Microchip

[Mhyles30]

Revival Animal Health sent me a catalog and they are selling microchips, this made me wonder if there are breeders here who do their own microchips. If you do, which one do you use and what are the benefits of doing it yourself?

Thanks
-Mhyles

[Jac]

Ugh, I wish I could do it...it is quite expensive...but I am a coward and those needles are huge! I have a tough enough time with their shots!
Nope, the vet does that for us.

[Maureen]

Hi Maila, nice to see you posting...I've been quite absent from here myself since our move. (ugh).

There are lots of breeders who do their own microchips but the initial investment is hefty, since you have to buy an inventory of chips and the scanner. Most breeders I've read on forums recommend a universal scanner just to be sure. I can't bring myself to dig that big needle in the back of a puppy! I know it's ok and the puppy needs it, but I guess that's where my wimpy streak starts.

I go with my vet's choice; they use the Bayer "ResQ" chips, because they are reasonable and the registration is a ONE TIME fee. My vets got mad at home again for having an annual fee option, since (according to my vets) it plays on the fear that if the pet owners don't take that option they might not get the service if their pet is lost.
http://resq.petparents.com/

[Jac]

Thanks, Maureen! I have never heard of this brand...looks great. I will try to get a vet that uses ResQ brand...I like the ISO aspect. I'd love to buy a scanner...do you own one?

[Maureen]

nope! I don't own a scanner and I don't put microchips in our puppies cuz I can't bear to do it. I guess it could be done when dewclaws are done but I haven't made that a practice - yet.

but I'm a wimp!

[Jac]

I'm with you...I can't bring myself to inject that huge needle into their tender skin!
Gosh, I have even had some trouble giving shots if the needle isn't tiny enough!

[MaxandMe]

my vet charges $26 to inject a microchip.......i hate needles hahaha

[Jac]

Man, it's $40 here!

[Calimom]

I don't remember what I paid. The vet offered to do it at the time when Cali was spayed, so it was part of the total bill.

[Kendra NVL]

we do our own. You actually dont use a needle, I cant remember what the technical medical term is but it is not a needle.. It is a V shaped razor type thing that makes slit in the skin.

We get our from Lambert Vet Supply / Lambriar; we buy Home Again chips for $10, we have a scanner, which is very important to have. Contrary to recent press Home Again does have a ONE time fee plan and a monthly fee plan. They did not do away with their one time fee plan.

We do our puppies when they are 3 days old.

[Jac]

Thanks, Kendra, that makes sense that it would not be a needle...do you ever have issues like worrying about the chip going into or through a blood vessel? (I struggle with the shots and pulling the plunger back slightly to be sure I'm not in a vein...)
Have you ever had a problem with the chipping of puppies?

[Kendra NVL]

Jac, We pull the skin up to make a tent and go in... it is to big to go into a blood vessel, the applicator could nick a vessel but with normal clotting on a healthy dog it wont hurt it.

Cathy, I have had the chip move and it is ok the reader can still pick it up, the way you scan a dog is to run the scanner down the back starting at the head to the tail the down the front legs and sides.... if it is there it will read it.

[Mhyles30]

My former vet used Home Again and the buyers are fine registering the chip. The last litter had Bayer "ResQ" chips just like Maureen's. The buyers did not need to pay for the registration but I could not find this chip available for breeders so they can do it themselves. I paid $37.00 per puppy for the chips.

-Maila