I have seen several items regarding the benefits of magnetic collars, but does anyone know if they affect micro-chips in dogs. I have asked vets and manufacturers but no one seems to know or is willing to say one way or the other.

That's a good question.  I spoke to my OH about this a couple of weeks ago as I've heard some people say they shouldn't be used near micro-chips but we still don't know for sure.  

I understand that you can't use them on open wounds, during pregnancy or heavy exercise, near pacemakers or magnetically stored data.  Are microchips electronically stored data?  I'd be interested in knowing what other peeps think too.

I mean are micro-chips magnetically stored data?   Not electronically,  Lol . :-D, :-D  .....Oooooooo........I don't know what planet I'm on today but it's definitely not earth. :-D Lol

I would imagine if the magnet was placed directly over the chip it may strip the information off but I can't for the life of me see why they would affect pregnant woman or anything to do with exercise the strength of the magnet is minute.  More power from the signal of a mobile phone I would say and I don't see pregnant woman avoiding them :)

I think the theory behind heavy exercise, Isabel, is that exercise will speed the circulation and blood flow so if you used a magnetic collar at the same time, it will also increase circulation hence leading to faster blood loss if the dog got wounded.  They cannot be used near an open wound either until after 72 hours when the injury has subsided.  

They haven't tested on the affects of magnets on pregnancy, so any affects on the unborn pup/child is unknown.

I gave the manufacturer a call; accordingly animal microchips are "hard coded" which means they cannot be affected by magnetic influences either of an electromagnetic nature (of which the air is full) nor the permanent steady state magnets (which are at a low level) used in dog collars.

However, there may be an effect on the reader and it would be wise to remove the collar just prior to the chip being scanned

They may not have tested these magnets on pregnant women but they have tested their effect on the human body in general, I know because I was involved in an NHS trial over 20 years ago and the effects were found to be zilch :)  I am not aware of them being used in the NHS to this day.  There have also been many studies into the effects of much stronger magnetic fields, close to pylons for instance, and, despite the fears of the paranoids, again no effects on the human body have been found :)  Funny how people regard one magnetic field as good and another evil :D
Its good to know about the chip though as people do like to spend their money on these collars :)

Isabel, a lot has changed since 20 years ago.  We live in an environment of constant fluid electromagnetic fields/waves, without these it is unlikely that organisms would have ever existed in the first place.  There are lots of studies that refute the NHS conclusion.  Maybe if the NHS studied magnetic therapy again using more up to date equipment and people with an open mind, the results could be a lot different.  The problem may be funding it tho.

I do actually have a magnetic collar and I have used it on a dog that had spinal surgery 6 months ago.  Both the surgeons and the vets have been astounded at how fast Spender recovered and how quickly the surgery site healed. 

I also used it on another dog that had a cut on his nose from a fight with a dog six years ago.  The owner regularly put vaseline on it to try to get it to heal and stop it getting wet.  It would close over and then reopen again.  All the vet could suggest was a skin graft.  This went on for 6 years.  They used my collar on him and the cut healed and scarred within 4 months.  You can hardly see it now.

There is no doubt in my mind that magnetic therapy does indeed promote healing within the body.  No doubt at all.

I first studied electromagnets in primary school :), my class did a demonstration of building one at the Royal Cornwall Show, that was.........well about 40 years ago :).  Electromagnetism has not changed one iota since.
The NHS, I find, are very openminded they use maggots, honey dressing, herbal remedies, you name it, but they do expect things to be demonstrated as effective scientifically.  They are also willing to spend money on research, developement and even expensive equipment, despite the appalling commercial prices of collars bracelets etc., the actual technology is very cheap so I don't think it is that that is putting them off either.  If you find something works for you that is great, even placebos are effective if they make people relax, remove stress, stop prodding at wounds ;) etc but the objection I have to this product is mainly the extremely expoitative prices applied to what is essentially a fridge magnet on a bit of cloth.
That reminds me I wonder if we should advise those that are pregnant of have a nose bleed to stay clear of the fridge :D

I did electromagnets at primary school too. Isabel, Lol, didn't give me a degree in physics tho.  But enough to know there are different types of magnets, not just those on fridges.  :-D  :-D

BTW, they still used the vaseline with the collar.  I guess that means they were still prodding at the wound? :-D

Tell me Isabel, how do placebos work on dogs?  :-D  :-D

In what way do the magnets in these collars differ to the one on my fridge :)  Certainly the one in the bracelet sold to my pensioners father for over £30 was exactly the same.
Placebos don't work on dogs they work on the owner :), ie. reduced stress, prodding at wounds, increased owner initiated exercise etc.
My husband has a degree in electronics and was also a party to the NHS trial all those years ago :)

The placebo effect is with the owner. ;) The owner believes the dog will improve and becomes less tense, which in turn makes the dog relax more, and appear happier.

The magnets used in these collars are exactly the same as the ones on fridge decorations - avoid spending a fortune by sewing a simple bar magnet into a cheap canvas collar. If it works, great. If it doesn't (as in my experiences) then you've not wasted too much money.
:)

Sorry guys, this is one we are going to have to disagree on. :-)  I was sceptic too.  I didn't actually buy my collar, it was a Christmas present.  But I am aware of the placebo affect and the principles of waves and particles and believe me there is a lot more going on the environment that we can observe with the senses.  But how can you prove that magnets in collars are the same as on fridges?  We can't really without diagnostic equipment. And we can't prove they are not either.

But seeing as it's been around for 3000 years and various establishments has spent funding trying to produce scientific evidence with great difficulty I might add, there is something in it somewhere.  Reiki is another one that is met with sceptism too.  Horses for course's I guess :-)

I'd rather the sellers proved to me they are not :D but then in the blurble with my dad's bracelet they didn't claim it wasn't anything other than an ordinary magnet they just claimed strange ideas about reorganising blood flow.   These thinks look exactly like the little lump of loadstone on the back of my fridge hedgehog and attach to ferrous metals in exactly the same way.  I don't know why we need diagnostic equipment, if it looks like a duck, waddles like a duck, quacks like a duck in my experience it is a duck :) 
You are right though if someone thinks it might help use it, at least it is harmless, (unless the pylon protesters are right ;)) but at least try and share your good sense and get given one :)

The magnets used must be south seeking poles, not north.  North seeking poles can cause adverse affects and if you have a magnet with north and south seeking poles then you have no affect at all. So they say..... :-)

>These thinks look exactly like the little lump of loadstone on the back of my fridge hedgehog and attach to ferrous metals in exactly the same way.  I don't know why we need diagnostic equipment, if it looks like a duck, waddles like a duck, quacks like a duck in my experience it is a duck.

:-D  Have you got a fridge magnet that looks like a duck, waddles like a duck and quacks like a duck, Isabel?  Ph34r, I want one of them.  :-D :-D

Oh I see like the old Dr Who reverse polarity thing :D
Its a saying, Spender :), what it means is I have a fridge magnet that behaves like a magnet so I don't need diagnostic equipment to know it is a magnet and my Dad's bracelet's magnet behaves like a magnet so.........

....its a magnet. :-D

Lol, I know it's a saying, just a bit of humour.  I still wouldn't mind one of those ducks tho :-D

I'll look out for one for you ;) :)