my dog had a large mass removed from her neck because of the microchip which was a tracer i/d chip which bayer animal health make, it infected tissue around the area which once the vets cut the mass and the infected tissue away she had a 20cm hole in her neck . she has upto now been in the vets constantly for the past 7weeks having her dressings changed ,the wound flushed ,an the drains cleaned every other day under anasetic to prevent further infection which has really taken it out of her. she had the chip in for just over 3years before it started to show the symptoms , to start with upto the mass growing it just felt like a grain of rice under her skin , then it suddenly started growing an was half the size of a golf ball when the vet removed it, the chip was inside the mass. the vet said it was a very nasty reaction and all tissue around was badly infected. when we had her chipped we was not told of any risks or problems it may cause , and had i known this may happen i wouldn't of allowed her to be chipped. she has suffered greatly as result of this has been on strong meds for the pain ,infection, and the dressings have agravated her skin as result of them rubbing , and all this for a microchip. it is heart breaking to have to leave her everytime we visit her at the vets but we are thankfull it wasn't cancerous, i could of turned to cancer the vet said if it did'nt get removed when it did as this has happened before with other pets. i would like anybody who has had any problems in the past to email me as i have started getting infomation together, along with a petition on the 10 downing street petitions website to make bayer research their chip, and rectify the problems with it. if you would like to sign it that would be great as we have to some how stop these companys doing this  type of damage to our loving pets, and make sure that people are aware of the risks before having their pets chipped,

That sounds awful. I hope you get her back soon. x

have sent you a pm about my girl.

if you could feel the chip it under the skin it wasnt put in right.

i havent had any problem with my dogs chip or the the one that i have chip,i use pet id chips

One would doubt if it were the chip that caused the infection it is more likely the way in which it was administered.

If you could feel it after 3 years there is something wrong with the way it was put in, im a trained microchipper and on the course they said the glass allows tissues to grow around it and hold it in place. After a few weeks you shouldnt be able to feel it once the tissues have covered it, if you could feel it at all. i never have been able to. Maybe playing with it trying to feel the swelling wouldnt have helped either but i hope she gets better. and it will be done properly next time

Louise

I know of a doberman girl who had this happen (no idea of make of chip) but it finished her promising show career on top of the expense and discomfort/pain.

it was done at the vets were my other two dogs had it done and neither of them have  had problems it is deffinently  a reaction to the chip the hystology report confirms this and the fact that the tissue around the chip was contaminated .i am  also told that 1 in a 1000 react  or have problems like prins problem it is 1 to many to have to suffer in my eyes. thats why i am trying to get more reasearch done on the chips.

The KC has introduced compulsory ID of microchip or tattoo for all dogs from 2010. If a breeder or owner does not permanently ID their dogs the dogs will not be allowed to be health tested under the BVA schemes. So much for encouraging healthy breeding and the ABS!

> So much for encouraging healthy breeding and the ABS!

On the other hand there is no point in health testing if the integrity of the result is in any doubt.  I think the awareness of health testing and the continuing growth of buyers requesting it makes this the right time to tighten up the security of the system.

i for one do health test and there is no recommended tests for my breed
but a lot are now testing
but am not keen on putting a forgeign body into my dog
and am not a fan of tattooing
and i,m not the only one who thinks this way
seems to me the genuine breeders are getting the flack, yet again
the BYB,s and puppy farmers will carry on anyway
they will just use the other register
to me its not encouraging healthy breeding at all
as for the ABS its got enough puppy farmers and BYb on it
i,m questioning how  many more rules will appear
and is it really worth showing and breeding these days
and when i say breed, i,m talking the odd litter ,
my last litter was 12 years ago

I am very worried that the microchipping of animals has been linked to cancer (I think a study was done using rats/mice) and so none of my dogs have been chipped. Does anyone know anything about the tattoo method of identity ? There seems to be lots of info out there about getting your dog microchipped and plenty of places to go and get it done, but I have never seen any advert for tattooing.

All the information you need about tattooing is on the National Dog Tattoo Register website.

The reports about microchips causing cancer suggest that the associated risk is lower than living beneath an electricity pylon. Information.

Thanks for the info.... I just count my blessings that I don't live under an electricity pylon.

Everything that we as people and dogs do in life has some small risk.  Yep, it may be a very low incidence of risk but I wouldn't be suprised if a number of people in breeds where all dogs look the same use a dog that they have already had tested as another dog to lower the rate of any problems.

I'm actually pleased in a way that all dogs will have to be identified in some way.  Just hope that the vets etc. take this on board and have all the proper equipment.

Hi Jeangenie

Thanks for that information link, that wa very useful - cheers!

Julie