Free microchipping for dogs

SallyG

Can I share our experience of microchipping a small dog - Jack Russell /Chihuahua cross- at 8 weeks old on the vet's recommendation.
In my opinion and subsequently that of the vet who carried out the procedure he suffered more pain than was necessary because of his size and the size of the needle used in the RSPCA approved chipping programme.
I've noticed that Dogs' Trust are recommending a minimum age of 8 weeks for microchipping - I'd prefer that size should be the deciding factor in determining the right time for chipping.
I'm not sure whether the needle used in the 2011 RSPCA chipping campaign was standard but the noise made by our small puppy brought the vet nurses running into the surgery to see what had happened. He'd previously been vaccinated without a murmur.
Your experiences?

SallyG

http://www.vetsonline.com/actualites/detail/52820/members-discuss-future-of-microchip-advisory-group.html
Just looking at this picture makes me cringe - is it possible to microchip a pet painlessly?

chris_n_tj

TJ was 9 weeks when he was chipped,he weighed less than a bag of sugar. He did let out a small yelp if my memory serves me right. But it was soon forgotten.
Just like a baby having its first jabs really, one of those things thats needed and it hurts a bit.

Far better a moment of pain than a lost puppy without a chip. Swings and roundabouts spring to mind. As for timescale, that is your call, I decided when to get TJ chipped not the Vet, but sooner the better I think. x

Gvet

As a veterinary surgeon I can vouch that most pets barely notice the chipping procedure other that a slight wince, but now and then a pet does really yelp and some will occasionally bleed. I've never personally seen any harm from their use, but have seen many lost pets and owners re-united thanks to having a chip implanted.
Regarding cost, it has been our practice policy at Yorkshire Vets in Leeds and Bradford for at least the last 3 years to give all new puppies and kittens a FREE microchip at the time the primary vaccine course is administered. That's how sold we are on the concept!!

Fridaycat

I know you're talking about dogs, but most cats are smaller than most dogs and this is why I wait until any kittens I have are neutered at 4 - 6 months old and get them microchipped at the same time (they aren't allowed out before then). That way, they get the benefit of micro-chipping but without any of the pain as they are anaesthetised.

penny_pincha

There are microchips available which are much smaller than others.

Older style microchips are 12mm x 2mm where as smaller mini-microchips are available which are 8mm x 1.4mm and correspondingly require a smaller diameter needle, 11 gauge for mini microchips (as opposed to 15 gauge for the older type) so minimising discomfort. That is 44% smaller.

They are cleared to be inserted to kittens as young as 6 weeks.

To completely eliminate any awareness of the microchip being inserted, the procedure can be done during neutering, usually at 6 months in kittens, when the animal is under general anaesthesia.

Chakani

I don't think size has anything to do with it - it's only under the skin, so shouldn't make any difference how big or small the animal is.

My pup didn't make a murmur, neither did our tiny cat - but my horse had an absolute fit - she's a drama queen! But it's worth it to know that it increases the chance of getting them back and proving ownership.

penny_pincha

Chakani wrote: »

I don't think size has anything to do with it - it's only under the skin, so shouldn't make any difference how big or small the animal is.

The mini-microchips are the only microchips approved by DEFRA to be used on tortoises as small as 2 inches. So they seem to think so.

Chakani wrote: »

my horse had an absolute fit - she's a drama queen! But it's worth it to know that it increases the chance of getting them back and proving ownership.

Horse microchips are inserted intramuscularly in the neck.

jemcart

I had my horse microchipped with an injection in his neck. He was quite sensitive, but didn't mind it too much, he used to kick up more of fuss for his vaccines.

Jojo_the_Tightfisted

My cats were done whilst awake. All I had to do was put my thumbs and index fingers around their head, resting my hands against their shoulders to keep them steady - had it hurt them in the slightest, they would have been perfectly able to try and make a leap for it (although I would have been able to stop them easily enough).

None of them even batted an eyelid - I don't think they even noticed it going in.


Sometimes when I have an im injection, it hurts a bit, 95% of the time, I don't even feel it. Same with blood tests/vaccinations.


To have a dog microchipped, an animal which I believe is more physically robust than a cat, I wouldn't worry about a little yelp.


The benefits of having the chip early outweigh the guilt, IMO - plenty puppies are stolen, after all - if that were to happen to yours, well, he's already chipped, isn't he?

Jerryjerryjerry

My Shitzu puppy yelped really loudly when I got her microchipped. She was in pain for about 8 hours afterwards. Kept making little squeeling noises. Glad I got it done though as it gives me a little peace of mind.

Of course, if my dog is stolen, its no guarantee that I will ever get her back. Or at least it could be years, by the time she is ill and someone checks her chip.

The thief could go to the vets if ever she was ill and there is no guarantee they will check her chip address against the new owner's/thiefs is there? After all, do vets check the address of the dog against the chip on every visit? if not, why not? Surely, we have put our dogs through all that, paid for it in most cases.. only to find there are not enough checks done. As I said above, I would probably only find my dog again, if she was handed in by an honest person!