RE: Microchipping your Dog - Important to know BEFORE You do it

[red98vett]

There are several kinds of chips made by different companies - AND several kinds of scanners. What one scanner may read - another may not... depending on what the vet office has. This is just STUPID !

I had been under the impression Chipping was universal and now I hear there are several mfg's all making different chips. IF a VET doesn't have the right scanner to match the chip... the code is unreadable....which is BAD if your dog goes missing.

ASK for the most widely used Microchip if you plan to chip your dog.

[Yorkies-Mom]

omg - i am so glad you posted this villette!! thank you because i was under the exact same impression.

[Judy in Waco]

How do you get non-biased information as to who has the most-used microchip? I would think whoever you ask will claim theirs is.

[red98vett]

Is that not just Dumb of these Manufactures ? You'd think they'd all be on the same frequency so scanners will pick up ALL chips -

there's a push now to do this ....but for crying out loud - ALL Chips should be readable by any scanner - it shouldn't be unique to different companies.

There must be lots of dogs falling thru the cracks. I heard one was euthanized because a chip code never came up in a scanner - it was on the Houston News this morning.

[red98vett]

Originally Posted by Judy in Waco

How do you get non-biased information as to who has the most-used microchip? I would think whoever you ask will claim theirs is.

Well from what I heard there's one that's more widely used than others so you can probably check online before chipping - but they're pushing for a universal scanner.

[xBUTTERCUPx]

I saw on the news a few days ago that some shelters in Houston aren't scanning dogs that go there for microchips because 'it's a waste of time'. There was a man who lost his dog and called every shelter there was to find his dog but they stated that there was no such dog with the description given there. He looked on the internet a week later and his dog was put up for adoption.

[Yorkies-Mom]

well i know that my vet uses the "home again" chip and scanner. i totally agree with you - the scanners should be made to read ALL chips no matter who made them.

[xBUTTERCUPx]

I am very clueless with the whole microchipping. Buttercup is microchipped but I don't think it's registered. How would I register it?

[chachi]

My vet uses Home again chiips. I thought they were the most common

[red98vett]

Originally Posted by xBUTTERCUPx

I saw on the news a few days ago that some shelters in Houston aren't scanning dogs that go there for microchips because 'it's a waste of time'. There was a man who lost his dog and called every shelter there was to find his dog but they stated that there was no such dog with the description given there. He looked on the internet a week later and his dog was put up for adoption.

you're kidding. He better have got his dog back adopted or not. There's no excuse for that...people pay for these chips thinking that all shelters will scan dogs that are turned in. I'd have lost it if I were that man....but it's possible his chip wasn't readable which is why I did this post.

[red98vett]

Originally Posted by chachi

My vet uses Home again chiips. I thought they were the most common

Maybe that is the most common which is good. That's why I said check to see whats the most widely used. Hopefully the mfg's will get their act together and make a universal scanner that will read ALL chips.

Kind of like Remotes for Tv's...it used to be that we had to have one for each Mfg ....and now there's one that works on ALL televisions. they need to do this with the Microchip scanners.

[Judy in Waco]

NOW it makes sense to me to put the microchip # on his tag! My thought before was that they could just scan him to find out. I guess I need to put the number down AND the name of the manufacturer!

Poor little guy...before long his ID tag will weigh more than he does!!!

[xBUTTERCUPx]

Originally Posted by red98vett

you're kidding. He better have got his dog back adopted or not. There's no excuse for that...people pay for these chips thinking that all shelters will scan dogs that are turned in. I'd have lost it if I were that man....but it's possible his chip wasn't readable which is why I did this post.

It may be possible and yes he did get his dog back because he vet verified the code on the microchip matched his information.

[Kathryn_V]

I'm a big Avid Fan! They do have a scanner that reads most brands....


MiniTracker™ MultiScan 125
Reads Avid® HomeAgain™, Destron® and other microchips that operate at 125 kHz. Battery included. 7" long, 2 3/8" wide, 1" thick.


Some other brands scanners will only read their own chips! Scary!!! But I know my local animal shelter has a universal scanner... you can purchace them as stand alones.

Ask your vet if they have one next time your in... and if they say no... ask them WHY NOT???? Insist they look into it! They really do listen to their customers... And call your local shelters as well and ask what they are using!!!! If you don't get the answer you are looking for write to the city! Or start a petition! Its not safe for them not to be using this technology when its avalible to them! And its CHEAP! Cheaper than housing dogs that could be back at home!

[kjk723]

The Avid Microchip is still more used in our area but I know AKC has started pushing the Home Again chip. My Mosheh is Avid chipped and next Sunday my GiGi will also be Avid chipped.. It isnt a guarentee to finding your lost dog but I know if someone steals your dog, it is the easiest and quickest way to prove that it is your animal.
My mom had someone steal her boston, she knew who it was and couldnt prove that the dog was hers. She was heartbroken, she had spent months training this dog as a therapy dog and her groomer (my mom ran a shelter) stole her when she quit. It was the only dog my mom didnt have microchipped. I got her a rescue dog a couple months later, she was so excited but she had such a bad hernia that she didnt make it through the six hour operation. needless to say my mom doesnt have a dog right now.