Are Microchips in Pets Safe?

Are microchips in pets safe? Are veterinariansidentification. However, this is perhaps where the
required by law to report adverse reactions tobiggest misconception comes into play. RDIP, or
vaccines, microchips, or any other veterinaryradio frequency identifications chips, are tiny galls
products? There are several experts on the sidecylinders that are about the size of a grain of rice.
of the safety of microchips that will gladly throwIt contains a radio transmitter as well as a tiny
out the thousands of cats and dogs that havemicrochip with an identification number. When a
had them implanted and have never had any sidescanner is placed over it, it sends out a fluctuating
effects. However, is this entirely true, are themagnetic field that is than picked up by the chips
benefits really worth any potential risks to yourantenna which converts it into electricity.
pet?This is where the problems start, and there are
These are questions that only an owner canseveral of them. Even though most all countries
answer, but there are some facts to considernow have a uniform law requiring that the
before you implant your pet.scanners that are provided can read the different
Despite of all the moral challenges that thisbrands, they may not be effective. There have
technology presents to thousands of peoplebeen several reported cases where pets have
worldwide, it is still going to come down to thehad to be scanned several times before anything
decision of the owner; at least for now. Allregistered. Even if they are properly scanned at a
owners should understand that there are risksrescue shelter, if the database is not up to date
involved with any type of medical function that isor accessible, they are no longer effective. It is
done to your cat or dog, and this is no exception.the responsibility of your veterinary hospital in
To help any owner make the final decision, itmost cases, to properly input your pets
should be based on the facts, not the emotions.identification number and facts into this data base.
It should also be held in this argument the realHowever, all of this also takes into consideration
question; what is the actual purpose ofthat if your pet does become lost, they will be
microchips? In the vast majority of cases,turned into a rescue shelter. Rescue shelters will
owners will make the decision to have their petnot hold cats or dogs for long periods of time,
implanted for one sole purpose; identification ifand if the scanner process does not work
their pet is lost. Then you will have to ask is itproperly, they will not be returned and will be
always reliable.destroyed. If someone finds your pet and decides
Facts:to adopt them on their own, there are currently
Fact One:no laws or any real reason for a veterinarian to
The first fact involving microchips in pets is thescan a dog. In fact, most veterinarians do not
overall safety record involving the process as wellhave the proper scanning equipment to complete
as the end result. Microchips are a relatively newthe process.
process in veterinary medicine, and as such, anyFact Four:
negative results or damages that they cause areThere are several other alternative methods
grouped together with vaccines and otherother than microchips in pets that are very
veterinary products. Because of this, are the trueeffective and safer in accomplishing the
results being reported to the public not only in theidentification process.
United States but worldwide. The AmericanOther methods:
Veterinary Medical Association, in their April 1,Collar tags:
2008 issue, Vol. 232, No. 7 has some ratherThese are old fashioned pet collars that require no
horrifying facts about the process. This reportmicrochip implants, no data base, and have
examines vaccinations, particularity rabiesproven to be extremely effective for decades.
vaccinations.Tags immediately signal any type of shelter or
What is important to understand is the process ofany individual, that indeed this pet has a home. It
reporting dangers and is widely held in theis universally recognized and can be purchased in
veterinary medical community worldwide is theseveral retail stores for less than twenty dollars
fact that extreme under-reporting takes place. Inand holds all the information needed to have your
this report, it listed nearly 10,000 adverse reportscat or dog returned.
that covered all animals vaccinated, and 65% ofTop Tag ID's:
those affected were cats or dogs. It also statesA Top Tag ID consists of a small 64MB flash
in the report that only about one percent of alldrive that comes in a waterproof case and also
serious events are actually reported to the FDA.attaches to your pets collar. The program on this
It goes on to state that using this lack offlash drive contains photos as well as all the
reporting process, it is estimated that the actualpertinent information about both you and your
number of actual adverse effects just to this onepet that are needed to for identification.
vaccination is more likely to be 650,000 or higher.Pet Protector System:
However, microchips in pets are different;The pet protector system is a 24 hour
correct? After all, the number of reportednationwide emergency system that is very similar
adverse reactions is actually very low and they asto Medic Alert. All the vital information about your
such they are much different; or are they?pet is available instantly in the company's
Fact two:database. One simple phone call to a 24 hour
Perhaps the most documented case involvingemergency operator's toll free number easily
microchips in cats and dogs and the adverseproduces all of your pet vital information.
effects does not come out of the United States,Tattoos:
but rather Europe, and especially involvedTattoos have been used also as long as pet
veterinarian reporting in Italy, France, as well ascollars, and are very simple and totally harmless in
the UK. It involves high grade fibrosarcoma, oneany way to your pet. They are a series of
of the mostly deadly forms of cancer in bothnumbers and letters that are tattooed on some
cats and dogs that formed at the site of thepart of your pets body, usually their upper rear
implant. There have also been several reportedleg. Pet shelters and rescue shelters look for
cases of this form of tumor originating at the sitethese before they attempt to scan your pet.
of the implantation in pets in several otherThey can wear off over time and may not be
countries, including several in the United States.accurate if you move, but if that is the case,
However, the real question is how many have notsimply update the tags.
been reported?Summary:
The list of potential health risks of microchips inMicrochips in pets, despite all of the moral
pets does not end with tumors. There have alsocontroversy, have several potential hazards that
been some reports of small dogs and cats thatall owners should consider. The fact that it is not
have hemorrhaged to death after an implant, as itrequired to report all of the adverse effects
is believed that the implants may cause bothshould lead the list of concerns. It is your pet and
abscesses and infection. There have also beenyour decision, but you should consider all of the
reports were the glass from the implanted chipfacts first. Collars have worked for generations of
splitters off and migrate throughout a pets bodyowners and dogs and have absolutely no potential
and as a result, can lead to several otherrisks. They cannot float in your pets system nor
complications.can they cause cancer. It is also virtually
Fact Three:impossible to under report the adverse effects of
The next fact involves the major purpose ofcollars; they have none.
having microchips implanted in your pet;