Risks & Benefits of Microchipping Dogs 

Microchipping dogs is a big decision each dog owner needs to make for themselves.  This issue should be seriously considered because dog safety is a top priority for every dog owner. 

Imagine you bring your sweet fur-baby home and you are so excited.  She is adjusting well, happy and healthy.  She's playful and cuddly and loves to sit in your lap every chance she gets.  You find yourself so in love, you don't even know how you ever lived without her before she came into your home.  Your life feels so much more full and complete now that your fur-baby has taken over your home! 

But you cannot help but worry in the back of your mind about what would happen if your new little baby were ever to get lost.  The nagging concern won't go away and you want to come up with the best way to keep her safe and secure and you desperately want a way to ensure that she will be returned if she ever gets lost.  You immediately assume that you need to get her microchipped ASAP, as this is a common and accepted practice among many vets, dog breeders, and shelters.  

Before you rush to schedule an appointment to get your new fur-baby microchipped, please take a few minutes to read this article, read the Dogs Naturally Magazine article linked below, and watch the video below so you have all the information you need to make the right decision for your fur-baby!  

You may want to find a holistic vet to further aid you in your decision.  To locate a holistic vet in your area, please visit our Why Every Dog Owner Should Use A Holistic Vet  and scroll down for a list of directories.

Benefits of Microchipping

The following list of benefits of microchipping dogs comes from Should You Microchip Your Dog? | Dogs Naturally Magazine :

1. Reputable services like shelters, veterinary clinics and some police stations can notify owners when they find a microchip.
2. The microchip can’t tampered with or removed (at least, not without surgery).
3. It’s permanent. Ideally, the microchip should never need replacement.
4. Your personal information is not visible. And it can be updated when you change your address or phone number (or if your pet goes to a new home).
5. Microchips are harder to lose than your dog’s regular tags. But microchips can migrate  … more about that in a bit). 
6. The cost is low.
7. Implanting the chip is a quick procedure. 
8. There’s less stress on shelters. Microchipped dogs turned into shelters or vet clinics are scanned and returned to their owners faster.
   

Risks of Microchipping / Reasons Not To Microchip

The following list of risks of microchipping dogs (reasons not to microchip) is also taken from Should You Microchip Your Dog? | Dogs Naturally Magazine :

1. Microchips don't store information.
2. There are multiple microchip databases.
   
3. Microchips aren't proof of ownership. 
   
4. There are multiple microchip numbers. 
   
5. Microchipping is painful.
   
6. Microchips migrate.
7. Human error
8. Non-universal scanners
9. Scanner error
10. Microchips don't locate your lost dog.
11. There are health risks when microchipping dogs

Alternatives To Microchipping Dogs

You can always opt to use multiple alternatives to microchipping dogs to help keep your puppy safe.  The following list of alternatives also comes from Should You Microchip Your Dog? | Dogs Naturally Magazine :

1. Identification tag
2. Tattoo
3. GPS tracker
4. Bluetooth tracker
5. Crowd source tracking

Dogs Naturally Magazine Video & Article

Be sure to take a few minutes to watch this video and read the article below. The video gives and excellent summary of the risks and benefits of microchipping dogs, along with alternative options for keeping your puppy safe.  Dogs Naturally Magazine also has a comprehensive article on the topic as well:  Should You Microchip Your Dog? | Dogs Naturally Magazine