Weighing the Risks and Benefits
All throughout the world, more and more pets are microchipped each year as owners become aware of this choice. Sadly, questions about whether microchips might cause cancer keep coming up. We’ll discuss what a microchip is, what the study says, whether or not microchipping your pet is a secure method of identification, and whether the benefits outweigh the negatives.
How do chips operate?
Your pet will have a microchip implanted by your veterinarian, which is a tiny (about the size of a rice grain) electronic chip protected by glass. This chip, also referred to as a transponder, turns on when a scanner passes over the area. The radio waves that the scanner produces turn on the chip. The chip transmits to the scanner a unique identification number that is shown on the scanner’s screen. When your pet is taken to a shelter or veterinary office after becoming lost, the animal is promptly examined for a microchip. You can find your pet if your contact information is correct.
The Location of a Microchips
Since a microchip is so little, it may be implanted into almost any animal at any age. The tiny chip is injected beneath the skin with a large hypodermic needle. Some dog owners decide to hold off on spaying or neutering their pet until the appointment is arranged because they are worried the large needle will hurt their dog. There is no other way to get your pet back to you if they go lost than this. Once it is configured, make sure to register it with information such as your name, phone number, and address. It is usually advised to get a microchip implanted as soon as possible since it enhances the chance that owners and lost pets may be reunited.
What Results Do Studies Show?
The American Veterinary Medical Association:
- The British Small Animal Veterinary Association (BSAVA) maintains a database on the detrimental effects of microchips. Since the database’s creation in 1996, almost 4 million animals have been microchipped, yet just 391 adverse reactions have been recorded. The migration of the microchip from the original site of implantation was the most prevalent of these reactions, but tumor formation was much less frequent.
- Earlier reports of mice and rats with microchip implantation developing cancer exist. However, the majority of the animals were being used for cancer research at the time the tumors were found, and the breeds of rats and mice being used in the study were known to be more prone to the illness.
- It has been claimed that two dogs and two cats have tumors connected to microchips, however in at least one dog and one cat, the tumor could not be clearly connected to the microchip itself, indicating that it may have been caused by something else.
Using chips is it safe?
Currently, only self-reported incidents of adverse responses to microchips exist in the US. However, based on research from the UK, the AVMA claims that the risk to pets is extremely low and will be well outweighed by the benefit of finding a missing pet. As a result, the AVMA recommends microchips for secure permanent identification.
Are the benefits outweighing the risks?
Yes, it is the solution. But even so, we’ll point out a few of the potential risks.
Benefits
- A microchip may be implanted quickly and easily.
- It provides identification that is constantly there and cannot be erased, made unreadable, or lost.
- Millions of animals have been microchipped without any significant problems being noted.
- The most significant advantage is that thousands of misplaced dogs have been brought back to their owners by means of their registered microchips. With the right scanner, they can be read anywhere in the world and are built to last the entire lifespan of your pet.
Risks
- Risk of injury or infection
- Rarely does a microchip depart from its original location.
- In addition, as was already said, there hasn’t been much tumor growth seen where microchips have been implanted.
The following factors
When enrolling the microchip in your pet, be sure to include a working phone number and address. But by the time they realize they’ve been poked, it’s already over since it happens so quickly.
Ensure that your pet has the microchip implanted by a doctor. Take advantage of “Check the Chip Day” on August 15th by visiting your veterinarian to examine the functionality of your pet’s microchip. Furthermore, now is a great time to update any important information.
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