Microchip Fault

[RoseRed]

I've just had a new owner of one of my pups contact me because she took the puppy to the vet today to get his 12 week vaccinations and the vet done a check of his microchip while he was there and couldn't find it. He spent quite a bit of time looking for it, and even got another microchip out to test that the scanner was working (and the scanner was fine).

I was present at my vets while all of the litter were chipped, so I saw all of them get their chips, and my vet tested each after they were done .... so I have no idea what has gone wrong.

I know that I haven't done anything wrong, but apparently the new owner's vet made out like maybe I was dishonest and they should possibly assume that I hadn't given the puppy it's first vaccination either????? So now I feel really bad just because the missing microchip makes me look dodgy or something

Has anybody else ever had a microchip not work despite being ok when first inserted? Can microchips "fail"?

[WreckitWhippet]

Yep, we searched for a chip for over half an hour with several scanners. We know that it was working at the time the bitch was scanned for a DNA swab and then it couldn't be found a few months later.

[Bilbo Baggins]

Did the vet check it was in after he inserted it??

Ooops just re read OP.

I have heard of them falling out.

Edited July 28, 2010 by Bilbo Baggins

[Parkeyre]

Millie's microchip sits high up on her leg, so maybe it was just well hidden.

[Joan of Arc]

You'd be surprised where chips can end up. Been there when everyone of my pups were chipped, and two years later they found the chip for one boy down his left leg.

[RoseRed]

Oh good (and bad in a way)

I'd always assumed that as long as they worked ok at first, then they would be fine. I didn't realise all this other stuff.

Thanks everybody

[angelsun]

Chips can easily back out of the insertion hole and you would never know it. I've had this happen to me a number of times, until I learned how to avoid this problem. One of the biggest causes of chips backing out is simply petting the puppies too soon after they are done. I chip animals and tell people to NOT pet (rub the area) for at least a couple of days after being inserted. The other thing people do for some reason is feel for the chip (it feels like a grain of rice) and prevent it from grabbing hold with the tissues of the body. Again, don't disturb it for a few days and the odds of it either backing out or moving are lowered dramatically. It's truly amazing how many folks do both of these things and then wonder later on, why the chip has either moved or can't be found.

The technology of the chips today, pretty much eliminates that when scanned, they will not respond. If the chip was scanned PRIOR to insertion, it means that it will work.

[Andisa]

Lizzy was done twice at about 4 months old - half an hour after she was done my daughter found the chip in her mouth, it fell out, vet had to come back and re-do her. Had we not found the chip we probably would not have known for a long time (if ever) that it was gone.

When I took Pink and Hamish in for their hip/elbow xrays it took them ages to find the chip in Hamish - I told them that it had moved, 2 scanners and a good 15 mins later it was found between his chest and elbow. Pink's chip has moved in a similar area too but was easier to find. All 3 dogs were done as pups by the same vet and they were not played with, I was told years ago to leave them alone so we did. They were chipped around 10 - 12 weeks old and xrays were done about 19 months old.

They are not perfect, I advise pet owners to have them scanned each time the go to the vet so they can keep an eye on where it is and that it is still working.

Another reason to buy myself a scanner.

Edited July 28, 2010 by Andisa

[Guest Doglady0419]

Out of 3 litters I have had 2 mishaps.....

The first was the day after insertion when the Ophthamologist couldn't find it.....this was replaced. The second from the same litter was when the pup was presented for his second vaccination. This also was replaced.....The vet that inserted the chips informed me that he has happened repeatedly and the chip company was informed everytime....dogs being sent overseas had chips working right up to the time of being presented for customs and then the chip failed to work.

The vet that inserted the chips in my third litter informed that the chips now have been improved so they don't move from where they were inserted. I haven't had any issues since....

I have my dogs checked whenever possible to ensure they still work and can be found on the dogs....

Technology! always a pain when not functioning as was meant to.

[becks]

Chips do move. It is also worth getting another scanner to find the chip, sometimes one brand of scanner can struggle to fid a chip, change scanner and the chip is easily picked up.

Did the vet scan the whole dog or just go over the shoulders?

[angelsun]

I agree when people say to get your own scanner. GOOD investment without a doubt. Yes some chips will still move, but that is based on a number of things...who inserts them...I've watched some folks do it and a year later not be surprised to hear the chip is gone or moved down a leg or around to under the chest. Some pups don't do themselves any favours either as they cause the chips to back out or not 'grab' by the tissues under the skin.

The good part about this, is if one does go missing, it's not a big trauma to get another inserted and try again. For all the stories of the chips gone astray, there are thousands of chips that stay exactly where we put them. It sure as hell beats tattoos (which I used to do) and worse.....nose printing! (OMG that dates me!)

[freundhund]

Yes, microchips come out in newly done puppies, my vet had to microchipp one of my puppy's in the surgery 4 times before the chip stayed in the puppy. The microchip popped out, straight away, by the time we had done the whole litter, we rescanned and found this puppy had lost the microchip. Another dog I own has its microchip in its elbow.

I was at a talk on the weekend given by a vet, who told us it is illegal for a vet to double chip a dog, there is a large fine!!! Also the vet commented that quite a few dogs lose their microchips.

Please advise your puppy buyer that microchips do fall out as puppies play and mouth each other.

[Gretel]

When I picked up a dog from the pound not long ago they chipped her. She was very smelly and dirty and I commented that she was going to have a nice bath. The woman who chipped her told me not to bath her as they shouldn't be done after chipping. I never knew that!

[RoseRed]

Chips do move. It is also worth getting another scanner to find the chip, sometimes one brand of scanner can struggle to fid a chip, change scanner and the chip is easily picked up.

Did the vet scan the whole dog or just go over the shoulders?

I'm not sure becks, the owner just said that the vet spent quite a while scanning and couldn't find it. I'll let her know to get him to check ALL over.

Also I rang my vet this morning to ask them about it, and they said sometimes not all scanners work on all chips, but a multi-scanner should. So I guess it depends what type of scanner the other vet has. I'll have to ask the new owner about that too.

But as some of you have pointed out, the chip could have fallen out.

Thanks so much for sharing your own experiences

[asal]

yes all of the above can happen, n i too have seen the chips pop back out, weird really.

had one pup yes we finally found the chip, but who would have thought a chip could end up at the base of an ear??????

another has it now half and inch below their left elbow?????

[Miss Danni]

We have had one chip go missing in a puppy after she went to her new home. She was re-chipped and I received a copy of the new microchip info for my records from her owner.

Realistically, animals should not be chipped until they are 6 months, then chips would not go astray. Of course, legislation ignores reality, so we can only do our best! I advise our puppy buyers to have their dogs scanned every time they take them to the vet, because you never know!

[Andisa]

We have had one chip go missing in a puppy after she went to her new home. She was re-chipped and I received a copy of the new microchip info for my records from her owner.

Realistically, animals should not be chipped until they are 6 months,then chips would not go astray. Of course, legislation ignores reality, so we can only do our best! I advise our puppy buyers to have their dogs scanned every time they take them to the vet, because you never know!

Not necessarily, I know a few dogs who were done as adults and the chips have still moved - luck of the draw really.

[angelsun]

We have had one chip go missing in a puppy after she went to her new home. She was re-chipped and I received a copy of the new microchip info for my records from her owner.

Realistically, animals should not be chipped until they are 6 months,then chips would not go astray. Of course, legislation ignores reality, so we can only do our best! I advise our puppy buyers to have their dogs scanned every time they take them to the vet, because you never know!

Not necessarily, I know a few dogs who were done as adults and the chips have still moved - luck of the draw really.

Agreed...I've had a few of my own, done as older dogs when chips became more readily available to help back up their tattoos, and had them move on me.

[Bilbo Baggins]

My oldest dog, 15.3 years young had hers done as a 2 year old so about 1997, it was an earlier type of chip which apparently had a tendency to move.

It is down her shoulder heading for her leg.

[angelsun]

That's the thing as well...chips have indeed changed and they are more prone to staying put compared to their earlier models, but they are not foolproof yet.

Edited July 29, 2010 by angelsun