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Luvmybears
Guest
I don't really know anything about them but I'm moving to Europe and they require your pets to have one. Are they safe enough for chinnies?
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Sugarmama
Guest
We have a few members from the UK here--usernames Ian, and Claire D, they may be able to help you.
They also have their own forums--Ian's is www.chinchillaworld.com and Claire's is www.chinformative.com and someone there may be able to answer your question also.
They also have their own forums--Ian's is www.chinchillaworld.com and Claire's is www.chinformative.com and someone there may be able to answer your question also.
I don't know about in US, but in Canada, they are not yet very useful. The micro chip is used when you lose an animal or get it stolen. Then, if somebody gets it and brings it to the vet, they can scan the chip and see who the real owner is. But most vets do not have these scanning machines and most vets do not scan the pets anyway unless they have a good reason for it. I would think it is safe, but not useful as I mentionned. Probably good for dogs or cats that are worth a lot of money. They use it in birds too sometimes.
equus_peduus
Constantly Confused
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They're safe. Around here, most vets and shelters have the ability to both scan for and implant microchips. However, European microchips are on a different frequency than American microchips, so whoever implants the chip for you will have to specially order an ISO chip for you; they may require you to prepay so that they don't order something that gets used once every three years and then have you back out on them. I would have thought that rodents were exempt from the requirement to be chipped, but *shrug* It's also a fairly good sized needle, so probably it would be best to do it under anesthesia for something as relatively small and potentially wiggly as a chin.
Microchips are primarily useful as identification for if a pet gets lost. Most vets and shelters ought to be able to scan for it, and it should be standard procedure to scan if anyone brings them a found animal. However, microchips can migrate a little, and if the scan area isn't wide enough around the standard implantation spot, sometimes the chip is missed. Mostly probably only useful for dogs and cats at this point, but there are standard implantation spots for most species. Horses and birds are the other two species I know of offhand that are relatively frequently chipped.
Where are you moving to?
Microchips are primarily useful as identification for if a pet gets lost. Most vets and shelters ought to be able to scan for it, and it should be standard procedure to scan if anyone brings them a found animal. However, microchips can migrate a little, and if the scan area isn't wide enough around the standard implantation spot, sometimes the chip is missed. Mostly probably only useful for dogs and cats at this point, but there are standard implantation spots for most species. Horses and birds are the other two species I know of offhand that are relatively frequently chipped.
Where are you moving to?
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Microchips are not routinely placed in chinchillas in the UK and I'm pretty certain that anyone importing them from the US has not needed to have the chins chipped in the past - can I ask where you got the info from? I will check this end for you.
Jeanette
From Q to H
Perhaps where you're from, but here they always scan lost animals, or animals adopted as strays. My dog was found 10 miles away from home and brought back to us because of her microchip! She got off of her leash and took off! Her collar and tags were left behind. If not for the chip, we probably would not have found her!
As for vets not having the scanning device... I have yet to be at a vets that didn't have one! And I'm even talking about places like my home town (it's not even a big city). I don't think that I would go to a vet that was too cheap to buy a scanning device.
Are the chips and insertion needles the same size no matter what species?
The San Diego Humane Society chips all animals that are adopted. Every thing from a horse to a mouse. I picked up a couple of rats from them and was surprised that they had microchips.
equus_peduus
Constantly Confused
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As far as I know, yes. It's dictated by the size of the chip.
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Luvmybears
Guest
I've been trying to find info all over the internet and of course it's mainly concerning dogs and cats. Yet I can't seem to get any info in particular for chins. www.pettravelstore.com has had the best info for me on what I need to move to Greece with my chins and rabbit. It sells the Europe chips and has the paperwork I would need to bring to my vet to fill out. But again, nothing about chins and I just want to make sure I don't get to Greece, having not put chips in them, and be told they can't come in.
Any help anyone can offer will be greatly appreciated. I'm so pressed for time because I'm in Bahrain for 60 days working, and working lots of overtime too. It's been real hard trying to think about everything for my move from the U.S. to Greece in between all the hours I'm working over here.
Contact the Greek Embassy and see what they have to say.
http://www.greekembassy.org/Embassy/content/en/Root.aspx
http://www.greekembassy.org/Embassy/content/en/Root.aspx
lilchinchilla
Well-known member
I agree with Jeanette.... I don't know any vet locally who doesn't have a scanner and they do scan them all the time. In fact one of my dogs, I had no clue had a microchip in him from the breeder, till my vet scanned him.
I'd really suggest talking to someone in Greece with importing chinchillas, about requiring microchips. I haven't personally shipped there, but I've shipped to Austria, Germany, France, Czech Republic, Belgium...to name a few places and there has never been a requirement for microchips in any chinchillas. It's not even mentioned...
I am thinking they might be referring to dogs - which often times airline reps or others often misunderstand and think a chin or chinchilla is a dog. I've had that happen alot, so I wouldn't be surprised if they misunderstood and think you mean a dog. Perhaps if you mention a rodent and double check about the microchip?
I'd really suggest talking to someone in Greece with importing chinchillas, about requiring microchips. I haven't personally shipped there, but I've shipped to Austria, Germany, France, Czech Republic, Belgium...to name a few places and there has never been a requirement for microchips in any chinchillas. It's not even mentioned...
I am thinking they might be referring to dogs - which often times airline reps or others often misunderstand and think a chin or chinchilla is a dog. I've had that happen alot, so I wouldn't be surprised if they misunderstood and think you mean a dog. Perhaps if you mention a rodent and double check about the microchip?
equus_peduus
Constantly Confused
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Definitely talk to the Greeks. That website doesn't seem to be very specific to any species (though I didn't read it very carefully); they seem mostly to be in the business of selling you stuff for your pets - they even have a section to buy the importation forms necessary, when I know at least some of those are available for free from the appropriate country's embassy or website (though admittedly, those free ones don't also come with a "pet passport")
And I had no idea that microchips or the scanners were available to the general public... I have no idea how legitimate those things are. Heh. Though they're probably fine. Most of the vet clinics I've been in have scanners from whatever company they buy most of their chips from (HomeAgain or AVID, generally); I know that both will usually tell you if it's a chip they don't know how to read (the clinic I'm at now has one universal scanner and about three or four that will only do HomeAgain chips and most AVID chips; I've had those scanners tell me to go find the universal scanner a few times).
If you determine that you need a chip, ask your vet - they ought to be able to order you the chip required.
And I had no idea that microchips or the scanners were available to the general public... I have no idea how legitimate those things are. Heh. Though they're probably fine. Most of the vet clinics I've been in have scanners from whatever company they buy most of their chips from (HomeAgain or AVID, generally); I know that both will usually tell you if it's a chip they don't know how to read (the clinic I'm at now has one universal scanner and about three or four that will only do HomeAgain chips and most AVID chips; I've had those scanners tell me to go find the universal scanner a few times).
If you determine that you need a chip, ask your vet - they ought to be able to order you the chip required.
Heather
Well-known member
Be carefull before you go out and microchip, some birds and small animals have been known to chew through the skin to get at an implant, here is an article about other problems they can cause.
Microchip Implants Linked To Animal Tumors In Research Animals
Filed under: Cats, Other Pets, Dogs, National Dog, Cat & Pet Info, News for Cats, Dogs & Owners, Veterinary/Medical — Emily Huh @ 9:51 am
Various veterinary and toxicology studies done since the mid-1990s found that microchip implants were linked to malignant tumors in some lab mice and rats.
“The transponders were the cause of the tumors,” said Keith Johnson, a retired toxicologic pathologist, said in regards to a 1996 study he led at Dow Chemical.
The Associated Press is reporting the results of these studies were not made public by microchip companies or federal regulatory agencies. When the FDA was asked which studies they were aware of, they declined to answer. Microchip companies and even the American Medical Association said they were unaware of these studies.
The studies found that lab mice and rats injected with microchips sometimes developed subcutaneous “sarcomas” — malignant tumors, most of them encasing the implants.
In 1998, a Connecticut study including 177 mice reported cancer incidence to be slightly higher than 10 percent of research animals implanted with microchips.
A 2006 study done in France showed tumors in 4.1 percent of 1,260 microchipped mice.
In 1997, a study in Germany reported cancers in 1 percent of 4,279 mice. The researchers wrote that the tumors “are clearly due to the implanted microchips.”
For some cancer specialists, seeing these results from lab studies is alarming.
“There’s no way in the world, having read this information, that I would have one of those chips implanted in my skin, or in one of my family members,” said Dr. Robert Benezra, head of the Cancer Biology Genetics Program at the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York.
Dr. Cheryl London, a veterinarian oncologist at Ohio State University said tens of thousands of dogs have been chipped. So far, veterinary pathologists have not reported outbreaks of tumors in the area of the neck, where canine implants are mostly done.
The Associated Press reported that there were two published reports about malignant tumors in two chipped dogs. In one incident, the researchers said cancer seemed to be linked to the implant of the microchip. In the other case, the cause of the cancer was uncertain.
She added that there is a need for a 20-year study of microchipped dogs to see the biological effects. Another veterinary oncologist at the National Cancer Institute agreed and said this evidence “does suggest some reason to be concerned about tumor formations.”
Microchip Implants Linked To Animal Tumors In Research Animals
Filed under: Cats, Other Pets, Dogs, National Dog, Cat & Pet Info, News for Cats, Dogs & Owners, Veterinary/Medical — Emily Huh @ 9:51 am
Various veterinary and toxicology studies done since the mid-1990s found that microchip implants were linked to malignant tumors in some lab mice and rats.
“The transponders were the cause of the tumors,” said Keith Johnson, a retired toxicologic pathologist, said in regards to a 1996 study he led at Dow Chemical.
The Associated Press is reporting the results of these studies were not made public by microchip companies or federal regulatory agencies. When the FDA was asked which studies they were aware of, they declined to answer. Microchip companies and even the American Medical Association said they were unaware of these studies.
The studies found that lab mice and rats injected with microchips sometimes developed subcutaneous “sarcomas” — malignant tumors, most of them encasing the implants.
In 1998, a Connecticut study including 177 mice reported cancer incidence to be slightly higher than 10 percent of research animals implanted with microchips.
A 2006 study done in France showed tumors in 4.1 percent of 1,260 microchipped mice.
In 1997, a study in Germany reported cancers in 1 percent of 4,279 mice. The researchers wrote that the tumors “are clearly due to the implanted microchips.”
For some cancer specialists, seeing these results from lab studies is alarming.
“There’s no way in the world, having read this information, that I would have one of those chips implanted in my skin, or in one of my family members,” said Dr. Robert Benezra, head of the Cancer Biology Genetics Program at the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York.
Dr. Cheryl London, a veterinarian oncologist at Ohio State University said tens of thousands of dogs have been chipped. So far, veterinary pathologists have not reported outbreaks of tumors in the area of the neck, where canine implants are mostly done.
The Associated Press reported that there were two published reports about malignant tumors in two chipped dogs. In one incident, the researchers said cancer seemed to be linked to the implant of the microchip. In the other case, the cause of the cancer was uncertain.
She added that there is a need for a 20-year study of microchipped dogs to see the biological effects. Another veterinary oncologist at the National Cancer Institute agreed and said this evidence “does suggest some reason to be concerned about tumor formations.”
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Luvmybears
Guest
Thanks so much for all the information and advice everyone! I will check out the link to the Greek Embassy. I hope I don't have to get any of my animals chipped.. they are quite small and it already worried me prior to reading the article posted above.
lydz
Well-known member
I highly doubt you will need it for Greece. I know Greeks, they could care less about that kind of stiff you will soon learn. And even if they did Greeks break all the rules. They smoke under the no smoking signs at the airport.
Where in Greece are you going to and what kind of job? It's not everyday you hear someone going to Greece. Are you Greek? Do you speak Greek? (sorry, Greeks are also nosy....haha I'm Greek)
Where in Greece are you going to and what kind of job? It's not everyday you hear someone going to Greece. Are you Greek? Do you speak Greek? (sorry, Greeks are also nosy....haha I'm Greek)
lydz
Well-known member
Of course with the EU there may some specific rule but I don't know how close Greece follows those rules. Try the embassy (of they'll even know what chins are) Once you're in Greece though you'll be fine.
FiaSpice
Wheel Cleaner X2
True, I've never heard a lot about it. I knew it existed, but it's not common and not every vet has the scanning machine. It's hard just to get people to buy the medal required by the city (with a number in case the dog get lost), I can't see people micro-chipping their dog.
razberry224
Well-known member
- Joined
- Jan 30, 2009
- Messages
- 101
When I saw this Post, I thought this was great to learn more. I had no idea that it caused Cancer in some of the test animals. I have heard of some of the animals chewing thru there skin and getting the chip out. Also I have heard that their are different kind of chips, and some of the vets scaners will pick up one but not another kind of chip. Not sure if it is 100% true but it is something I was told before.
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Luvmybears
Guest
haha.. it's ok, be nosy. It's good to have someone from Greece to talk to. My husband and I are moving to Chania, Crete. I work for the US Navy and will be working on the base at Souda Bay. Neither of us are Greek nor do we speak it but I'm hopeful that we'll pick up some basics while we're there. I have a co-worker in that office that is Greek and speaks it of course. I'm sure I'll learn a lot from him. He's been very helpful already through email with all my questions and seems excited that I said I definitely want to learn some Greek.
As for the micro chips, I got in touch with someone at the Embassy after reading on their web site in regards to animals. It looks as though dogs, cats and ferrets are the main animals that are under the requirement for rabies vaccination and/or micro chips. I've emailed them to ask if I read that correctly to make sure and am waiting to hear back.
