Up 'til now I've always dismissed microchipping, thinking that it's a painful procedure.  But, with so many dogs now being stolen, I thought it was time to reconsider.
Has anyone had any bad experiences of having a chip implanted ?
Are there different size chips for different size dogs ?

The only bad experience is that one of my dogs was chipped, my house was broken into and she was taken and then by the look released a few days later, to find her way back to my parents house 2 weeks later.  When we had her checked over by the vet, the chip wasn't to be found!

The rest of my dogs have all been chipped and there's are all fine.  They didn't flinch when they had it done.  The chips hopefully haven't moved either, although I haven't had them checked recently

Hello

We had our two chipped two weeks ago, no problems whatsoever and they didn't ever flinch, they are Staffies though so are tough gggrrrr :D

never had a problem with it.

The chip is so small that they can be user for either dog or cat no matter what size.
(they used to be a bit bigger but technology is always improving so they got smaller)

A chip can move. But most times it get's capsuled in the tissue within a few days.
So the travelling chip is not a myth (the can move) but in most cases it just stays put.

Concerning the pain, it's just a jab. Nothing extra painfull about it for the dog or cat.

I had mine done just in the last few weeks. Bad of me I know but likewise Ive only just realised how bad theft was. Now they use a new BIOCHIP it tests your dogs temperature so no more thermometers where they dont like.

Both of my Mals were done at approximately 8 weeks of age , no problems and no pain either :)

OK, I'm now convinced it's the right thing to do.
Is it true that some vets charge up to £30 per dog (?!)
I've hear that the Dogs' Trust will do it for much less so perhaps I'll make some enquiries with them.

Thanks for all responses.

i do it for £15,you can find a local microchipper not a vet.

All my dogs are chipped and they are checked annually, however in one dog the chip has moved right round to the front near his breast bone, I am not sure what to do about this as its unlikely he would be scanned in this area.
I guess we should really have it removed and another one put in.
Has anyone else experienced this?

yes one of my dogs chip has moved to the top of her shoulder I found it the other week and I can't see them scanning there not that she gets out by herself
Sharon

Our Bichon was chipped at 10 weeks old. No problem at all. Ask around for prices. Local groomers often chip or ask the local council. If you are on a low income this is done for nothing. Good luck

Mack's chip was done for £16. I have to say that it was very traumatic. I DO NOT wish to put you off though. The veterinary nurse tried 4 times to insert the chip, by which time was very frightened and bloody. The vet was called for and he did it in 1 go. My Dad couldnt cope with seeing Mack so upset and in pain and had to walk out of the room. Having said as much, I think it is vital in the event that a dog is stolen or goes missing that a dog is chipped. We have to do everything to protect our dogs.

Gillie, how awful! I wonder if you should have told the nurse to stop after one go...it is just like an injection, seemed to take less than a second, so I wonder what sort of a half-wit ( :D ) will keep hacking at it until there is blood all over the place. Is poor Mack nervous of the vet now?
A competent person should do it in a a split second, so please don't think that your experience was somehow normal.
My vet tells me that the older chips can migrate and they have sometimes found the chips near the ankle! However, the techonology has improved sufficiently now, and you should rest assured that the chip will stay in its place. (and the new ones serve as thermometers, too- handy for the "bum shy"! :D )

£30 sounds a bit much- all the vets around here do it for about £15. Sorry to be a scaremonger, but I wouldn't let anyone perform any sort of a surgical/medical procedure on my dog unless appropriately qualified; sometimes you see cheap microchipping advertized at dog shows and other events, but I would rather pay a few pounds more and have it done by a medical professional (but not Mack's nurse!! :D  ) in a squeaky clean vet surgery. ;)

Well I payed £18 at my vets but it was for the new biochip

Whats the new biochip??????????
Beano is microchipped as was done when being castrated under General. But havnt done Gemma as she doesnt leave my side and is 8 years old set in her ways so dont want to put her through the traumour.
Lea.

The newer chips have 'biotherm' technology which means that when scanned the scanner also reads the body temperature which is a great bonus.

WEndy

Hello scamp. I have to agree with you that it wasnt the norm that there should be blood all over the place.  Mack is a little concerned when the car travels that bit further (thus he knows it not a trip to his favouritle park!!) but he knows that is Mum and his grandad are there for him. I very nearly did stop the veterinary nurse from doing the microchip but you do think that maybe this is the norm, and you are wanting to do the best by your dog at all times, you think oh gosh please just get on with it! Mack's grandad is funny about it all - my dad is such a strong character - but when it comes to his grandson dog, he is a BIG softy! Dont worry, as Mack gets rewarded for being a brave boy!

Not all vet's surgeries are 'squeaky clean', though luckily most are.    There is the canine equivalent of MRSA proven to come from not-so-responsible surgery.

The only real thing you can do in a practical level is to vote with your feet if the surgery doesn't appear clean, but it's a bit of a worry.

Jo abd the Casblaidd Flatcoats

I guess we are lucky here then, as our vet surgery certainly is spotless, and the comforting odour of disinfectant is constantly hanging in the air as you walk in.  (I would much rather go there than the local NHS surgery/hospitals, YUK!)
I am glad Mack is a brave boy, but not sure what to do about his squeamish grandad, though! :D

A freinds bitch has her chip at her elbow, and another freind had her bitches chop break and a severe alergic reaction causing an absess and granular scarring, which needed to be cut out.  The latter was a dobermann and her shoulder looked a mess for ages.

A freind with a Buhund was found to no longer have an active chip (was going abroad undergoing Pet Passport procedure.  He was x-rayed and the chip was found to be in place but not woirking.  The chip company offered to pay for it's removal and implantaion of new, but she chose to judt have a second chip implanted, t6hankfully it was in time for tyhe Pet Passport paperwork. 

I have always used Tattoos, but since I wanted to travel with my dogs needed to get them chipped also so had them all done.

My youngest bled quite a lot from the chip implantaion site at time of second jabs, and one of the adults made a big deal of getting hers done, and she never flinches with jabs.  The other 3 reacted the same as for vaccinations, but all were done as adults.

i've had all mine done.  One definately felt it! Others didn't flinch.  Totally worth it in the long run.  They do move though - hopefully vets are aware of this though.

But what happens if a micro chipped animal gets killed?????
Mum and dad were woken up by a load of lads in their garden on sunday night, dad shouted out the window to find out why they wete marauding all over thrie garden, turned out they were very upset about a cat just being hit by a car. Mum and da got dressed and went down stairs to find the cat. they found it and it had a badly broken back (back was at 90 derees :()  called vet at 11pm and he came out and out it to sleep(cat was in absolute agony :() the vet took cat away, but will vet have scanned it. mum kept coller but it had no tag.
we have found out who it belongs to from asking around. the cat belonged to a guy whos partner has not long had a baby. and the guiy was distraguhgt about it, so it was obviously a much lovbed pet. but I dont think we will ever know if it was micro chipped.  But it did cross my mind that if a vet has to euthenase an animal will they check it for micro chips, and if they do. How do they inform the owner of the micro chipped animal?????????
Lea

I think they probably would, Lea, it's not too much trouble after all and they all seem to have scanners these days.  They just inform the logging people assuming the owners have recorded current details of their whereabouts the message would get to them.  That's if it's chipped in the first place of course.

All my dogs have been chipped, and my pup will be chipped soon.  Never had any problems with it. :)

Hi my vets charge £12.50 if done at the time of second injection or £15.00 any other time, i am at the moment considering having my dogs chipped for the same reason so many dogs either being stolen or going missing

all my dogs are chipped,and i also chip all my puppies before going to there new homes,we've never had any major problems,some pups did bleed a little and we've had one pups chip move to his left shoulder,i do have the chips checked when the dogs go for there annual jabs,and luckly all are still in place,we only paid 10.00 perpuppy,but where given a discount due to pups having there full course of injections with the same vet and the fact we had 10 pups done at one time.
i do know of a old chap that lives in our village that sadly had his microchipped jack russel stolen from outside a shop(caught on camera) .unfortunatley never to be returned,after weeks of searching advertising in local papers and many phone calls was eventually told by the local dog wardens/rspca not sure who now that a jack russel had been found matching the description unfortunatley deceased due to a road accident but was never scanned and had been disposed of,when asked why the dog had'nt been scanned was told it was not normal procedure to scan deceased animals,as you can imagine this old chap was devestated at losing his dog,but not knowing if this jack was his or not never really knowing what happened to his little dog for certain.i thought this was disgraceful that they could spare 10 mins to scan and check to see if this little dog found was chipped and at least if it was this distraught owner could be notified

There is a very informative article in the Dogs Today May issue on microchipping worth reading.

Agreed. It is interesting and actually says what I have been saying for years, that microchipping is all well and good IF your dog is found by someone who WANTS to return the dog. Otherwise you are stuffed; as the article says, all it proves is that you own the chip, not the dog..............

Personally I don't chip I tattoo but that is a matter of individual choice.

Lea a biomcrochip is just a new more improved chip. As well as scanning the dog for ownership it also tells them the dogs temperature. Our vet told us if you scruff the dog round its neck then the chip can move but given a few days to settle it should be OK. Can I just add not all dogs are scanned routinely. I know of cases where people have found their dogs in shelters they are chipped and have not even been checked.

Both of mine were chipped when they went for their jabs.  The youngest one's came out when I went to pay and found it my hand.  They did a new one and that has been fine since.  Neither dogs seems to be bothered by it and both my cats have been done as well, one of which is a complete wuss and even she didnt complain.