that has the whole service - if he gets lost they can gps track him. Is that much more costly?
Are micro chips even a good idea? They're not painful at all? I really don't know anything about it, but the idea of it sounds great!
I would appreciate any information, resources I can check out for myself, personal stories and opinions and anything else! Thanks :)
Are micro chips even a good idea? They're not painful at all? I really don't know anything about it, but the idea of it sounds great!
I would appreciate any information, resources I can check out for myself, personal stories and opinions and anything else! Thanks :)
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Alyssa & Chris W. on
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I don't think I can answer all of your questions, but I do know that the chip is the size of a large grain of rice and they insert it in their skin with a large needle. There is no surgery and I've read that most animals don't even even flinch when its happening. Most people have this done at the same time of spaying or neutering so their pets won't feel the needle at all. I strongly recommend the microchip. We did it for Murphy and its just a relief to know that if anything would ever happen to him, that he has a way of being found again. I hope this helps and good luck!
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Permalink Reply by Bax & Zigs & Rosie on
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I am also not an expert, but I assumed mircochips meant GPS locators at first. Upon researching, I found that most microchips just contain information that would allow someone to know your dog's name, your address, phone number, etc. I am unsure if there are gps microchips that allow for gps tracking.
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Permalink Reply by Chris West on
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I have microchipped both my corgi and my cat (the one that we take camping). It was $40 for the microchip. This is just to put the information in your local area computers. It is another like $19 to have your pet's microchip information added to the national registry. It didn't bother either of my pets. The needle looked really huge, but they didn't even flinch. If you want GPS, I am pretty sure you have to get a collar. Here is a link to an article about chip vs. GPS ( http://www.wisdia.com/articles/the_pet_gps_versus_the_pet_chip.aspx ). Here is a link about the micro chip my animals have ( http://www.avidplc.com/ ). I think it was well worth the cost. We had Frosty chipped 2 days after we got him.
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Permalink Reply by Jane Christensen on
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All my rescues get micro chipped! I just had one done this am...doesn't bother them at all. Yes it is like a piece of rice and the vet has the info and I also got a tag with this one.It says "if I am lost call 1-800.....I will let the new owner that gets him in July do the rest which they can register him when he is theirs but for now the vet has the info and his papers. I would recommend!
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Permalink Reply by Sam Tsang on
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As far as I know, there are NO gps microchip that is injectable at this time, an external gps collar YES, but not one small as a grain of rice. It is a (passive) radio frequency identification RFID, meaning no battery, no internal power source. AT&T have announced a new cell tower location based device for dogs, more info will be available in the coming months.
The microchip that everyone else uses is an injectable, it comes in a syringe packet with a separate tag with barcode, the implantation is done within 15 seconds over the shoulder. the chip system only works when someone put a scanner over your dog, most shelters and vet offices have those scanners, as a dog owner, you register your info with the chip company database, remember to change address when you move.
You can buy the chip package yourself for around $16 USD, you can do it yourself if you're comfortable, or take it to your local humane society and they'll inject it for your for around $10-12.
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Permalink Reply by Monica, Orion, and Laika on
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Microchipping is a GREAT idea for your pup. I work in a rescue group (though I only foster kittens) and I've worked in a low-cost spay/neuter clinic that works for most of the rescues in my area I'll tell you right now, if your dog is lost and picked up by anyone and brought to a vet, rescue group, or pound the first thing they do is scan for a chip. Collars and tags can get lost and sometimes the pounds only has a certain hold time (I know that San Antonio pound used to be if a dog wasn't claimed within 78 hours they would euthanize them, though I think they are working to get this changed or may have changed it already) so microchipping may save your dog's life. I've microchipped many dogs and cats myself and its a very quick and easy process and doesn't hurt much. If you're worried about they pain you can ask to have it done when you get the dog neutered and he's still under anesthesia, but its really not much to worry about.
IMPORTANT: Ask to see your dog scanned when you pick him up to make sure there is, in fact, a microchip in there! Especially if you get it done at a humane society or anywhere where a DVM isn't doing it because a lot of times there are volunteers that haven't been properly educated on microchipping that will be doing it. It is VERY common for people not to pinch the skin afterwards and the microchip can slip right out. So feel around on the back of your dog, near the shoulder blades, and make sure you don't find anything in the fur, then ask if they can show you how they scan. I went to a veterinarian/rescue group animal conference and took classes a few weeks ago and they made a big deal about this because so many microchips fall out all the time
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Permalink Reply by Julia on
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At the shelter where I work, we microchip every animal that is adoptable. It's usually done when they are asleep for the spay/neuter, but if that isn't necessary, it's done as a quick little procedure. I work in the adoption end, so if the dog or cat's file does NOT have a microchip number, I just walk the little guy over to the medical side where a vet tech (not a volunteer) does it. Usually the dog doesn't even twitch. I've seen cats put up a fuss, but they're a lot more tempermental! We run the scanner over them then to make sure it's really there and working. Our computer program will not let us finish an adoption without a microchip. We also go over a medical history that shows when the chip was done and must be checked off on our contract. So you're not going to walk out without a chip! There is a collar tag that has the chip company phone number, but it seems to me that if you still have your collar on, you probably still have ID, so what's the point?
The shelter also does low cost microchip clinics, $30 for a dog, $15 for a cat, so you may want to check that option. We also scan every animal that comes in, first thing. The chip company, 24PetWatch, keeps all your info, and an emergency contact, as well as the location where the chipping was done. You are responsible for letting them know of any changes in address, etc. If the dog is found, scanned by a shelter, vet, sheriff, etc, the company then contacts you, the owner. You then have to contact the place that has your pet.
Does that help? That's pretty much what I tell the adopters. We really, really, REALLY appreciate finding a chip in a stray animal!
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Oh I forgot to mention, there are microchips that have temperature sensors and will display on certain scanners, which is nice if your dog gets sick and you don't want the vet to have use a thermometer on him, since that's not very fun and adds stress. The chips we use with my rescue group have the temperature sensors and with my experience they're pretty accurate. The brand is HomeAgain TEMPscan so you may want to look into that. I don't know if they're more expensive though.
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Sam, it may not be real, but wouldn't it be cool? We could call up a screen on our laptops, or phones, that would show us exactly where our little darlings are during the day. I could learn where Lilliput's secret hidey-hole in the back yard is. I think I've found the indoor ones, but not the rest. So many of my things have disappeared from the house, then reappeared weeks later. I have searched the yard, but no joy. If only I could follow her on screen when she doesn't know I'm looking.....
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Permalink Reply by Chloe's parent Liz on
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I paid about $25.00 for Chloe at SPCA when she got spayed. My dog Rusty, that is now deceased got it done at Petsmart during a parking lot clinic. My city requires license and chipping for both cats and dogs.
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Permalink Reply by John Wolff on
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Verify your chip regularly. Gwynnie's chip was NOT detected by the vet's scanner today. 8 y.o.
Her fist chip fell out very soon after insertion; my wife just happened to notice it emerging from the insertion site. It was replaced -- ineffectively, it seems.
Al's chip was detected immediately.
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Permalink Reply by Jennifer Markley on
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I have all of mine microchipped. It is painful, but I've had them do all of mine while they were under anesthesia of some sort--Seanna had hers done when she got spayed. They've never acted like it hurt afterwards. There is some discussion on them causing cancer, but what doesn't anymore? I figure there at more risk of cancer from just the everyday stuff they encounter. And if it gets them back to me if they're lost, then it's worth it. Just remember, there is a yearly charge to keep the address and information up-to-date. I just renewed Sage and Seanna's and it was only $39 for both of them. I don't think that there is one with a GPS, but that's a great idea!!
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