I recently read an article in our local newspaper about microchip implants for pets. You know the ones where information such as owner’s name, address, and contact instructions is encoded on a glass encased microchip then a veterinarian embeds it under the skin of your pet using a syringe. These microchips can help save a lost pet and help to return it to it’s owner. This is a great thing … or is it. As I have written about in our site’s “Pet Tip of The Month” for February which can be found on our “Stuff” Page, these micro chips are not completely safe for your pet. Makes me wonder why we haven’t heard more about this … Hmm.
This is the My Buddy Butch Pet Tip of The Month for February 2008.Â
Ah yes, modern technology! It can save you from washing the dishes every day, unlock your car from thousands of miles away when you lock your keys inside, and even let you look around your house on the internet when you are on vacation. Yes it is fantastic what we can do today with modern technology and I admit I am right in the middle of it and love it. Being a process control engineer and a music producer I try to keep up on all the latest technological advances as they come out, from an industrial and musical standpoint alike. Therefore, it was no wonder that I immediately started looking at items that would make the everyday chores of having a dog a little less time consuming as well as safe for “My Buddy Butch!” The Invisable Fence(R) was a great addition and helps keep Butch in his boundries … great invention! It keeps him safe and I worry less when he is outside.
With this technological advancement rolling full steam ahead, there will be good inventions and bad ones also. Then there are those of questionable utility. Is an new invention good because it makes our lives as humans easier or because it a benefit to our furry friends? Microchip ID implants that are injected into dogs (and other pets) have been around for a long time now. I would say 15 to 20 years as a guess. It has grown in popularity among people who are afraid of losing their friend if it runs away. Make no mistake this procedure has saved countless pets lives and has aided in the safe return of a runaway pet to a greatful owner in every case. However, has this particular advancement gone a bit too far? The benefits are obvious, and let’s set aside the religious point of view on microchipping to discuss the real issue here, and that is the health of the pet.
While researching the possibility of implanting an ID microchip in Butch in case he gets lost or stolen, I ran across some very disturbing information. These glass encased “microchip implants … have induced ‘malignant tumors’ in some lab rats and mice.” According to an article in the Washington Post Saturday 9/8/2007 by Associated Press writer Todd Lewan who did an in-depth study on the implants. He quoted a notable toxicologist pathologist Keith Johnson who stated “The transponders were the cause of the tumors.” Naturally, the company who manufactures these implants cites the FDA approval of the product and states that millions have been implanted in pets without “significant problems.” They are decidedly “unaware of any studies that have resulted in malignant tumors in … animals. Well, sorry guys and gals I don’t buy it. It’s one thing to knowingly make the decision to smoke a cigarette and risk getting cancer. It is totally something different to subject your dog (or pet) to that possibilty when they cannot do anything about it. How long does it take for a tumor to develop in your pet and is it too late to do anything about it when you find it? I don’t want to have to answer these questions for Butch! I cannot in good conscious recommend these chip implants for that reason. How about some good old fashioned owner responsibility and making sure your pet does not run away! Would you leave your child in the backyard while there are people working on your house? Do you think they will make sure Fido is safe. ~Not their problem~ It’s YOUR responsibility to keep your pet safe and Butch and I hope you will!
Here is the article if you are interested. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/09/08/AR2007090800997_pf.html
Jeff & Butch
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