When to Microchip our new puppy?

isitenough

We're picking up our new puppy (Border Collie girl) on the 3rd of June. She'll be 9 weeks old by then. After speaking to the vet practice we intend to use they 'advise' microchipping when we have her spayed and recommend 6 months of age for them as they can do both while she under anaesthetic. (?) As they say the microchipping is painful.

We feel that a) microchipping could be done earlier (and should be) and b) 6 months is too young for spaying.

Any advice welcome!

BJV

We have a springer spaniel ( can not believe 6 months old in June )and out vet told us exactly the same thing.

Charlie is a beautiful little boy so i think 6 moths is about right. But for a b@tch!???

Our last dog Jazz was a 16year old black lab and our vet recommended that we let her have a season before she was spayed.

I know that opinions change but I would talk to your vet first.

isitenough

We'll certainly talk to the vet when we have her first appointment. The spaying we'd like to put on hold for a while but the microchipping we want sooner as we think it's important! We'll see what they say.

chris_n_tj

We had Olies chip done when he had his second injection. No it didnt hurt, and it took all of 10 seconds.

I think a puppy needs microchipping ASAP. afterall you will going out and about well before puppy is 6 months old wont you? I would rather be safe than sorry. x

PS any pic's

isitenough

Thanks and yes we think it should be done ASAP as well. So we'll certainly press for it. If the vet doesn't agree or puts up a fight I wonder if it's time to look at other practises. We did check another one out but went for this one as it's closer to home.

The pics we have so far are here

Paradigm

I'd be going for the microchipping as soon as poss. As said above it's quick & doesn't hurt anymore than any other injection, I'm puzzled as to why your vet said different?

IMO spaying at 6 months is too early, she's still a puppy & needs to mature properly. I'd wait until she was 12 months at least.

isitenough

Thanks and yep that's what we'll be going for.

hmc

hi, !!!!!es shouldnt be spayed until after their 1st season im sure
we are picking up our puppy at 8 weeks and he will be microchipped then

krlyr

I would do the microchipping ASAP - it can literally save a dog's life by reuniting it with it's owner.

Regarding the spaying, I would suggest you do some research online. There are pros and cons to spaying at certain ages. For example, spaying before the first season can reduce the chance of mammary cancer. However, spaying later can allow the bones to grow fully with the benefit of the body's hormones, and reduce the risk of osteoporosis.

It's not a straightforward decision to make, but there's lots of info out there so you can go into it with your eyes open and with as much knowledge on the subject as you can find.

UKTigerlily

I'd personally Spay before the first season unless a large or giant breed, but then that's because I have a dog who has several mammary tumours due to that. There was a 10 week old CKCS getting chipped at the Vets when I last went & it screamed so much you'd think it was being tortured but they said most never feel it so i'd do that asap (they did used to say there's a risk of a chip migrating if done too young but my cat was done before 8 weeks & still has hers in place aged 15)

Celli

There is some evidence to suggest the original research carried out on the incidence of mammary tumours in !!!!!es spayed later or not at all was flawed, from memory the numbers used were very small and it's now thought didn't give a wide enough variable.
There's also the possibility that early spaying can result in incontinence if done too early.

It's a very personal choice, do some research online, if you can , find proper research papers on the subject.
You'll find evidence for and against .
My own feelings are that if you are responsible and can take precautions against pregnancy, what's the hurry.