Microchips causing cancer in dogs

[jim eyler]

This web site was brought to my attention by a concerned neighbor: chipmenot.com

 

 

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I think it's important to know that this website is the creation of Katherine Albrecht, who is an extreme libertian radio talk-show host, albeit a very well-educated one, and has somewhat paranoid (IMO) issues with privacy and technological surveillance in general. I would very carefully research any information about microchips causing cancer before accepting the information on the Chip Me Not website as gospel.
http://www.katherinealbrecht.com/index.php?option=com_content&v...

[F, Calla & Luca]

Amen!

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

I did ask my vet this question before I chipped my Doods. She said that there was no substantiated research at this time that would prevent her from recommending microchipping.

[Ricki and Tara (doodle)]

Tara came with a microchip from her breeder. DH and I were somewhat concerned about this as we had little knowledge of the effect of having a foreign body injected into her. We considered having it removed when she was spayed. However, in the year between her arrival at home and her spay operation we became aware of the large number of missing and stolen dogs in our area-especially small dogs. Since Tara is a mini (and easily carried off) we felt she might be at risk for theft so we decided to leave the chip in her. Tags alone do not offer protection from thieves as they would probably just dispose of them but there is at least a chance of recovering your dog if they have a chip. I think each person needs to weigh the benefit/risk factor in their given situation and make a decision based on that information.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

And if a dog happens to get lost and be picked up by animal control, a chip may well mean the difference between life and death for the dog.
For those who have concerns, though, there is an alternative; before microchips, we used to tattoo dogs for identification purposes.
Jackdoodle was chipped by the shelter before I dopted him, which is standard practice for most rescue groups and private shelters. I'm very glad about that.

[Ricki and Tara (doodle)]

That's true with the overcrowding issues in shelters, having a chip in your dog could buy them the time they need to survive the experience. Also, we have found lost collarless dogs and eventually reunited them with their people (through advertising, etc.) . The people were shocked to discover that their dog's collar and tags are missing!! So, once again, tags have their limitations.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

"Microchips have been used extensively in pets over the last decade. They are especially prevalent in the United Kingdom, where over four million cats and dogs have received the implants. The British Small Animal Veterinary Association has been tracking adverse reactions to microchips since 1996. They identified a link between microchips and cancer in two dogs.
Two dogs out of four million is a very low number indeed. Based on the available information, it appears that microchips cause cancer in dogs and cats at a negligible rate.
Also, it turns out that the strains of mice and rats cited in the studies that first noted the microchip-cancer link had been developed to be especially prone to cancer. In these animals, microchips caused tumors at very high rates. So did anything else that was implanted under the skin. In this case, it may not be appropriate to draw a direct link between these rodents and household pets."
http://blogs.dogster.com/vet_blog_information_advice/do-microchips-...

[F, Calla & Luca]

Interesting.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

And one more fact-based report that will reassure those of you whose dogs have chips:
http://www.pethealthinc.com/PethealthPost/phpost_September14_2007.html

[Jacque Reynolds]

While I appeciate your concern and that you share your concern with others, I agree that we must weigh the risk/benefit with microchips.
It would be like weighing the risk/benefit to flying in a plane or owning a car...both cause death sometimes, but not regularly. So, do we take the risk? Yes, every day.
It is admirable that you love your dog enough to question this and I respect your concern.
As you can tell, others have had similar concerns but have found the research that they needed to move forward with the decision. I hope that their research will help you too.
By the way, the same school of thought (microchips cause cancer) also tells us that vaccinations cause tumors at the vaccination spot. Again, we have to weigh the risk/benefit and, with vaccines, we might want to find out which vaccines are critical to optimal health and move away from those that are merely "recommended".

[F, Calla & Luca]

And of course, some people claim, without evidence that human vaccinations cause autism.

[HeatherA]

HUGE can of worms.. lol. I don't mean to sound all "conspiracy theory" but I don't think the government WOULD tell us if they knew 1% of people would have brain damaging reactions to vaccines. I think in the numbers game that 1% is WORTH the millions of lives vaccines save every year... and that's great, until it's your child in that 1%.

I have to admit I don't trust vaccines to do the best for MY kids, I think they serve the "greater good".. Vaccines are, without a doubt, best for society as a whole. We know some dogs react to vaccines, it's only logical that humans may end up with problems from vaccines. If doctors were as open to the idea of alternate vaccination schedules as VETS are we would have a lot less issues... In my opinion a large part of the problem is the denial that vaccines cause ANY issue and that every child should be treated the same (regardless of previous reactions, sensitivities, etc).

I do vaccinate. I spread out the shots, I passed on Hep B at birth, small changes that don't risk their life but also work on a schedule I am more comfortable with. I don't let them ever "catch up" on vaccines or load them up with 4-5 at a time. Dogs or kids. I have a friend that lost insurance for a while after her husband lost his job post-hurricane.. when she went to bring her daughter in the doctor caught her up on shots and her daughter became very ill and regressed developmentally. They tossed around that it might be autism, now they are saying "just" a learning disability. Try not to be too hard on people that accuse "with no evidence" -- if you saw your dog become lethargic and acting strange immediately after his shots you would wonder too. She feels incredibly guilty that she let the doctor give her daughter so many shots at once, and she feels she does have evidence something went wrong.

I think questioning is healthy, its important.. I think we should demand safe vaccines and raise hell if they aren't 100% safe for everyone. Demand better, it's not like the pharmaceutical companies are hurting for money.

THAT said, to the Original Post -- you have to consider your source. I wouldn't expect a site named "chipmenot" to offer a fair and balanced perspective. There is a lot of information on the internet, and a lot of it is bad information. Always consider the source.

Whew!