I won't be chipping Tetley - too many horror stories of migrating chips and now cancer! Besides, he's tatooed so there's already a trace back to me if he were ever lost.

Thanks for the warning. I was going to have Pepper microchipped during his neuter but I changed my mind and he never was. I just can't imagine him having something foreign planted under the skin...

Wow! I am worried about my babies. Three of them have a microchip and two don't yet, or maybe they never will. I hate reading things like this. I can't help but worry.
Like one other post said, a lot of groups, shelter and breeders are chipping the dogs before they are sent home, so owners don't have a choice.
I wonder if there is going to be a lot of talk about getting chips removed?
This could be an even bigger mess than the whole ProHeart shot.
Worry, worry, worry.

I had Rudy microchipped when he was neutered at 6 months of age. The vet told us the chip is only as big as a grain of rice. Mostly everyone around here, even the Humane League, microchipps. I can only hope and pray that I did the right thing. :hands: To me, it's another way to be able to send Rudy home where he belongs if God forbid he ever gets lost.

Rudys Mom (Dawn):animal-pa

oh no...now i am worried......my bella came microchiped too. is it so serious that i should have it taken out???? i hate things like this...

Both of my babies are chipped too

The fact that the chips can migrate bothers me. Plus the thought of something like that being under his skin bothered me too. This is one more reason NOT to do it.

Reading and understanding scientific studies isn't easy. From what I understand these studies were done on mice. It is very difficult to be certain these same results will be found in dogs. MICE ARE NOTORIOUS FOR THEIR TUMOR MAKING ABILITY. It states: The tumors occurred at
"a low incidence rate (approximately 1%), but did result in the early
sacrifice of most affected animals, due to tumor size and occasional
metastases."
So only 1% of the mice were affected. AGAIN, YOU CANNOT GENERALIZE THIS INFORMATION TO DOGS.

It kind of bothers me that the article states:

"Additional studies related to cancer tumors at the site of microchip affect
implants have been conduced in China; however, at this time these
studies are not available in English."

No one can translate???

I'm not familiar with this publication, so I don't know how good of a science editor they have, but sometimes journalists like to create an attention-grabbing story even if it does scare a few people.

The link that was included, from a reputable source, is about finding a tumor at the site of the microchip in one dog. For all the dogs that have been microchipped, IT IS TRULY REMARKABLE THAT THEY HAVE ONLY FOUND ONE DOG WITH ONE. This article is an abstract and you have to pay to read the whole thing, and I didn't want to pay.

I think the only real information this article gives us is 1% of microchipped mice grow tumors and perhaps more research needs to be done.

I plan to go ahead a microchip Joey next month, but doortego I really wish you would ask you Vet why she doesn't do microchipping. I'm hoping the benefits outweigh the risk.
Nancy

I have had both of mine micro chipped. This info hasnt scared me a bit. I know too many dogs they have had microchips for years and I've never known of any having tumors or cancer from it. My sister in law has a yorkie thats had the chip since she was old enough to get one and her dog will soon be 11 years old. Someone said something about not jumping into the new stuff, well microchipping isnt something new. I know her dog has had the chip most of her life and she is still as fiesty and plays like a young dog yet, but she has calmed down a bit since she's older, so I'm not gonna worry about it as in todays world as you know, one day something causes cancer and a few weeks or months later the same thing they find out is good for you. And sometimes the things they say are good for you now they find out is killing people so you just have to ignore some of the hype but your the only one who can decide which is hype and which isnt I suppose. But the chip is only underneath the skin. anyway, this info doesnt concern me at all. IMO, they dont know what all does or does not cause cancer yet.

Well Bailey is not microchipped but I was planning on doing it and the breeder for Blaire said that she will come already microchipped but I paid a PRETTY PENNY for Blaire so I thought it was worth it....I still think that I will get Bailey done also I'll just PRAY for both my furbabies every night :)

This means very little to me. IMO it is still very worth while to get your pets microchipped. There aren't any numbers out there to tell us % and further not enough company have done their own independant studies on this for me to worry in the slightest.
You want something really to worry about? How many of you have kitties? There's a significant increase in muscoloskeletal issues arising from vaccines given by manufacturers Pfizer and Fort Dodge. I have nothing in hand to site, but ask your vets to use Merick vaccines on your little ones.
Once my hand is healed, I'll try and not leave this hanging and post something up about this further.

I still urge everyone to microchip their dogs until studies are done to signify their detriment. Until then, they're one of our best chances of getting our pets returned to us or win a case in court!