What chip do they use? Then you can look it up and see for yourself what is involved....I have never heard about different size needles for different size dogs....sounds like something said to just reassure the owner...kind of like saying they can adjust the dosage of rabies vaccine according to the size of the dog, which of course can NOT be done....that is illegal. The needle used is like a 14 guage needle....large enough to inject a grain of rice thru the bore.....I dont see how that size can change according to the dog being chipped.

I looked it up and there are 3 companies that have a "mini chip"....I dont know if those companies are in the States or overseas, but the do have a smaller chip/smaller needle delivery system.
I copied the info below from a universal (standard size chip delivery system) microchip site, just answering some FAQ....

"I have toy breeds/kittens. They are so tiny. Can I use the chip?
Absolutely. We have thousands of customers who have toy breeds. It might help you to know that the same sized microchip and needle are used in animals even smaller than yours...including mice, baby birds, and newly hatched sea turtles! Does the procedure hurt the animal?
Although the microchip needle is larger than a typical vaccine needle, animals do not over react to it. Anesthesia is not required or recommended. What is the best age to inject the chip?
Most breeders inject the chip between the ages of five and eight weeks. Of course, the injection can also be done at any time after that. "

Hopefully, you are feeling better about this.....Teddy will pick up on YOUR anxiety and react accordingly! Before you go to the vet, throw back a couple of shots of Butterscotch Schnaaps....it will help you!!

I agree with what everyone has said. I've been with all my dogs when they get the chip and it seems to bother me more then them. Dogs feed off energy so if someone is giving off a nervous vibe, it may affect the dog. Just get yourself in a super calm place and don't let the vet or the tech freak you out. Maybe the vet is nervous with very small dogs? If so perhaps a different vet would be better.

you make me laugh- thank you xox


Thanks all! It will be okay, I'm sure. Hubby told me I could wait outside and he'd take Teddy in so I'm not the 'bad guy' that took him in and you are all def right about how Teddy will feed off my energy.


I often underestimate my ability to cope with things until during and after the fact only to repeat the whole thing again before another potential drama! I always say Teddy is like me :p


At any rate, this whole thing will be over in about 36 hours from now. So, hopefully, I'll be able to come back and say that all went great.


Thanks again x

Yes........well, now YOU have ME concerned.......about the vet!!!!! Please be sure hubby tells the vet "Bevel up!!!".......and you and I can have that shot of schnaaps in the car while we wait for hubby and Teddy to emerge!!!

I went and ordered the syringe and chip myself, as it was much cheaper and I can get a real decent/good chip, too. The chip package I got from AKC was $25 including lifetime membership cost and tag (I went ahead and added the lifetime lost and found program for xtra where I can have an alert sent out). So the total was under $40. If I gotten it done through my vet, it would've been $70 ($50 for the chip and $20 to transfer information registry to my name instead of the vet). They injected it in her for me, for free when I had her fixed. ^^

Little Galen got chipped by the vet. He did really good. . . I agree you can also ask for a little lidocane . But it will be ok. It gets done real quick. Like any shot, it hurts for a second.

Good luck today with the chip. Cody is a big drama queen, when the tech or the vet walks into the room he is screaming and not even touched yet lol, he climbs up my chest onto my shoulder like a parrot lol. Teddy will be fine, we work our selves up with worrying, I do it to myself all the time, when it's over I say, is that all there is....stay calm, remember, our babies feed off us.

My Lily is right under 4 lb and had no issues with microchip. She let out a small yelp and that was it. She cried worse just getting her vaccines. And she's a big baby. When they clip her nails she acts like they are killing her! I'm sure your baby will do just fine!

Interesting...so they'll just sell a chip kit to anyone, then? Is the kit intended to be used by the owner, or do they include the recommendation that a vet insert the chip? I'd worry people would try to inject it themselves, and that does concern me.

Misty - hoping Teddy does just great today at the vet - thinking of you both! I think you should just ask the vet for a bit of valium...one for Momma-bear, and one for baby-bear :D. Okay, maybe 2 for Momma :p. Let us know how it goes!

I agree selling chip kits worries me that lay persons will try injecting their dog themselves!

Hoping it's all over & a little Lidocaine or freezing spray helped dull the pain. The first week Tibbe had his I wanted to feel for it but was afraid he was sore and then forgot about it. Months later I did try to feel it and never could. But now, if Teddy should somehow get lost, you have an increased chance of one day having him back in your arms and even a 1% chance is worth the moments of pain to me and I think Tibbe would agree, being the practical little guy he is. I know I'd undergo the same or a lot worse pain than he had to if somehow chipping me would increase his chances of return to me.

I hope soon we can get a gps locator in the chip that way we can track our dogs ourselves.

Any updates on how he did?

There is some controversy over how safe those are. That type of chip is much more "active" instead of passive, and there is concern about cancer.

Hi all,


Well, Sir Teddykins is now Sir Chippingtons!


I went in the room with hubby and Teddy was so scared. He was shaking and his ears were wide and he kept looking at me ... SO, I just kinda acted all natural like we did this everyday. The vet, whom I'd never met before, tried to relax him with some treats which were rejected by Teddy. I was feeling sick (due to my ulcer issue) but was managing to feel okay when the vet said, "This needle is VERY big." Well, with Teddy looking freaked out, me feeling sick and her comment?? I said, "I'm gonna go..." and I walked out and left hubby there to deal with everything.


I sat down and waited to hear Teddy scream. Out of nowhere, hubby's head pops out of a door and he tells me all is finished. Teddy apparently screamed and then yawned as he always does when he's stressed but I never heard him at all even though I was intently listening for his wails.


Saturday progressed as normal and he seems fine.


SO, it's done! I'm glad all is over with and I don't have to go through that again anytime soon!


Thanks for everyone's help and moral support xoxox