Is Microchipping Dogs Safe? Evidence suggests otherwise.

Microchipping dogs is mandatory, even law in some areas, but is it safe?  There is mounting evidence that implanting the chips can cause unintended consequences.  There are some lawsuits in the works, specifically against Merck's HomeAgain chips.  It appears the issue is the radio-frequency device that emits a signal forever which can disrupt cells near the implant area.  This could be analogous to having a cell phone implanted in your head.  It's likely to cause some problems. 

"A series of veterinary and toxicology studies, dating to the mid-1990s, stated that chip implants had "induced" malignant tumors in some lab mice and rats. "The transponders were the cause of the tumors," said Keith Johnson, a retired toxicologic pathologist."   (source: Washington Post, Todd Lewan, "Chip Implants Linked to Animal Tumors" )

Here are some recommendations from the report "Microchip-Induced Tumors in Laboratory Rodents and Dogs: A Review of the Literature 1990–2006" by Katherine Albrecht, Ed.D. Released November 19, 2007 :

• In light of research linking the microchip to cancer in animals, policy makers should reverse all mandatory animal microchipping statutes and policies.
• Veterinarians should familiarize themselves with the research findings and carefully consider the potential for adverse reactions before recommending implants for pets.
• Pet owners seeking microchip implants should be advised of the research linking the device to cancer in rodents and dogs.
• Owners of implanted pets should regularly examine the area surrounding the microchip and immediately report abnormalities to a veterinarian.
• No vaccinations or injections should be administered near the site of an implanted microchip.
• Chip­removal is likely to be costly and invasive, therefore pet owners may wish to leave the implanted microchips in place unless specific problems arise.
• Unchipped pets should be fitted with a well­made collar and a clear, legible tag with the owner's contact information."

Download the entire report here: 

Download now or preview on posterous

albrecht-microchip-cancer-synopsis.pdf (188 KB)

For more scientific evidence checkout this site: http://www.chipmenot.org/scientificevidence.htm

 

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Jack Carrier is a founder of DogTagArt.com, a website that features full-color, pet ID tags printed with user-submitted artwork.  The site has hundreds of designs submitted from artists around the globe.  Website visitors can also upload their own photos to make custom dog tags. 

Dogs and Mushrooms Don't Mix

The "Death Cap Mushroom" (Amanita phalloides) .  If only it came with a sign.  One California woman lost her dog to the innocent looking mushroom and created the flyer below to help warn others.  The shroom resembles some edible species, which creates further confusion.  If suspect your dogs has ingested a death cap mushroom, it IS a medical emergency and should be treated immediately.

 

See and download the full gallery on posterous

 

Wikipedia describes is like this:

"The death cap has a large and imposing epigeous (aboveground) fruiting body (basidiocarp), usually with a pileus (cap) from 5 to 15 cm (2–6 in) across, initially rounded and hemispherical, but flattening with age.^[17] The color of the cap can be pale-, yellowish-, or olive-green, often paler toward the margins and often paler after rain. The cap surface is sticky when wet and easily peeled, a troublesome feature, as that is allegedly a feature of edible fungi.^[18] The remains of the partial veil are seen as a skirtlike, floppy annulus usually about 1 to 1.5 cm (0.4–0.6 in) below the cap. The crowded white lamellae (gills) are free. The stipe is white with a scattering of grayish-olive scales and is 8 to 15 cm (3–6 in) long and 1 to 2 cm (3/8–3/4 in) thick, with a swollen, ragged, sac-like whitevolva (base).^[17] As the volva, which may be hidden by leaf litter, is a distinctive and diagnostic feature, it is important to remove some debris to check for it.^[19]

The smell has been described as initially faint and honey-sweet but strengthening over time to become overpowering, sickly-sweet and objectionable.^[20] Young specimens first emerge from the ground resembling a white egg covered by a universal veil, which then breaks, leaving the volva as a remnant. The spore print is white, a common feature of Amanita. The transparent spores are globular to egg-shaped, measure 8–10 μm (0.3–0.4 mil) long, and stain blue with iodine.^[20] The gills, on the other hand, are seen to stain pallid lilac or pink with concentrated sulfuric acid.^[21][22]"

 

Be especially careful in wet climates where mushrooms grow like parts of the southeast.  I have seen both my dogs eat poop, so eating a mushroom that has been reported to "taste pleasant" would be no problem.  If you've been out hiking with your dog and they suddenly become ill, the "death cap" could be a cause to explore.  Dog and mushrooms don't mix. 

 

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Jack Carrier is a founder of DogTagArt.com, a website that features full-color, pet ID tags printed with user-submitted artwork.  The site has over 400 designs submitted from artists around the globe.  Website visitors can also upload their own photos to make custom dog tags. 

Company Founder Risks Life in Dog Suit to Promote Pet ID Tags

People will go to great lengths to get a point across.  Some are funny, others are just plain dumb.  What is important, is this:  If you're going to do something crazy, do it in a giant dog suit.  Jack Carrier, a scooter fan, and founder of DogTagArt.com teamed up with Ian Urquhart to bring this video to you to help promote Pet ID Tags.  Any one that has a brain knows that proper identification is essential to keeping your pets alive.  If you agree, would you consider sharing this video with your pals? Enjoy!

 

 

We also created a teaser for "A Day in the Life":

 

 

Some praise for our work from the EXPERT Tracy Sigler of AVL Marketing, the leader in Internet Marketing in Asheville calls the video "Great Viral Video by Crowdsourcing Internet Startup".

 

Would you consider sharing this video with your pals?  Someone who knows someone could end up using identification for their pets. 

ASPCA Research Confirms: Pet ID Tags are Essential

Dr. Emily Weiss has confirmed through scientific research that simple pet id tags with name address and phone number can drastically increase the return to owner rate (RTO).  

The use of a simple ID tag that includes the name, phone number and address of the guardian would support community return of a lost pet.  Ideally, lost pets with ID tags should never enter the sheltering system, as they are returned directly by the finder who calls the guardian’s number clearly displayed on the tag. This means we could decrease intake by increasing the use of simple ID tags.

Her research also indicates one problem: human laziness and/or ignorance!  They gave ID tags to a number of new pet owners.  Of those people that got free tags almost 75% reported that their pet wears the pet ID tag all the time.  The same people, before their free tag, reported their pets only 33% reported their pet was protected all the time.

Here is a link to the article: Tagging Matters... and we've got the data to prove it