Pig & Chips (Microchipping for Pets)

Member Name: rolletrog

Product:	Microchipping for Pets
Date:	25/01/09 (314 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: She'll be returned to me

Disadvantages: She'll be returned to me

~~*~~ Microchipping ~~*~~

Long before I'd chosen Pig (I've given up calling her by her real name, Doughnut, (who is the greatest chocolate lab that ever lived) as she's really started living up to her name) I knew she had to be chipped. After all, it's only common sense to mark a valuable item with an identity tag - similar to marking your plasma TV with an ultraviolet pen, only imagine sticking that pen directly into the aerial socket. Perhaps it would be frugal at this point to tell you a wee bit about the ingenuity of micro-chipping.

~~ Chips are good for your critter ~~

In 2007, 30% of strays were reunited with their owners all because of the clever microchip and the number of strays destroyed in that year was down by 15%. In the aforementioned year, I was fortunate enough to expand my CV by taking a micro-chipping course with the lovely people at Peddymark (if you're interested I've included their details below). A lovely gentleman came to the kennels I worked at and 4 of us took the course whereby we were allowed 2 doggies each to practice on (where we got them from was up to us but it's amazing how people will volunteer their precious pooches when it means they'll save a couple of quid). Pretty much any idiot can become a chipper - slightly worrying on the one hand but great that the service is available virtually anywhere and without the vet's fees. I was allocated a lab pup and an enormous malamute - more about them later.

~~ The wondrous equipment ~~

The equipment may look harsh but it's really not too bad (I've had an implant fitted and I didn't cry (ok, so that's a little different but it's as close as I'm going to get)). The first thing you'll notice is an overly large needle - each sealed needle comes with the microchip already within it (which is why it's slightly bigger than if it were only to be used for liquid injections). You see, the microchip itself is only the size of a grain of rice but contains a unique barcode so that your pet can be identified. Attached to the sealed needle packet are four duplicate barcode stickers that match the microchip - the stickers are included so that one can be sent to the Petlog people, one for the Chippers records, one for your official sheet to say the pet has been chipped and the last one for your own records - some people attach them to the pet's vaccination card (a great idea for breeders as they have copies for themselves and for the new owner). This unique barcode information is stored on the massive Petlog National Pet Identification database (I've included the microchip manufacturers that are a part of the Petlog scheme below as there are quite a few different makes). Petlog are the people who man the 24 hour hotline for you and keep the records up to date, that is, providing you tell them the correct details - there's no point in having your pet registered to a previous address - their details are included below too.
Sometimes instead of a normal looking plunger to push the microchip through the needle and into the pet, the implanter may use a kind of gun shaped object - have no fear, it's merely easier for the implanter and solely designed for microchip use so there's nothing for you or Fido to worry about.

~~ It's just a little prick ~~

First off, the area for chipping is cleaned with an antiseptic wipe - the last thing you want to do is introduce infection into the area. Similarly, due to the fact that each needle already contains the microchip, they're sterilised and sealed in a packet before they're used. On a dog or cat, the scruff of the neck is used for the implant site - the actual insertion of the needle can hurt some animals just as an injection would but the scruff of the neck is naturally where the mother picks her pups up and the skin there is supposedly less sensitive - Pig squealed like, well, a stuck pig but others didn't seem to notice it at all. Some animals may bleed a little but the area is wiped with another antiseptic wipe after the injection - the puppy I did first, bled a bit but the malamute was fine, the latter was a lot harder to get the needle into as his skin had toughened over the years and he also swam in the sea a lot which is supposed to make harder skin too - lucky me. The most challenging task was not being the implanter, but being the 'holder' - the animal must be kept as still as possible to avoid the needle coming out the other side of the scruff or from going too far into the body and some puppies are naturally very wriggly! The best advice if taking your baby for their chipping is to knacker them out prior to the event. That's the uncomfortable part over and done with. Once the chip is inserted and the pup has calmed down, a special microchip reader is waved over the area to check the chip is in place and to re-read the number. The chip can 'move' over time especially as an animal grows and may end up somewhere else but decent readers should scan the whole dog and not just the scruff (my vets presumed that Pig wasn't chipped as they had vaguely scanned her, but her chip is now located in her right armpit (not one of my most successful chippings but in my defence she's a pig and it's her fault for growing)).

~~ Aftercare ~~

It's important to let the animal rest afterwards and not to keep poking the chip (you can feel it at first but it's unwise to start fannying around or to let the kids poke it continually as this can dislodge it too). The chip itself will last a lifetime so don't worry that your 16 year old cat is out of date. The implanters will send your form for you but if you move you must tell Petlog of your new details - it's also wise to tell them of a significant change in your animal's appearance such as any amputations etc. as this can dramatically help if there were any quibbles over ownership. There is an additional DNA ownership test that can be done now which will hold up in a court of law as unfortunately, microchippings alone will not should there be a dispute. Despite the fact that Pig is chipped, she must still wear a collar and tag in conjunction with the Control of Dogs 1992 order which must have her name and address on it. Personally this is a pain in the derrière as Pig has lost 4 tags now plus I don't want people to know where she lives and her name if they fancy stealing her and sending a ransom note, but that's the law so there. One thing to note is that, should a member of the general public be unlucky enough to come across Pig, there is nothing for them to see and they may think she is a stray. However, it is the law for them to take her to a vet or dog warden to say they found her and these people should then locate the chip. It's a great invention especially for cats as many don't wear collars.

~~ Pig's Opinion ~~

"It hurt a bit but apparently I am a wuss which I suppose is true as bin-bags do give me the heebie-jeebies. I did my research before I let mummy stab me in such a callous way and I was led a little by peer pressure - over 3.7 millions animals have their records with Petlog and I didn't want to miss out. Plus I love my mummy; even if she did stab me, and I would hate to be thought of as an unloved stray should I go missing."
(- it took Pig ages to type that with her big fat hooves).
It's incredibly important to do everything you can to keep your dog safe and I do (no, really, I'm quite a good dog-owner) but should Pig go missing, I feel happier knowing that she'll be identifiable through her magic barcode.

~~ Helpful chippy info ~~

There's a very informative video on the Battersea.org site telling you all about the importance of microchipping.

Petlog details - find them at www.petlog.org.uk or give them a bell on 0870 606 6751 (open 24/7 forever so you can always call them if you're lucky enough to find a pet or to inform them that Penelope's been missing for over 6 months and that it's not like your tortoise to go off without telling you first (btw, any animal can be chipped but I've only ever done cats and dogs so don't ring me up if you want Gary the Gecko doing)).

Petlog microchip affiliates - Bayer (Tracer), PetID, Identitrack, The Pet Chip Company Ltd, Allflex, Peddymark, Datamars, Eezytrac, Tag All & Jecta.

Peddymark - www.peddymark.com - tells you all about becoming an implanter or finding an implanter near you. Or give 'em a tinkle on 01279 507363.

Some insurance companies offer discounts if your pig is chipped.

The price varies greatly from animal to animal and from company to company - we used to do it for £10 but occasionally the RSPCA or your local re-homing centre may offer it for free or for a donation so have a look around before you plump for the nearest.

It's unusual for a chip to merely stop working (after all, it contains no working parts as such) but should it have been corrupted in some way, ask your vet to check its existence each time you go (you have to have the animal with you!) - it costs them nowt and gives you peace of mind.

If you're worried that no-one will scan them or that, like Pig, the chip is where it shouldn't be, then tags are available that state "I AM CHIPPED - SCAN ME", actually I really ought to get the pig one of these.

Thanks for reading - review will most definitely appear elsewhere on the web under the same name.

Me & Doughnut Jan 2009.
Both wondering how much Doughnut would scan for in Tescos.

Summary: It's a must for any sensible owner.