microchip or not

[Sugaroo]

I was just telling my husband last week we need to get our babies chipped, you know, just in case. Well I got this in my feed reader this afternoon so now I am not too sure I want too.

Studies Show Microchips Cause Cancer in Mice, Rats

So would you all microchip or not, since this is not 100% positive?

[Sweet Apple]

I hadn't heard of the cancer connection, before reading your post....However, common sense told me that inserting a foreign object under the skin of a dog couldn't be healthy....I never considered having this done, and the article has reinforced my original feelings against it....

[Sugaroo]

Thanks Maggie that is my thoughts too. They don't always wear collars due to coughing when they do. So I guess I will keep my fingers crossed ans say prayers!

[Sweet Apple]

Yes, prayers would be our first option, along w/real vigilence in keeping a watchful eye on our babies...My Apple is never out of my sight, if she is outside of the house...I've got one friend that thinks I'm a nutcase, because I watch Apple so closely, when I'm away from home...She can think whatever she wants, I'm Apple's mom, and I'll continue to watch her like a hawk...Which is another reason why I watch her so closely outside....Those durn hawks

Well, Apple and I are turning in...We're having to walk @ 7 a.m., because of the unbearable heat here in S. E. Texas....Made it to 100 today!!!

[Nancy1999]

Well there has been lots of rumors that microchips are unsafe lately, and I believe this is due to recent legislation being proposed in many states that will require commercial breeders to microchip their dogs. Commercial breeders are fighting this legislation, not because of the great concern that their dogs will get cancer, but it will cost them about $20.00 a dog. The main reason that they are fighting this, I believe, is that these dogs can be traced back to them should they be found shot dead lying in the road, when their breeding career is over. How do they fight this legislation? All they have to do is spread enough rumors around saying that the microchip is unsafe. If enough of the general public believes it, they aren't as likely to pass these laws. Remember the study that showed a tumor relationship between mice and microchips was not a controlled study, also they used a special genetically engineered, tumor making mice, and from this the conclusions were that these mice did develop tumors.

However, these genetically engineered mice were developed so we could study cancer more carefully, not to show that dogs would get cancer. We have to be careful what the real conclusions are from a study, and the popular media, sometimes badly misinterpret a study for their own purpose.
When testing microchips in dogs they found that:

The use of microchips in pets is a safe, effective, and durable means of identification that has been used globally in millions of animals for nearly two decades. To date, the entire global database of sarcoma development in microchipped dogs is limited to a single case-report involving 1 animal. Furthermore, though low incidences of vaccine-related sarcoma development have been documented in cats (even more rare in dogs), microchip-associated sarcoma development has never been reported in felines. In the context of millions of microchip implantations spread over many years, this near absence of adverse event documentation comprises an impressive and expansive safety record. Therefore, the benefits of microchip implantation with regard to the safety and welfare of pets should they become lost or separated from their owner have proven to be infinitely greater than the remote and unsubstantiated risk of tumor development associated with microchip implantation. Technical Bulletin: FINAL 9/20/07 Tissue Reactions to Microchip Implantation in Laboratory Animals and Pets Introduction

One dog in Russia has sarcoma development, and we can't even sure if it was from the microchip or something else entirely. One dog out of millions who have been chipped. That actually is truly amazing. This means that they are probably safer than anything else you do to protect your dog.

[QuickSilver]

I had Thor chipped, and I absolutely will do it for any pet I own in the future. We see so many stories here about yorkies who slip out the door, and of course they are not wearing collars. On the flip side, people have found yorkies with no tags or chips.

All shelters and rescues I know about chip their dogs as SOP.

I've also seen stories in the news about dogs that are reunited with their owners after many years, even when the owners moved out of state - all because of the chip.

When considering the idea of a foreign object under your skin, consider it's not just dogs who get things like this - metal pins are placed in people's joints after bad bone fractures, the elderly may consider a plastic hip or two, some people have pace makers, etc. As long as it is chemically inert, which many metals are, it should not be harmful.

[makhro]

I am definitely getting the chipped. I know that they also used to tattoo dogs, is that still a common practice?

[postalmom1987]

I posted this on another thread about their baby who got out.

So very glad a good neighbor found him and nothing happened. I have 4 of those boys who don't notice and don't tend to think. But I got to love em. Don't I??? Just joking!! Today on the route I did, a customer came up and asked if I knew anyone who owned a schnauzer, they had found one wandering up their street. I know a lot of dogs on that route, including theirs, but not that one. I was looking at all the side gates to see if one was open from that point on till I finished. Sweet little girl who they said was in heat. Hope there's no surprise puppies on the way! I'll be checking in with them next week to see if they found her home. And by the way, they took to a vet to see if she was chipped and she wasn't. a good reminder to get all our babies chipped!

I believe that micro chipping is much better than the alternative to never recover my little one. If the stats quoted are right, they are in our favor!

[lily]

all my dogs are chipped and never had any problem.

[Sweet Apple]

You do have to worry about them slipping out the front door...Apple did this a couple of times, when I would come home from work at night, and scared the doo-waddly-squat out of me...Soooooo, I had a gate made at the end of the porch, and before I open the front door, I have a closed the gate behind me...Apple loves to run out on the front porch and greet me when I get home, and the gate is kinda cute too....I had it painted the same color as the trim on the house, and I'm even thinking about a friend of mine that is "artsy" coming over and painting a big apple on it w/ "Apple's Gate" in the middle of the apple...As previously mentioned, constant vigilence is necessary in taking care of these little ones...

[Ellie May]

I really don't think chipping poses much danger at all medically.
We do not do it for ethical and religious reasons, but to each their own.

[Britster]

I don't see anything wrong with chipping at all.

I think it's a great safety pre-caution. Jackson is chipped.

[Sugaroo]

Wow I didn't know about a law that was on going. I've never heard anything about it. I guess it will be years down the road before we know for sure. It's like the scientist think cell phones cause cancer, then they find later that No it don't. shrug

[BLowry]

I also have heard about the cancer thing with micro-chipping...I know someone (and have heard) where the chip shifted and ended up on the top of the shoulder. I personally would not chip them.

[MyDuke]

Duke is chipped and he has not had any problems relating to the chip and it has been almost a year. I think it's a personal decision depending on your surrounding and needs. I live in a city like area and no fenced in yard so in the case that Duke gets loose on our walk or is taken from me, atleast I know I have tried what I can to get him back.