There are a number of side effects associated with microchipping a dog. Before you decide to have this procedure performed on your dog, it is important that you read the following article and take into account any drawbacks to this process.
Given that not everyone has the time to exercise, and there are people who have too many dogs to walk, electronic dog collars were invented. Now owners can let computers do all the work for them. Knowing how the dog feels makes it easier to understand each and every emotion. But what is a microchip exactly? Is it bad for your dog’s health? Will it hurt your dog in any way? I spoke with my vet about it, and he said that there is a chance of adverse side effects of microchipping a dog.
Side Effects Of Microchipping A Dog
Microchipping is a relatively new technology that has been used with pets in order to identify them if they are lost and found. This is an important service because it can help keep your dog safe from harm, and also reunite you with a lost or stolen pet much more quickly. However, there are some side effects of microchipping that you should be aware of before making the decision to microchip your dog.
The first thing to think about when considering microchipping your dog is that it’s not a replacement for regular ID tags on their collar. While having an identification number on file will help you get back in touch with your pet’s owner if they’re lost, it won’t necessarily help identify who’s using the collar at any given time—which could lead to trouble if someone other than yourself attempts to take advantage of the chip’s signal as proof of ownership (for example, if they were able to steal it off your dog).
Another consideration is that many veterinarians are opposed to microchipping dogs because they believe it can cause health problems down the line by allowing too much metal into their system over time; however, this has not been proven definitively one way or
Microchipping a dog is a way to ensure that your pet is reunited with you in the event that they are lost or stolen. It does not, however, prevent any of the negative side effects that come with having a microchip implanted in your pet, such as pain and infection.
The most common side effect of microchipping is pain. The chip itself may be too large and cause inflammation or even tissue damage around it. The incision site can also become infected, which can lead to abscesses and other complications.
In addition to pain and infection, there are other side effects associated with microchips:
Side Effects Of Microchipping A Dog
Although side effects are uncommon, microchipping a dog can sometimes bring upon varied effects such as temporary bleeding, hair loss, infection, abscesses, and microchip migration. But the vast majority of dogs experience minimal or zero side effects from the implantation process.
Anesthesia isn’t obligatory in microchipping procedures.
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The benefits of microchipping dogs
Microchipping serves as reliable canine identification. If a microchipped pooch goes missing and winds up in an animal shelter or veterinary clinic, staff will use the microchip’s unique ID code to contact you via the microchip provider’s database. The procedure generally costs $25 to $50.
A microchip is injected subcutaneously between the shoulder blades; the routine procedure takes minutes and usually requires no anesthesia. The injected microchip is permanent, unlike ID tags and collars.
It’s important to update you contact details. Changing contact information, such as your phone number or address when either changes will ensure there’s no delay in getting your pet back to you.
Cancerous tumors rarely occur with microchipping
The American Veterinary Medical Association reports that there have been two dogs who may have developed microchip-related cancerous tumors. However, in at least one case, the tumor could not be linked to the microchip directly.
There is no definitive proof that microchipping is associated with cancerous tumors. Rather, cancerous tumors may be associated with the injection of the microchip itself, such as in the case of injection-site sarcomas.
Possible dog microchip complications
Microchipping is a rather straightforward process. Some canines experience bleeding at the location of injection. This bleeding typically ceases quickly with a little pressure. Since microchips are specifically made to not bring upon inflammatory responses, dogs usually don’t develop swelling or soreness where they were implanted.
According to the Johnson Animal Clinic, over four million animals have been microchipped, and only 391 adverse reactions have been reported. The most commonly reported adverse reaction to a microchip is a nodule that forms under the skin where the chip was placed.
Other possible dog microchip complications include abscesses, infection, hair loss, and microchip dysfunction. Microchips rarely malfunction, and if they do, most microchip companies will provide a replacement microchip at no cost. Problems can occur when veterinarians fail to implant the chips into the appropriate parts of the body.
Microchips can migrate after being implanted
Microchips are capable of migrating within pets’ tissues; as a result, they occasionally can turn up in random areas of the body. Microchips are implanted subcutaneously (under the skin) between a dog’s shoulder blades. It is not uncommon for a microchip to migrate into a dog’s shoulder or even into the lower chest. However, a microchip will never migrate into a dog’s internal body cavities, such as the chest or abdomen.
Microchip migration generally occurs during the initial two weeks after implantation. The migration typically happens prior to the tissues surrounding the microchip healing and settling the chip into its appropriate position.
If you’re concerned about microchip migration and your dog, take him to the veterinarian. The vet will be able to confirm whether the microchip is indeed situated in the correct spot. If a pet’s microchip shifts under his skin, a complete scan should still be able to locate his microchip ID number. Most veterinary and shelter staff are aware that microchips can migrate and will check the pet’s entire body for a chip if they are brought in as a lost pet.