Microchipping.
 

Mina was chipped today while she was under being spayed. I filled out a form that will be registered. I will also give this number to the AKC when I register her there (that is why I have waited). There is a little yellow tag that has her number on it for her collar. I dont think that there is a way to change the information that is registered,unless you contacted the company with a new buyer and you both agreed to change her ownership.

You would get a paper in the mail with your info on it. You then have to sign and put the new owners name on it transfering to them. That is with most microchipping. Some you can call, but I believe those also req a signature of the original owner and not just anyone could call and change it saying it was you.

I plan to microchip too. How much is the cost? Does Lola have to be put to sleep to have it placed or is there some other type of medication? I'm very fearful of having her go under anesthesia as I have two friends whose yorkies died getting their teeth cleaned because their tracheas were punctured while being intubated. My Lola is almost 8 months & hasn't gone into heat. I'm fearful of the anesthesia to have her spayed.

You are right that they don't have to be asleep but it is a large needle and it does hurt and my opinion (as well as my vet's) is to wait until they are spayed and do it then.

Thanks for the info.

Well I suppose if someone was malicious enough they could have a chip replaced but generally i wouldn't think so. i would get the chip and hopefully you will never need to use it.
Yes, they do NOT need to be asleep to get a chip put in but if your going to get a spay do it at that time. It does hurt. I've seen them put every single one of mine in and they are in a lot of discomfort. :(

You could also have a chip put in during a teeth cleaning. Often times, their put under for that depending on where and how the teeth cleaning is done.

Our breeder did ours and the needle is an 18 gauge needle, which is pretty big (I injected hormones every day with one-they're BIG)

Noah didn't whine or whimper at all when she did it. I wonder if they can numb the area first with lidocaine?

Coco got chipped because of her paper work. She was awake during the whole process. She didnt make any noise at all. She yelped when she got her rabies shot. so I guess this hurts less :P

One thing that I'm still wondering is the whole scanning process. They only scan lost dogs.

What if someone steals them and bring them into the vet for whatever reason and pretend it is theirs then they never scan them.

I think vets should scan all new patients and check the numbers against them...

My vet asked me for their chip numbers for their records.

And if my dogs were stolen, I would contact every vet in 5 counties and let them know with a description, and chip numbers.

My Marlee has a chip but the lady told me she never reg it with Akc. So how do I go about having her chipped with my info? I didn't get her papers.

I agree. I had Kaji chipped at the same time he was neutered. I did it that way because I felt I might as well have everything done at the same time, not because I knew anything special. I'm so glad I did it this way!!!!!

When I picked Kaji up, he was groggy and sleepy, so I know he didn't wiggle for them when they had the chip implanted. The scab was HUGE! He still had freshly dried blood on his back. I felt so bad. The only comfort I have is knowing my baby was still under when they implanted the chip.

Had a friend who about 3 years ago purchased a dog from some people who have 3 dogs for sale. They were told the dog was just under a years old. One-and-a-half years later while on vacation their dog ate some pine needles and became ill - they went to the vet in that state that the camp ground recommended and you can guess -- it had a chip with an owners name on it.

Lessons that were learned:
* if no one scans the chip, no one knows about the owner
* the crime of dog theft is not very severe so it is not a crime that is feared

The rest of the story is sad - involves attorneys and $$$, and they lost their dog back to the original owner who had the dog chipped and then later stolen.

Thanks for the info - I did not realize getting the chip inserted hurt. I guess for the larger dogs it is not that big of a deal due to their size. I will wait until I get the pups spayed and neutered to get the chips. Thanks all - I hate the thought of doing something that would hurt them when I do not have to.

At one time I chipped all of my yorkies because I had one stolen. The problem is, the chip is only as good as the vets/rescue/etc., diligence at scanning. My pets when I moved, were taken to a local vet who never scanned them even as a new customer. During my move I had to see a vet along the way, not one vet I stopped in scanned for a chip.

It is my understanding that vets, aspca, etc., can get free readers; however there are several chip companies and not one reader reads all of them.

I sat while 7 of mine were chipped. Not one even whimpered. They were Avid chips. Not one time since they were chipped (all are now dead), were the chips read by any vet, pet hospital, etc. So, since then, I have opted not to chip. I think it is a wonderful system, and I think it is worthwhile, IF, the chips are read as the original reason for chipping was intended. They show up on an xray and look like a piece of rice. Everyone knows what it is, but my vets, never read their micro chip.

So, if you live in an metropolitan area where the chips are read, it is a good thing. But, the pet can be stolen and taken to a rural area where noone would ever know they ripped off your pet.

For me, I am on the fence about chipping. I think it is good, but I also think the vets should read every pet and new pet that walks in the door and verify ownership. But, they don't.

Thanks for all the info. I don't think I'm going to chip Lola for now. I would almost want to look or wait for something w/a GPS tracking thing in it. That's the only way to actually be able to check on your dog. If you dog is stolen then you & the police could track where your loved one went.

All 4 of mine are chipped. I insist that the vet check their chip when I bring them in. I want to make sure that they are still scanning.

While I understand what you are saying, if your dog ever gets lost anyone honest will take the dog to the vet to be scanned and many people have been reunited with their pets this way. And if there is ever a dispute - say a neighbor steals your dog, you are also able to prove the dog is yours. Right now this is the best we have and while I agree it's not a perfect system, I think it's the best there is and I really do believe that most people are honest.

Yes, it will be wonderful when we have this technology and it would be nice if they could make the chip smaller too! I bet it is not far off.....

Well, frankly, it is what I thought. What a great way to keep track of them. I chipped 9 of my babies. I can tell you (I had forgotten the other 2 I had chipped), that not one vet in 12 years, nor, the local animal shelter scanned them. I even talked to the shelter, told them they could get a free reader, told the vets, etc., and nothing ever came of it. They (vets and animal shelter) could get free scanning devices. Although in Monterey, Ca, they did scan. But again, it is only as good as the scanning. It depends on how active the folks are in our area. In mine it is non-existent. I even went vet to vet to ask them to do it. The comment was unanimous that they would have to have too many readers to scan all the different chips and there was no universal chip. So, they opted to leave it alone. All my expense of chipping was wasted. I know some turn up years later and some good stories have happened, but it is not as easy as it sounds.

Also, I chipped mine and moved. It cost me 35 each to change the address every time I moved. That to me is also not good. Although I cannot say it is true today. It was back then.

The $35 for an address change wouldn't be a big deal to me. Someone made a good point about people would generally bring a lost/found dog to a shelter or vet to check for the chip which is exactly what I would do. I have to believe that most people would do the right thing.

My other problem is that I'm too scared to put Lola under anesthesia. I know of two people whose dogs tracheas were punctured during intubation & died. I'm afraid to even get her spayed because of that.

When I moved, it was 35 x 7 dogs. And I was renting, so I had to move again. It was difficult.

But I had my Clarissa who had a collapsing trachea and you are correct about sedation being risky in situations like that. Fortunately we never had to do it the rest of her life. However, microchipping doesn't require sedation. I was with them in the office when the vet did it. They were fine.

If I lived in a metropolitan area where microchipping is a way of life and vets scan new pets and verify the owner, I would still do it in a heartbeat. People steal and resell yorkies. You must be careful. But my area does nothing so spending the money to have it done, well, it actually solves nothing unless they took my dog to a metropolitan area and eventually they would have to go to a vet ... maybe at some point it would get back to you.

There was some talk about it becoming a requirement in order to register your Yorkie. But I don't know if that ever came about. If it did, vets would be required to scan that chip.

Don't know about the GPS tracking. A good idea; however, if it is an externally worn item that could be removed by a person who wanted to steal and resell the yorkie then, it would not be helpful. But I can see something like that coming. Since pets tend to wander off, it would be wonderful.

If you want to read a REALLY good reason TO microchip,go read the thread "Need help asap" it is going on right now. Stolen dog ,ended up at shelter with no chip/collar. Shelter owner wont return dog to owner. Today the police will be showing up at the shelter.

My Tessie was chipped when I got her at 13 weeks. I asked my vet to scan her so I would know for sure. The scanner he had could not find the chip. I took her back and told them this, they scanned her and showed me the ID # and it was the same one on her papers. If that can happen what are the gurantees that if your dog is chipped that other vets can find the information. I am still trying to decide to chip my other 3. They always have on collars with tags ( I use harness for walking) but I know these can be removed. And if they are stolen no one is going to take them to have them scanned.

Read the thread,the dog has been found and could be scanned. It is a very sad situation. But there is some hope that the dog will be returned.
My next visit to the vet was to include a scan,so I will know where the chip is.
I think that all opinions both for and against chips are valid,ya just have to go with your gut feeling.
My other 5 dogs are not chipped,I did think about it when we brought 3 poodle puppies home at the same time ( I must of been nuts at the time).
We try to be EVER vigulent with our dogs. Noone goes outside unattended,not even in my fenced in backyard and we keep a lock on the gate. Noone is ever out in public without a leash,even if they are in the owners arms. Strangers do not touch my furbabies unless they are in my arms and even then I am watching them.

I am actually considering get my dog micropped. because Sam loves to be outside ALL of the time! hes very friendly with people even with totally stranger. So I admit I am worried about someone easily pick him up and run off with him. I am calling today to find out price.

This is exactly what I do, they never go outside without me and a leash. Husband doesn't even walk them unless he is with me, but I know accidents can happen. MY DH didn't latch the gate on the back deck, this is where they love to lay in the sun, and I thought it got quiet, I looked and all 4 were gone, I panicked, started sreaming , my son and husband were in the basement working, one of the dogs ran up from the pool, I always take them in this direction to walk them, away from the road. S and H finally came out, other 3 came running also. Never been so scared and happy in 15 minutes. About 30 minutes after this my DH took the gate down and put a permanent door there. I had only had Sassy for about a month but the other dogs took care of her.

It is just as important to keep a collar with tags. My baby wears 3 tags (rabies,her name and my cell and the microchip tag).

Dogs show up at my door all of the time without a collar and so far I have managed to find the owners. I have also chewed them out for no collar tags.