Microchip

[bajoiner]

I was wondering if everyone has their Corgi's microchipped? I asked my vet and he does it and surprisingly it is not very expensive but I asked him if it hurt to do it and he quite honestly said "Yes". He said the needle is quite big and it inserts the microchip between the shoulder blades. He said the dogs do yelp. He actually said he prefers to do it when the dog is under anesthesia for a procedure as then the dog/cat never realize it. I did not get it done for Sassy just yet. I feel I should be wanted to get your opinions before making up my mind.

Barbara

[corgimom]

Originally Posted by bajoiner

I was wondering if everyone has their Corgi's microchipped? I asked my vet and he does it and surprisingly it is not very expensive but I asked him if it hurt to do it and he quite honestly said "Yes". He said the needle is quite big and it inserts the microchip between the shoulder blades. He said the dogs do yelp. He actually said he prefers to do it when the dog is under anesthesia for a procedure as then the dog/cat never realize it. I did not get it done for Sassy just yet. I feel I should be wanted to get your opinions before making up my mind.

Barbara

Barbara,

I do have Cody microchipped; and I had it done when Cody was neutered and under anesthesia because the vet did say it hurt and also that the needle was quite big.

[Jeni D]

Dudley is microchipped as well. It was also done, like Cody's, during his neutering when he was already out. After he woke up from the anesthesia, he never appeared to be in any pain or paid any attention to the area whatsoever.

[Cheetah]

Shippo came to me microchipped... I think he had it done when he was very young. I have no idea if it was done under anesthesia or not... >O.o;<

[TobynJeff]

I just brought my little guy back from the vet today and asked him when I should have him microchipped. He recommended I get it done when he gets neutered at 7 months or so. Hope that helped!

[Michael Romanos]

Microchipping dogs can cost as little as $25 in NZ but generally it costs around $40. Dogs here and puppies are usually wide awake when the chip is injected and I actually didn't even consder that a vet would recommend a dog be anesthetized. The cost would skyrocket accordingly. Perhaps they breed them tough in NZ.

[disraeli]

Both of mine were microchipped when awake. Rhys was 3 months, Andy 1 year. They will yelp, but the pain is temporary - they forget it quickly.

A lot of vets just suggest the microchip when the dog is to be neutered/spayed, and go ahead and inject it when the dog is under anesthesia.

[Clogs]

We will get Rosie-Clogs done as it is a bit more of an insurance against loss when we travel in the bus full time.
She won't get a general, but I'll ask the vet to put a wee blip of local in the area. She has had enough vet-related pain trauma in the previious year or so to last her for the rest of her life.

[dcole]

Hmmmm... I didn't get Trevor microchipped when he got neutered (it was brought up by the vet.) Lately I have been considering having it done, but didn't consider that it might be more painful than your typical shot. I'll have to remember to ask about getting a local - good idea, Clogs.

[Dillydoodle]

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[Jespah]

I don't think any vet would put a dog under a general anesthetic just for a microchip Michael, but if they are under for something else, why not spare them a little pain. Maybe vets in NZ are less thoughtful than vets in North America.

My dogs and cats have had their chips done while awake - I was with some of them - it's like a quick pinch and that's it. It didn't bother them afterwards at all. I'd yelp too if someone pinched me!

[milles2]

My Vet likes to do them while they are under for some other procedure - particularly spay/neuter.

I did see the needles they use. Lulu's breeder, to save money, orders the microchips then takes them to the Vet and has him inject the chip. The needles are not tiny by any stretch.

Lulu was definately a non show puppy so her breeder took her in for the early spay procedure (I want to say she was 10 weeks old at the time) and that is when she was chipped.

By the way.... On the radio the other night I heard an advertisement for Home Again. They were talking about being a resource in case of illness or emergency questions. The commercial was about a family who's dog ingested anitfreeze. They called Home Again and they gave them advice on what to do.

I would never think to call the chip manufacturer for adice on something like this. Has anyone else heard about this? I wonder if it's a new service they are providing for an extra fee? Kind of like "OnStar" for you pet. We have them set up w/ lojack(!) now "Onstar"?

Not such a bad idea....... For example "Lulu... don't chew your mom's window sill".

I think we are on to something!!!!!

[Bayoucorgi]

The rescue always microchips. Liam was already neutered so I assume he was done awake. I can guarantee he yiked. He yiked when they poked him for his HW check. He yiked for the rabies shot. He yikes when I cut his nails (not too short, just normal). He was playing the ruff game with Mike the other night and twisted one of his little crooked legs and he yiked and limped around. My poor husband gathered up the little guy and told him he was sorry and drama prince licked his hand as if to say "I know you didn't mean it, it's okay". And then a second later he was back at it running and playing and not limping at all. In short, my beloved Liam is a sissy, the dog that cried yark.

I used to tattoo dogs for rescue. Some carried on like they were being skinned alive. Others just laid there. I know it wasn't pleasant but it did protect them. I know it's definitely more uncomfortable for a longer time - probably 3-4 minutes to put on a number than the quick stab of the needle. I think we might be going a little overboard in preventing all pain to the point of putting them under to avoid a quick yark. Definitely, if the dog is going under for another procedure, then by all means get it done then. But I don't think it's necessarily inhumane to inject the microchip with them awake.

[glencorgi]

Emilie,

Would tattooing be an option for Gus as a means of identification? IF things haven't changed too much, tattos can be registered with Home Again (everyone who has dogs registered in that database needs to check about any changes they've made about fees, I understand they have gone to annual instead of lifetime). AKCCAR is a good one to look into, 24Petwatch is another one.

Yes the microchip needle is somewhat large, but I've had dogs done in the bed of the back of my mini SUV; we've done them at picnics, it isn't that big a deal. A momentary pinch/ouch, a cookie and all is right as rain again.

Debbie

[Dillydoodle]

Debbie, I don't know about tattooing.... do you think that the possiblity of adding a foreign substance into his body could cause him to have immune system issues? If tattooing is an option, do they put them under? for that, i would think that would be quite uncomfortable ( i have a tattoo and it did hurt and i had to sit really still, and i can't imagine a dog laying still while someone is tattooing him.) And where do they usually put this tattoo? I really hate the idea of doing it but would hate it worse if he was lost and unable to be reunited with me becuase of lack of identification.
What do you mean about annual for homeagain? I have that for DIllon, we just checked the info last time i was at the vet with him to make sure it is still registering , and it was ...do i have to call homeagain to activate this micorchip yearly? Is that what you were referring to?

Emilie