Those of you who microchipped your dogs...

[steelefx4]

What company did you use? I want to get my new GSP pup microchipped. I don't know how they work exactly, so I want to make sure that whichever company I go with it will be readable anywhere in the US as it is likely that I will be transferred to another region of the US at some point...military life at its best!

Jake

[AHGSP]

Whichever brand you choose, choose the ISO Standard chips. I personally chip with the AKC CAR chips. They're just slightly more expensive than the "bargain" chips.

[steelefx4]

Thanks for the info...since the chip you mention..."AKC CAR"...has AKC in the name, I would assume that it is endorsed or produced by the AKC?

[Munster]

AVID has been around for ever. Makes me lean towards them.
Home again is another.
ResQ is another.

One of them charges a monthly fee though and one charges an activation fee. DOnt remember which.

Important thing to remember is to update info.Have several back up numbers. I think that is where most go wrong.

[steelefx4]

looked up that AKC CAR program and microchips...any suggestions on where to go to get these? I have the pup getting his shots at Petsmart and would assume that they offer these although after scouring their website for anything microchip related, I have yet to find any info on it the process at all...

[mountaindogs]

I have all of them, sort of by accident. Avid took a LONG time to get the paperwork back.

[kninebirddog]

I used to order AVIDS but now I order ProID

You can read up on the different companies here http://www.microchipidsystems.com/

[wems2371]

I just had a dog chipped with Home Again, although it wasn't completely by choice. Dr. who did her OFA xrays said she HAD to be chipped for it. I was pretty sure he was wrong, since OFA's form said "tattoo or microchip (if any)". I questioned it, so he stepped out of the room for 2 minutes and supposedly called OFA, and said that's the way it was. I was 2.5 hours from home and it took 2 weeks to get that appointment, so I did it. I didn't have time to research chips or anything, and the radiologist didn't even know what brand the clinic used, so I hope I spent my money on a good one.

Not sure where the H.A. form went, but I think it was $10 to activate and then $15 yearly subscription.

[kninebirddog]

Dogs do not HAVE to be chipped for OFA...I do not get where some vets have twisted this....at this time it is AKC that requires a dog to be permanently ID'd and vet verified in order to have the OFA as part of dogs Public record IE that it will go on dogs pedigrees and registration

you can verify this http://www.offa.org/pi.html

Dogs without permanent identification are assigned a NOPI suffix to the end of their OFA numbers, dogs with acceptable permanent ID are assigned a PI suffix, and dogs with VERIFIED permanent identification are assigned a VPI suffix.

However, only those dogs with VERIFIED PERMANENT IDENTIFICATION VIA MICROCHIP OR TATTOO will have their OFA hip and elbow information transmitted to the AKC for inclusion on AKC pedigrees and registration materials.

[Ricky Ticky Shorthairs]

I just had a dog chipped with Home Again, although it wasn't completely by choice. Dr. who did her OFA xrays said she HAD to be chipped for it. I was pretty sure he was wrong, since OFA's form said "tattoo or microchip (if any)". I questioned it, so he stepped out of the room for 2 minutes and supposedly called OFA, and said that's the way it was. I was 2.5 hours from home and it took 2 weeks to get that appointment, so I did it. I didn't have time to research chips or anything, and the radiologist didn't even know what brand the clinic used, so I hope I spent my money on a good one.

Not sure where the H.A. form went, but I think it was $10 to activate and then $15 yearly subscription.

I've used HA for years. No problems yet. The yearly subscription is deceiving. That is for the premium type service. The initial fee will put your chip on their database for life.

Doug

[Benny]

In addition to all the good stuff above, please call your County Animal Services (the pound), and double check with them on their recommendations. Actually you can get it done their usually at very good price. ***The county will be the one that picks your dog up off the street...not any of these companies stationed in Detroit/India.

I used to work at our county dog jail, and believe me or not, some of the chips wouldn't show on our scanner. I learned that from an owner one afternoon that came in and was so thankful she'd chipped her dog with some high dollar company, I hapened to be the handler that did the intake on that dog and the only way I found to contact her was the dogs 3 year old county registration tag on his collar. "what chip?" she was not pleased.

Maybe technology has caught up though, I do know we picked up MOST chips.

[wems2371]

Yeah, I came home and researched it, to see if I was crazy. I actually have discharge instructions, which arrived a week later in the mail , that say:

"Due to OFA regulations, Brandi was in need of being microchipped before submission of the radiographs, so a microchip was placed under the skin between her should blades."

I have been sent a comment sheet by the veterinary medical center, so I think I will return it, with a printout from OFA's page. I had considered chipping her, and am glad her OFA will show on her AKC records, but I'm not happy that it was done based on misinformation.

Doug, that is great to know! I wondered what would happen if I slipped on reregistering.

[nikegundog]

I just had a dog chipped with Home Again, although it wasn't completely by choice. Dr. who did her OFA xrays said she HAD to be chipped for it. I was pretty sure he was wrong, since OFA's form said "tattoo or microchip (if any)". I questioned it, so he stepped out of the room for 2 minutes and supposedly called OFA, and said that's the way it was. I was 2.5 hours from home and it took 2 weeks to get that appointment, so I did it. I didn't have time to research chips or anything, and the radiologist didn't even know what brand the clinic used, so I hope I spent my money on a good one.

Not sure where the H.A. form went, but I think it was $10 to activate and then $15 yearly subscription.

Wems, someone else has already mentioned it, but there are some companies that charge you a yearly subscription for PREMIUM SERVICES that you don't need. If you have a Home Again chip there is no need the pay the yearly premium, your chip info is available without paying the subscription. I believe Avid is the same way but I'm not 100% positive.

[Sharon]

Microchipping may save a dog but it's not all it's cracked up to be in my opinion.

If someone finds your lost dog and keeps it, as happened to me, chipping didn't help.
Not all animal control places have a microchip reader.
Chips migrate on the dogs' body.

I'm still microchipping my dogs, but realize it's noth the whole answer.

[tahi193]

I used ResQ because that is the brand the veterinarian recommended. The local humane society here won't microchip dogs who aren't spayed/neutered. One thing that bothered me about my pup's chip is that a vet tech implanted it. I'm sure she was deemed qualified by the veterinarian but it still bothered me a little. That's a BIG needle going very close to a lot of nervous tissue.

[sully511]

I have used Home Again with no problems and as stated above, the yearly fee is not necessary. If you want help with making posters and stuff if your dog is lost, then yes do the yearly fee. My Brittany got chipped with the AKC CAR one. I am not pleased at all!! His chip, implanted where they are supposed to be above the shoulder blades has migrated and is now on his chest. It's literally 2 inches above his sternum, on his ribs. If he gets lost and happens to be scanned, I'm not sure his chip will be found..... The Home Again ones are supposed to stay put or very little migration because of the design of the casing.

[RoostersMom]

Our shelter uses Home Again and charges $30 for the chip "installation" for lack of a better word. I am absolutely in favor of chips and all 11 of our dogs have them now. They didn't all have them prior to the tornado in Joplin, where I went down to work a few days after the tornado - and I will tell you, chips ABSOLUTELY are worth their weight in gold in an emergency like that. Chipping and crate training....the two things that I will never neglect to do with any pet I own again. The chipped dogs were reunited with owners so much quicker than the non-chipped ones.

[prairiefirepointers]

We microchip our dogs and clients dogs on request with HomeAgain chips as they are not affiliated or linked to the HSUS.

[thedogmother]

I have used Home Again with no problems.

[jimssetters]

I agree with Sharon, your dog has to be found by someone honest. If this was trackable by GPS it would be worth the money. I once found a Chocolate Lab pup in Kansas, we had it checked for a chip but found nothing. The vet asked me if we wanted to check. If iam dishonest i just say no and be on my way. If anyone on here knows of trackable chips let the rest of us know.

[kninebirddog]

Most people will try and have a dog checked for a chip...Only big problem is when an owner doesn't spend the 20 or 25 bucks to register the chip in their name

Thieves are thieves but I would much rather take a chance on that chip to helping to return my dog one way or another then not have it at all

I do know where a chip help return a picked up dog that had owners name and number on the collar and the dog got away from the person and animal control picked the dog up scanned and the rightful owner 9 months later got his dog back...With out that chip that would have never happened