Well this is news to me! I have searched on here but found nothing.

I haven't heard about this. I just saw a vets advert in the local paper telling me. It's law that all dogs have to be microchipped from 6 April 2016. Hefty fine if you don't get it done.

My poor old boy will be 17 this year and I don't think I can put him through it to be honest. He hates going to the vets at the best of times. He doesn't go out of the garden these days as he is so creaky and senile.

Microchipping is a quick and fairly painless procedure. It's little more then an injection. If you are concerned I would speak to your local vets without your dog at first

Please don't do it. Is your dog going to stray? Who will know? In any case just in case a random stranger runs up to you with a scanner in the street, you would likely get an opportunity to have it done rather than an immediate fine.
http://www.pets4homes.co.uk/pet-advi...16-onward.html
There have been health risks asociated with microchipping. It's a tiny negligible risk but it's a risk nonetheless.
http://www.chipmenot.org.uk/news.asp
My dog is chipped but If I knew then what I know now I wouldn't have done it. There is zero chance of her straying anyway..
If I get another dog I will NOT be having it microchipped law or not.

Thank you mrsgrumpy. he is so thin and you can feel all his bones. He has always been a lean dog and not bothered much about food but now he's very old he can't keep weight on. His eating habits haven't changed, he's not messing or peeing in the house so in control in that department, it's just he's very old and frail.

I would worry that he doesn't have enough meat on him to get a microchip in.

I do believe this legislation is a great idea but I would not in your circumstance have a dog chipped, there must be some leeway surely for very elderly or ill dogs ?

I can't imagine everyone with a dog will even know about this new regulation, let alone go and get it done. I wouldn't worry - it would only be a problem if your dog went awol, and that's not going to happen.

We had our dog microchipped at the same time as her spaying operation, so that she wouldn't have the discomfort. We were told it had to be done, so we didn't really think of refusing. Now we've got a new pup, and will probably do the same with her, but I do worry about the potential dangers.

Strange - I spend a lot of time on cat forums, but have never come across any hint that chipping cats might be problematic. Do dogs react differently to cats?

I also think not to worry with an older dog who is only left out in garden. This is only for dogs that might stray, they will not have people going around seeing if your dog is chipped.

The link posted above states that microchips have been linked to cancer at the site of implant in rats and mice, and it's also possible for the chip to migrate around to different parts of the body. That's cause for concern, I think.

That website was using a 2007 report in the Washington Post which was about chipping humans, not dogs.
Chip implants linked to animal tumours

But the studies done seem to have been a couple of decades ago - I think the modern glass encapsulated transponders are much less likely to result in a reaction. Also as it states in the article, mice are more susceptible to cancer than we are and it only mentions one dog cancer case (and a second 'maybe') even though tens of thousands of dogs had been chipped by then.

Mind you, I do think this law is rather a sledgehammer to crack a nut and sadly I can see the authorities are far more likely to come down on some old granny with her pug than a massive skinhead with his rotty.

It was announced well over a year ago. Our dogs are all done but I don't think I'd be rushing to put an older dog through it. Apparently they will give you 28 days to have it done should it come to anyone's attention that it hasn't been. I really can't see why anyone would know. Vets don't have to scan so the chances of anyone looking are remote and he's hardly going to be straying is he?

Ah, I see - well that's a relief! I guess we can't help being anxious about our little darlings.

http://www.petmd.com/blogs/dailyvet/...et_safety-5320

http://www.noble-leon.com/index.html

Oh and here's one for the 'catties'.
http://abc7.com/pets/muffin-receives...rochip/370745/

Every medical procedure has a risk. For example every vaccination is a risk v benefit analysis.
Generally we are better off because of these procedures.
But in your case OP I wouldn't be taking even the tiniest risk. You have nothing to gain and everything to lose.

In Wales it has been mandatory for all dogs to be chipped since 1st March last year,, the vets were offering it done for free under a scheme run by Dog's Trust. My dog was chipped when she was given her second vaccination as a puppy, it's a really straightforward procedure, like being given a slightly bigger that normal injection. It's given at the back of the neck, but it can move, my dog's has moved down into her shoulder, I can feel it like a grain of rice under her skin. The chances of a chip causing health problems is tiny and like any procedure you have to weigh up the pro's and cons. In the OP's case I wouldn't, as a 17 yr old dog that never leaves the garden isn't going to be getting lost, but for a young active dog I personally would always have it chipped, the risk of danger from the chip is virtually nil compared to the much bigger risk of a dog going missing and being rehomed or put to sleep because its mistaken for a stray when it's owner can't be found.

I can't understand how I missed this news then because I didn't hear of it until yesterday.

I have been taking our old dog to vets, going into pet food suppliers and know loads of dog owners but haven't seen or heard a thing about it.

Thank you everybody. I don't think I'll bother with my old boy now.

I know how you feel. A few years ago (6 years maybe more) we had the vet out to one of our old horses. The vet gave medication and then asked for the horses passport (so if the horse is sent to slaughter there's a record of medications which make the carcass unfit for consumption). We had no idea all horses were supposed to be passported- had been out of the competing world for a long time and the horses we had left never left their fields. All retired big lawnmowers really. Vet said there was no point doing it as they didn't go out, weren't transported and they knew us well enough to know that they wouldn't be sent to slaughter. Amazing how things pass you by.

My puppy is chipped as I'd like the piece of mind. If I had your pooch I don't think I'd get it done either. No point stressing him out for a trip to the vets.
Last edited by sesmo : 23-02-2016 at 16:30

I knew this was happening, but I assumed it was for new puppies (you learn something new every day).

I have always had my dogs microchipped anyway. My 7 month old recently got castrated and we had it done at the same time.

I think it's kindest to have them chipped and chopped at the same time under a GA.

Me too - and they told me it was cheaper too. Less wriggling I guess !!

Yes I did this, got her done while she was under, so to speak.

My vet now routinely scans for the presence of a chip whenever a dog goes in for any appointment, so perhaps they now have to check by law?

I suspect it's just that you don't pay for a separate appointment?

Sounds like a good idea, and I'd like to see it extended to cats too. It should also be mandatory for a new owner of a previously-owned pet (ie a second-hand pet) to check and update the chip within a set period.
We went to the trouble of returning a dog to the address on its tag (not a chip) only to find that the address was that of its previous owner and the dog wasn't lost at all. The new owner was just too damned idle to get a new tag.

Sadly vets don't have to check for a chip at all, no one does even if a dead animal is found and removed by the council there is no requirement to check for a chip and a lot don't. There have been petitions to make scanning a requirement as not to do so is ridiculous when they have to be chipped. Even pounds don't have to scan although I think most if not all do now. Routine scanning at the vets is a good idea as it checks that the chip is active and in the right place.

To be fair, not necessarily idle. The data behind the chip is held by various database companies (presumable whichever company the vet buys its chips from) rather than (sensibly?) held at a central database. When you ask for the details to be changed, (assuming you have enough information to track them down) these rip-off companies charge an extortionate fee to update their record. IMO it should be free.

I just paid £6 to add extra mobile numbers onto one of ours details but there is an option to pay a few £ more to be able to update them free for life including adding temp holiday details if you take them away with you. If ours were younger I would pay for that option but I agree updates should be free but then maybe they would increase the initial cost of the chip, can't win when it comes to money can we.