Vet P.O.V. No pet left behind: How to make sure microchips get our pets back home

The pet microchip industry is getting a boost from the pet owning public’s increased interest in keeping their pets close. Nonetheless, it’s the opinion of this veterinarian that the industry––and the product itself––is suffering serious growing pains as the pet owning market’s demand matures beyond what the current, lowly microchip can reasonably supply.

For microchips to do what their manufacturers and marketers say they do, they need to conform to the basic standards for any medical device. In other words, they must be 1) safe and 2) effective.

Here’s a brief discussion of what that means in the case of the microchip:

Safety

1-A very low rate of tissue reaction

2-A very low severity of any adverse reactions

The microchip industry has conquered #1 (a surprisingly low percentage of pets experience any apparent effects), but it has not yet credibly addressed #2. Though only one confirmed case of microchip-associated fibrosarcoma is currently on the books, the question of cancer-causing microchips remains to be seriously addressed by the industry.

It’s my view that grossly negative findings are insufficient for the general public without studies indicating the absence of any histopathological changes to the microchip sites for a variety of different brands in a significant group of studied animals.

Efficacy

1-The microchip must not migrate (move from its desired location)

2-The microchip must survive in working order at least 15 years in any pet

3-Any microchip must be readable by all scanners

4-The microchip must be easily readable in all patients

5-Veterinarians must scan every new pet for a microchip and annually, thereafter, to ensure proper working order

6-Shelters and rescues must scan every found animal and implant a microchip pre-adoption

7-Anyone implanting a microchip must ensure registration by keeping records of the microchip number, pet and owner (as for rabies vaccines)

8-All pet owners must be informed of their responsibility to keep registration information current

9-A centralized registry for pet microchip information must be established to ensure information is not lost or deleted upon dissolution of any one registry

Lofty goals, right? More so when you consider that NONE of them is currently a reality––nor do I expect any of these problems to imminently disappear.

Some are technical, and may well be solved by future generations of the microchip product (though I’m currently unaware of any major research and development in these areas). Others are political, and may find solutions in either industry collaboration (unlikely, given the current state of the industry’s attitude towards competition and protectionism) or government regulation (possible, especially with AVMA pressure).

Ultimately, however, making microchips more effective will more than likely start and end with us––those of us on the ground working to make this currently inefficient technology more usable. To that end, I’ve prepared a list of what each group of users can do to make microchips work better for them and the animals they represent:

Shelter/rescue workers

1-Stay on top of recent literature that suggests the most universal kind of scanners and most technically effective microchips. (Here's a discussion of the recent studies.)

2-Use at least two different kinds of universal scanners on all pets.

3-Scan all pets in accordance with studies indicating the prescribed pattern for ideal microchip readability.

4-Scan all pets over all parts of the neck, trunk and forelimbs.

5-Scan all overweight pets twice as diligently (as overweight animal have a higher risk factor for microchip migration and poor readability).

6-Implant most universal, most readable microchip brands in all pets pre-adoption.

7-Ensure the microchip is still readable upon exit.

8-Keep detailed registration records for all pets (all numbers and names on file for a minimum of 15 years).

9-Counsel pet owners on the importance of keeping microchip records current. Show them how to do this.

Veterinarians

1-All of the above also applies, though the timing of scanning is different:

2-Hospital policy should dictate that all new pets be scanned thoroughly.

3-Pets’ microchip numbers must be recorded in their file.

4-Annual exams should include scanning to ensure continued microchip readability and appropriate location.

5-Ideally, veterinarians should investigate the legitimacy of new pets’ ownership status via microchip registration, though no legal liability should result should veterinarians fail to take on this onerous step. (Here's something on this emerging issue.)

Pet owners

1-Pet owners should choose their microchips wisely based on their pets’ travel activities, typical location and local shelter technology.

2-Pet owners should maintain their pets’ microchip records in a dedicated file.

3-Pet owners should call the microchip registry annually to ensure the appropriate information is still on file.

4-Pets should be kept lean, in accordance with the findings that demonstrate that pets’ microchips are less readable in overweight pets.

5-Pets owners should ensure their veterinarians scan their pets at least once a year to ensure continued readability and location of the microchip.

OK, so I think that’s enough about microchips for one week. What say you?

May 5th, 2009

Add Comment32 Comments

Dr. Khuly,

Are you saying that some veterinarians don't always check pets for microchips to make sure they're owned by the person who brings them in? Aren't microchips meant to help STOLEN pets get back home again, also? How can veterinarians not do this?

Carrie May 5th, 2009 03:19:13 PM

Carrie: For veterinarians to check and see if every pet is owned by the person registered to the chip would be a complex process. First, we would have to call the microchip company and let them know that we have a suspicion about an owner's true status with respect to the pet. If the pet is not registered to the owner, we'd have to ask the client why the pet is registered to someone else. Did they find the pet? Was the pet given to them? Why does he have a microchip registered to X person?

That's awfully nosy. Sure, I'd want a veterinarian to do it if MY pet were stolen, but it's a lot to ask of an individual veterinarian. To actually serve as de facto police is not exactly our role.

How I approach it is to take a basic history. Suspicious cases will almost always reveal themselves to you without your actually having to have a policy in place that tries to weed out offenders. For example, just asking where x pup was sourced or asking about a vaccine history can produce incredibly valuable information in the owner's responses.

Dr. Patty Khuly May 5th, 2009 03:28:38 PM

Gee whiz, I've had my one and only microchipped Canadian-bred Scottie "Ike" for 5 years and forget to ask to have his chip scanned, to even see if it works, let alone where it is.

Canada requires microchips on all puppies before placement & registration

Barbara A. Albright/NH May 5th, 2009 03:46:56 PM

Looked around the week was gone . . Worked my fingers to the bone, I should've known That the struggle I had faced wasn't over . . Drama won't leave me alone . . When the world all around me gives me every reason to faint My first and the last real defense is to stand and say

Next subject ;-)

Evet May 5th, 2009 04:12:04 PM

I agree it would be ideal for vets to scan the pets of ALL new clients, but I just don't see it happening. I don't do it myself unless something in the history spurs me to.

JCB May 5th, 2009 10:05:52 PM

Make sure the complete scans include finishing the whole body even after a chip is found. I've heard of pets with multiple chips for many reasons including chip migration, pet originally born/purchased where 1 brand of chip is common then moving to another place where a different chip is most common so has one of each....

kabbage May 6th, 2009 02:56:22 AM

FYI

`Canada requires microchips on all puppies before placement & registration`

Not true.

Chips are optional except in certain city bylaws.

PB`S of course must be chipped but mutts are exempt.

Some bylaws require cats to be chipped. Not every municipality says so.

Most rescues and shelters do Chip.

Pounds dont.

Heather May 6th, 2009 08:48:43 AM

I am more confused than ever. Should I microchip or not? I have been seriously considering microchipping one of my cats because he does enjoy going outside. But, after reading this I am wondering if I am wasting my time and money. What is the point of putting my pet through the process if in the end, vets don't scan, shelters don't scan, the chip may or may not work, and the chip may or may not move from the original location, making it hard to find should someone bother to look for it.

Then there is the next issue. If I should opt to microchip my cat, how can I be sure that the chip that is actually implanted can be read by any and all scanners. Frankly, this is very, very discouraging. I think I will wait a bit before proceeding with my plans to chip the cat.

MariaL May 6th, 2009 09:54:29 AM

I don't have my cats chipped for one simple reason....the vets in our area don't routinely scan dogs even, and more rarely cats, particularly if they don't look like a purebred something.

While the shelters in the area do scan all dogs, I'm not so sure they scan cats on a regular basis.

If that were to change I would have my kitties chipped in a moment. If I had a dog I'd probably chip it.

cl May 6th, 2009 06:57:15 PM

A chip isn't a guarantee, because there's no way to control the behavior of other people--but your pet has a significantly better chance of getting back to you, if lost, with a chip than without one. And if you discover that someone has adopted your missing pet, the chip can prove ownership, where a long-lost set of tags can't.

Lis May 6th, 2009 10:11:04 PM

Out of curiosity, has anyone yet produced a microchip that's shielded from magnets? Because I know of several dogs whose chips have been erased by magnetic collars. Unfortunately the risk doesn't seem to be mentioned in the literature for the chips or the collars.

Anyone else come across this problem?

Kiziuk May 11th, 2009 08:43:25 PM

As someone who had a stolen puppy returned to them thanks to a microchip, I'll always be grateful to what this technology was able to accomplish for us.

Our story --

http://www.bullmarketfrogs.com/articles/ruby.htm

That said, they also always wear a collar with a tag with our information on them when we are out and about. I like to cover both bases, just in case.

WRT Canadian requirements for chipping -- the Canadian Kennel Club requires ALL CKC registered puppies and dogs to be permanently identified. This can be by either tattoo, or microchip.

FrogDog Blog - a French Bulldog Breeder's Blog

FrogDogz May 12th, 2009 05:32:30 PM

Once you delve into the topic of microchip implants you will understand there are serious problems associated with the microchip implant, scanner and databases - not to mention that the ultimate goal of microchip implants is to track everything and everyone everywhere. To learn more about microchip implants, visit the website that was created for Léon, the French Bulldog who developed a fibrosarcoma at the site of his microchip implant -- http://www.noble-leon.com/index.html. Also, watch the video "IBM, Verichip, and the Fourth Reich." It is available at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x2udoNmQkR4

NL May 14th, 2009 05:16:05 PM

SCIENTIFIC STUDIES REGARDING MICROCHIP-INDUCED SARCOMAS (CANCER) AVAILABLE AT: http://www.noble-leon.com/resourcesAdvanced/microchips.html SEE ALSO: http://www.antichips.com/faq/index.html

CR May 15th, 2009 08:11:15 AM

1. All my cats are microchipped and they all wear collars, whether they go outside or not. I keep extra tags and extra collars on hand so I don't have to wait for new ones when the inevitable loss occurs. The chips are relatively new but I've had them all re-checked on follow-up visits and plan to have them checked at least yearly. Yes, I think, the vet (or vet tech) should incorporate chip-checking into the yearly checkup routine but it's also up to me to make sure it gets done.

2. I consider it my responsibility to make sure the vet scans any stray animal I bring in. I also put ads in the paper and leaflets around the neighborhood whenever I find a stray animal. That's what I would want done if someone found one of my animals.

3. All this would be an order of magnitude easier if the companies that make the chips would do the right thing and adopt a standard chip that can be read by all readers. This isn't a video tape recorder, it's a life we are dealing with here, several lives, really - the animal and the humans that love it.

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