How Safe are Pet Microchips?
Is microchipping your pet a good idea? Dr. Karen Becker discusses the benefits and risks.
A microchip is a glass bead about the size of a grain of rice which is implanted between an animal’s shoulder blades. It contains a radio transmitter, an antenna, and a computer chip with a 10-digit code. The information contained in a microchip has to be read by a scanner — it is not a GPS system that will allow you to track and locate your pet.
Most humane societies and rescue organizations require that adopted pets be microchipped, so if your pet came from a shelter there’s a good chance he or she already has one.
For those of you who are still considering a microchip for your pet, there are a few important items you should first consider.
With or Without Anesthetic?
Most veterinarians will likely tell you that microchipping your pet is painless. But at my practice we would never even consider microchipping without some local anesthetic.
And I highly recommend that if your pet gets a microchip, you insist on anesthetic. No matter what you have been told, the procedure hurts — the chip is inserted with a really big 12-gauge needle!
Potential Microchipping Problems
Pet microchips are inserted underneath your pet’s skin right between his shoulder blades.
This poses some problems because on occasion the microchip can migrate under the shoulder blade or up to the back of the neck — or even all the way down to the belly.
So if your pet has been microchipped, make sure you have a vet scan to identify exactly where it is. Once you know where it is, check it once a week to make sure there are no changes, at that it doesn’t feel any different.
If you can feel your pet’s microchip, it will feel like a grain of rice under your pet’s skin.
Are Microchips Necessary and Safe?
These are the two major questions that most everyone asks about microchips. One, are they necessary and, two, are they safe.
As with any medical procedure, you have to weigh the risks versus the benefits, and in this case it’s often a very individual decision.
If your pet has a high chance of being separated from you, for instance he bolts out your door every chance he gets and doesn’t come back when called, a microchip may be a good idea.
Millions of animals do escape or get lost from their owners every year, and less than 10 percent are ever reunited. Even if your pet has a microchip, however, its ability to help you find your pet depends on whether or not it can be scanned.
There are four types of microchips used in the United States, and unfortunately most facilities do not have a universal scanner that can read all the different chips. Then, the person must be sure to scan your entire pet, not just between the shoulder blades, in case the chip has migrated.
Further, if your pet is microchipped make sure the microchip is registered and that your registered contact information is up-to-date. Otherwise, even if a facility finds your pet and reads the microchip, they will not be able to contact you.
So if you cannot commit to updating your contact information with the appropriate registration facility, getting a microchip for your pet is not a good idea, as you’re getting none of the benefit and only the risk.
What is the risk?
The Major Risk of Microchips
The major concern any time you implant a foreign body into your pet, whether that’s a microchip, a metal plate for a fracture or any other material, there’s the potential for your pet’s body to reject the substance.
There have been two documented cases in veterinary medicine where sarcoma or fibrosarcoma, two types of soft tissue tumors, occurred at the site of the injection.
While two cases are not very many, I believe there are likely many more cases that have not been documented. Research shows that between 1996 and 2006, up to 10 percent of laboratory animals had some type of reaction to being microchipped, ranging from a localized inflammatory response to tumor formation at the site of the injection.
Needless to say, it’s important to realize that implanting any foreign material into your pet’s body is a risk.
So if you believe that your pet is safe in your home, such as an indoor housecat or a dog that’s appropriately trained (which in my opinion would eliminate the need for chips!) or pets that are always kept on a leash outdoors — and most importantly, is a dog that knows his name and comes when he’s called — there’s a very good chance that you do not need a microchip. And in these cases the risks do outweigh the benefit.
However, if your dog doesn’t know to “come” or you let her outdoors off-leash and just hope she comes back, these are high-risk situations. Ideally, you should rearrange your lifestyle to keep a closer reign on your dog or get some obedience training.
If this isn’t a possibility, then microchipping your pet may be an option. But do remember that microchips carry the risk of an autoimmune reaction or a degenerative reaction where your pet’s immune system becomes aggravated or chronically inflamed, which can in turn lead to tissue degeneration and abnormal cell growth, or cancer at the site of implantation.
Are There Other Options?
The decision of whether or not to microchip is highly dependent on your individual circumstances and pet. However, if you’d like an alternative one way to mark your pet without implantation under the skin is tattooing.
For example, your phone number can be tattooed onto your pet’s thigh while he is already under anesthesia for spaying or neutering. Be aware, if you do this, that phone numbers can change! You’ll have to commit to the same number for the life of your pet.
This continues to be a highly debated topic in veterinary medicine, and it’s really important that you weigh risk versus benefit when deciding on microchipping. This will help you make the best decision for the pets in your care.
Posted: Just One More Pet
Cute Puppy and Kitty Video…
For all the people with puppy loving hearts, I would like to share this great video I’ve found in Youtube. It’s a full length masterpiece of puppies and kittens playing together, really a heart-warming gift to everyone. I can picture a great bonding time with my family while watching this on tv. Please see for yourself, and find a delightful moment right away.. here’s the link:
Posted: Posted: Just One More Pet
American Humane: Help us continue to offer Foreclosure Pets Grants.
When Kathy spotted an emaciated Rottweiler along the side of a highway in Tennessee, she realized that there was something different about "Ella." Ella was friendly and eager for attention — behavior that is unusual for either a stray or an abused animal. She had clearly been loved by someone.
In the wooded area just off the highway, Kathy discovered a "nest" where Ella had been sleeping (pictured here). It was strewn with someone’s personal items, including a toothbrush, razor, comb and candle.
Please donate to American Humane’s Foreclosure Pets Grants >>
Then Kathy remembered something crucial. A few weeks earlier, a terrible car wreck had taken place on the highway… very close to where Ella had made her makeshift home. Kathy contacted the state’s highway patrol and learned that a family had been in the car, and that they all survived.
Rescuers had never seen Ella, who had likely been thrown from the car. The dog foraged on her own for a few weeks, drinking from a drainage ditch and patiently waiting for beloved family members who thought their special pet was dead!
Help pets that have been separated from suffering families: donate to American Humane today >>
American Humane stepped in when they learned that the family’s medical bills had caused tremendous financial strain. The money they had set aside for a new home had to be used for medical bills instead. While the family struggled with this financial hardship, American Humane provided a critical grant to Kathy’s animal shelter to help fund Ella’s care.
Though unable to bring Ella back into their new home at this time, the family was thrilled to see her and hopes to be reunited for good in the future. Meanwhile, Ella is living safely and comfortably in a loving foster home.
During this month of giving thanks, please consider a donation to help fund American Humane’s Foreclosure Pets Grants. A single act of generosity — no matter how small — will make a tremendous difference for pets like Ella, whose families are undergoing extreme financial hardship. Get started >>
Shelters and animal rescues across the country are seeing a surge in the number of animals surrendered due to foreclosure situations. People, with nowhere else to turn, are looking to shelters for assistance in caring for their pets, either temporarily or permanently. To help, American Humane offers Foreclosure Pets Grants, which go directly to shelters so they can help these families and provide housing and medical care for displaced animals, so they never have to turn one away. Please help us reach out to animal shelters during this challenging financial crisis. Thank you!
For donations made by mail, please send to:
American Humane Association
63 Inverness Drive East
Englewood, CO 80112
Will your employer match your contribution?
Posted: Just One More Pet
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Meet Survivors of the Largest Dog Fighting Raid in History
This past July, the ASPCA assisted in collecting forensic evidence and conducting behavior evaluations of rescued dogs in a federal and multi-state investigation that led to one of the toughest crackdowns on dog fighting in U.S. history. Raids were conducted on various dog fighting operations in eight states and resulted in the rescue of more than 500 dogs.
Now, after months of rehabilitation, many of the rescued dogs are seeing a miraculous change in lifestyle.
Evaluated over the summer by a team of animal behaviorists, including four ASPCA staffers, most of the dogs are absolute gems with people, and quite a number are also good with other dogs.
Vice President of the ASPCA Animal Behavior Center, Dr. Pamela Reid, who was a member of the behavior evaluations team, says, “We found the dogs to be true to Pit Bull reputation─they were extremely friendly with people. Most greeted us with wagging tails and smiling eyes, and while some were aggressive with other dogs, as would be expected from their history, about two-thirds of the adults and most of the puppies did not test as aggressive. With socialization and training, many of these dogs may well turn out to be excellent pets and companions."
Check out the following pooches, who after surviving painful lives of dog fighting are not only ready to become loving companions, but will use their stories to inspire others.
JOMP urges everyone to speak up if you know about, hear about, witness or even suspect any type of neglect or abuse to animals or or humans. It is all related!!
GA: URGENT 3 Desperate Black Labs -SLATED TO DIE THIS WEEK!!! And Foster Needed for Mom and Pups
Mon at 10:58am
Do Not Post on Craig’s list
This is not a good week to be an abandoned dog in the Chattooga County Animal Control Shelter. This is a very small, rural and isolated shelter. The staff do the best they can to keep animals as long as possible but when they get too many animals unfortunately they have no choice but to euthanize. They are extremely full now and this week some of the dogs that have been there the longest will have to be put to sleep unless a rescue group or adopter steps in to help.

This is Frady – She was turned into the shelter by her owner who “just didn’t want her anymore” but commented that she was a nice dog. The owner who turned her in brought her in with a bag of biscuits and asked the staff to give one to her each day. Poor Frady is a great dog that had a BAD owner. Please show her all humans aren’t bad.

This is Markie -he was a stray boy running around town just trying to find a kind face and a place to put his ad. Markie is a beautiful boy that gets along with everyone!

This super girl is Daisy and she is a Happy Lab girl! She is true to her breed and loves everyone and wants everyone to be her friend.
If you can help save these great dogs, please contact Kimberly Murphy at kamurphy39@..hotmail.com
FortheSake Ofanimals

Source: spaldingdogs.com
THE FAX MACHINE AND ANSWERING MACHINE WILL BE CHECKED PRIOR TO EUTHPLEASE FAX YOUR PAPERWORK 24 HOURS A DAYFAX: 770 – 467- 4771
PLEASE SAVE THESE DOGS!!!!
TEMP FOSTER NEEDED IN GA IMMEDIATELY!!!!!!
Video of mom & puppies, someone PLEASE open your home to the mom & 5 babies. Not much time left! FFLI will pull them if we have a foster home for all SIX together!



Contact: FortheSake Ofanimals
Posted: Just One More Pet
Veterinarian, Dr. Karen Becker, dispels the long-held myth that “table food” is bad for your pets.
Animals Like People Benefit From Live Foods
Veterinarian, Dr. Karen Becker, dispels the long-held myth that “table food” is bad for your pets.
Human, edible foods can be very healthy for your pets. Throw away the concept of “cat” food and “dog” food, and just think “food” — food that grows in the ground or comes from animal products.
A whole generation of pet owners is afraid to feed anything but over processed rendered food to their pets. But there’s no way you can create abundant health in an animal by providing only the minimum nutrients it needs for survival. Dogs and cats have a living food requirement, just like you do.
The food you feed your pet should be biologically suited to meet your dog’s or cat’s needs. Dog and cat chow may be nutritionally “complete,” but it is akin to your drinking a meal replacement shake three times a day for the rest of your life … or giving them to your kids in lieu of fresh foods.
Yet, many veterinarians will often recommend you feed your pets kibble or canned food for the rest of their lives. Some will go so far as to say that feeding your pet anything that doesn’t come from a bag or can will be harming your pet!
This is a paradigm problem, and one that can be very confusing for pet owners.
In reality, there’s no way you can give your pet the food it needs to thrive if you do not feed it a biologically appropriate diet that includes a variety of fresh foods.
In fact, a growing number of holistic-minded veterinarians state that processed pet food (kibbled and canned food) is the number one cause of illness and premature death in modern dogs and cats.
So how did conventional veterinary nutrition positions get so skewed?
Well, major dog and cat food manufacturers provide much of the veterinary nutrition information to veterinary students. It becomes engrained in many new vets’ minds that it’s wrong to feed pets “living” fresh foods.
This is a myth!
Your Pets Need Living Foods
Veterinarians tell you to never offer living foods to your pet. But your pets need living foods on a consistent basis to achieve optimal health.
So, yes, you can and should offer your pets some of the very same foods that you enjoy. And since those foods are at a much higher grade nutritionally than typical dog or cat foods, they may be the healthiest foods your pets have ever consumed.
As you know, I recommend you feed your dogs and cats an all raw, nutritionally balanced living food diet. In my opinion, the only viable excuse to not to feed your pets a species appropriate diet is cost. Feeding raw food cost more than dry food .However, raw fed animals have fewer health problems, which mean lower vet bills over a lifetime. If you cannot afford to feed your pet an all raw diet, don’t deny your pet’s access to living foods throughout the day, in the form of treats. Remember, treats (even really healthy treats) should not constitute more than 15 percent of your pet’s daily food intake.
Berries are one of the best treats you can offer. Bite size and packed with antioxidants. Many cats enjoy zucchini and cantaloupe. . My favorite training treats for dogs include peas, raw nuts (remember, the only nuts you should never feed your pets are macadamia nuts).
A salad without dressing, but with plenty of dark green leafy vegetables, is also good for your cats — your pets are chewing on your houseplants for a reason, after all.
Avoid giving your carnivorous companions biologically inappropriate foods, including grains, such as oats, soy, millet, , wheat, or rice. Dogs and cats do not have a carbohydrate requirement and feeding your pets these pro-inflammatory foods creates unnecessary metabolic roadblocks to health.
Furthermore, there are certainly some foods that are toxic to feed to dogs and cats such as grapes, raisins, macadamia nuts and onions. Never feed your pets these foods.
The Optimal Choice to Feed Your Pets
I highly recommend you give your dog or cat an opportunity to experience living raw foods like fruits and veggies as treats, and feed them a biologically appropriate, balanced raw diet the rest of the time.
Remember, your pet is resilient and can eat a variety of suboptimal, metabolically stressful foods on occasion and be fine, but because it’s my goal to provide a diet that most closely fits your companion’s biological requirements, I don’t recommend a lifetime of kibble or other “dead” over-processed food.
The goal is to provide a diet that mimics your pet’s biological nutritional requirements as closely as possible … in this case it means rethinking the “lifetime of dry food” or “canned food” theory.
If you are unable or unwilling to feed your pet a species-appropriate, nutritionally balanced, raw food diet, then I strongly recommend you compromise with the next best choice: USDA-approved canned foods (and supplement with raw)
My last choice would be a dry food (kibble), made from human-grade ingredients with little to no grains, and LOTS OF WATER.
But no matter which option you choose, remember that you can treat your dog and cat to berries, leafy greens, raw nuts and many other fresh fruits, veggies and meats on a regular basis.
I hope this insight will help you feel more confident offering foods and treats to your pets that are unadulterated and fresh. They deserve the same benefit of living foods that you get, and there’s no better way to start than by sharing some of these raw healthy foods with your dog or cat today.
We have always cooked for our pets, so always find it amazing, if not horrifying, that there really are pets who never get live food and who are doomed to eat the same dry food every day and that there really are pet owners who think that would be okay!! This myth created by the pet food industry and perpetuated by pet stores who just want to sell animals, regardless of whether the potential purchasers should be pet parents and then accepted by the “ME” generation, is another one of those practices like keeping your pets in a crate all day or all night, or shock collars, electric fences and collars with spikes etc that defy all common sense and really fall into a category of pet abuse or neglect, perhaps pet abuse light… but unacceptable pet parenting to be sure!!
Would you want to eat the same packaged food everyday? Would you want to be locked in a cage all day or all night? Would you want to have to wait to go to the bathroom all night or most of the day, until some lets you out and says it is okay? Would you want to receive an electric shock when you tried to talk or walk across a boundary area… or have spikes dig into you? Would you do these things to your kids?
When making decisions for your fur-babies, you should ask yourself, “Would I want to be treated this way? And would I make these choices for my human children?”, and then act accordingly!! As Dr. Laura would say… Use common sense and compassion and “then go do the right thing!”.
Posted: Just One More Pet
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Greenville NC – Urgent: Dies Tomorrow
FortheSake Ofanimals UPDATE: will be PTS 11/10—absolute last day for this adorable girl!!!
Greenville SC
****URGENT**** DIES TOMORROW!
Someone please step up for Cassie.
Look at her sweet face!
Please contact: animalcareservices@greenvillecounty.org immediately if you can help! And cross-posted widely!!!!
If you know you or someone you know is looking for a pet please contact or come to the shelter today.
Don’t adopt just because you feel sorry for Cassie
Adoption Should Be A Well Thought Out Decision, It’s A Lifetime Commitment.
If there is room in your heart… there is always room for just one more pet or a way to find them a home!! Please all someone that might want her…
By: Pitty Love Rescue – Wall Photos
























