Can someone tell me at what age my pup can be microchipped, and also give me an idea of the cost? Am I right in thinking that the main benefit is if she's stolen, there's a better chance of getting her back? Are there any drawbacks? I know it's not a nice thing to think about before we've even got her, but I guess it's a sad fact of life :(
Thanks,
Nic

Hi Nic

I have all my dogs chipped, and I chip my babies before they leave for their new homes, your vet should be able to do the chipping, mine are done at 7-8 weeks of age. And costs in the region of £15-20 per puppy.
I personally haven't had any problems with the chip migrating around the skin or side effects etc, and I have the chips checked if they ever need a vets appointment. :-)
HTH
Karen

You're welcome Nic :-)

Thanks Karen :)

Hi Nic, I had my cat microchipped and she never had any problems whatsoever. I plan on having Precious chipped as well. You don't have much longer to go!! Are you getting excited? Shirl :-)

The NCDL will do it for free if you're on means tested benefits, and for just £9.50 for everyone else!!! i had Tarot chipped there and he didn't mind one bit. Definately would recommend it for the simple peace of mind it gives.

Annette

Bit off topic, and I don't know if this hows the success, or posibly the failure of Microchipping.

I ran into a man I had met in the park around 10 years afgo. He at the time had a Stafford cross. I asked after the dog.

It appears that about 5 years ago while being looked after by freinds he was lost. He spent 6 months contacting the dogs home in Bridtol to no avail. About 2 years ago, he had a call from the dogs home informing him that they had his microchipped dog, and he could collect him after paying the fine for allowing him to stray.

He was most surprised, as he had his current dog lying by his feet, so asked them to explain who they had there.

Anyway the upshot of it was that after explaining that he had lost the dog 3 years previously, they agreed to waive the fine, and just charge a days boarding (£17.50).

It transpired that he had been helf by the Police, who do not have a scanner, and then passed to the dogs home.

Now the qyestion is, had he been found and rehomed previously, and the chip not found, or checked for, or had someone just kept him. What a story he could tell if only he could talk!!!

I guess that just goes to show that even the best technology can be useless-unless someone along the way has the relevant means to check!! Gosh, he must have been surprised when he got that call!!! We will get it done, I'll contact the NCDL and see where they are. Thanks everyone for your help :)
Nic

My Vet would not chip my dogs until 6 month

Hi D/face, in Spain you have to microchip pups before you can register them.
Christine, Spain.

Hi,
I also asked about microchipping my pup when he went for his first injection at 8 weeks old but the vet refused to do it until he was a few months old. I have heard it is only the size ofa grain of rice so why the difference in opinions from vets ?

My vet michro-chipped our pup when she had her second jabs. Boy was I glad that she was done then - she jumped our gate (we never thought that she could jump that high at only a few months old) when a firework went off unexpectedly and ran down the street. Fortunately, we caught her quickly and no harm was done.

Daisy

My vets microchipped inbetween the first and second jabs in ebbie - they do puppy parties, so they did them all that night and we didn't pay till the second jab. That puppy party was a very very good idea - shame they only do it then - one time and don't have facilities to socialise more.

Nikki xxx

Ps. it's normally £25 but was only £20 that night

They've got quite a few centres dotted throughout the country and any of them will chip your dog for the discount price. Theres a list of all the rehoming centres on their site http://www.ncdl.org.uk

Annette

Thanks for that Annette. Unfortunetly our nearest centre is an hour and a half away, so I think we will ask our vet, rather than travelling that far with the pup!
Nic :)

I microchip my pups before they leave me so they are done at around 7 weeks so they have chance to "settle" before going to their new homes

Christine

My girl was chipped when i brought her home at 8 weeks, not sure what age her breeder got her chipped. However when she was 6 months old we had her checked at the vets and suprisingly the chip had moved to her chest area, so she had to be re-chipped, a cost of $35AUD.

My friend had her spinone done when he was 12 weeks , While we were at a show a few weeks ago she had him checked and the chip had moved to his lower shoulder.
She was told that larger breeds of dog should not be chipped till they are 6 months as the proof was there that they move quite a bit with large dog growth.

Sam

Yeah, i was talking to a Malamute breeder in the US and she said that one of her dogs had to be re-chipped 3 times! And a few other people had to chip their mals again after the chip had moved around the body. So if you have a large breed always check the chip during vet visits. It doesnt harm the dog to chip early, chipping later saves you having the dog to get chipped again when it has finished growing if the chip has moved.
Nikki