pet parenting
Is Microchipping My Dog Safe?
Microchips: they may be small, but they are mighty! They use the same technology as you would find at the grocery store that lets the register know when a barcode is scanned what item you’re purchasing . It’s as small as a grain of rice. But what does it do, and should your pet have one? Continue reading to get the low-down on all things microchipping! What Is It? A microchip is a radio-frequency chip stored in a pet-safe, bio-glass capsule. Microchips don’t require a power source, and transmit an identification number to a scanner. They are administered similarly to a vaccine and inserted right under your pet’s skin using a needle.. However, the needle tends to be slightly larger than those used for vaccines, so it is often recommended that they be implanted during surgery when your pet is already under anesthetic to minimize any discomfort. They can be implanted on both dogs and cats. What Is The Purpose Of A Microchip? Microchips are an important tool to help find lost pets. Statistics show that ⅓ of pets will be lost at some point in their lifetime. Although a collar with an ID tag is always a good idea, these can fall off or even be removed by a thief. Since a microchip is implanted under the skin, it can only be removed surgically. A scanner is used to read the ID number associated with the microchip, and it is then searched in a database. There are a variety of companies that manufacture microchips and have registries, but universal databases such as the American Animal Hospital Association microchip lookup tool will alert you to what registry the number is associated with. The veterinary clinic or shelter that scanned your dog’s microchip can then call the appropriate company, who will contact the owner on file. This is why it is very important to always keep your pet’s microchip information up to date! Can A Microchip Track My Dog? Unfortunately no. The only information stored on a microchip is the identification number, which is then connected to your information as the owner in the microchip registry. There are GPS and bluetooth tracking devices that you can keep on your dog’s collar if your pup has a tendency to be an escape artist! These allow you to follow your pup’s location on an app on your phone, but they do have limited signal distances. There are also some concerns that these devices are constantly emitting electromagnetic signals, and EMFs (electric and magnetic fields) may cause health issues in humans and dogs alike. Are There Risks? There are some minor risks to your pet, but many experts recommend that these outweigh the risks of not being reunited with your dog should they get lost. There have been unproven studies linking microchips to cancer as tumours have (in rare instances) been found surrounding the microchip. Injury from microchip implantation is also rare, but some pets may have temporary inflammation at the injection site. The most common side effect is that the microchip migrates. Some dogs now have a microchip found at their shoulder rather than on their back between their shoulder blades. This is why it is important to have your veterinary team scan your dog for their microchip at each visit, or at least annually. They can then track if the chip has migrated, and ensure it is never unreadable. Microchip companies have started to utilize anti-migration technology to limit this from happening. Are There Alternatives? You can use a GPS tracker but it is best used along with a microchip rather than instead of. Trackers can be removed, run out of battery power, or lose signal. Previously, dogs used to be tattooed with an identification number, but this method has its cons as well! The area must be shaved and anesthetic used, tattoos can fade and become unreadable, and the clinic, shelter, or animal control officer who finds your dog needs to know to look for one. Some are placed on their belly or inner thigh while other dogs are tattooed inside their right ear. Locating an owner based on a tattoo can be more difficult as well, as there is no centralized look up and imported dogs will sometimes have a different tattoo convention. Microchipping remains the most reliable method for being reunited with your pup. The most important thing to remember when microchipping your pet is to keep your contact information with the registry up to date! If your phone number on file is out of service, they will not be able to contact you if your furry friend is found and secured. It’s recommended to use a microchip in addition to a collar and ID tag, and a GPS tracker for those Houdini-type pets. And don’t forget, it’s never too late to get your pet microchipped! If your pup is not going to be under anesthetic, you can always ask your veterinarian to apply a small amount of topical numbing agent so they won’t be uncomfortable.
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Halloween Hazards For Your Dog
Since this weekend is Halloween, we wanted to share some of the most common hazards your dog could face during the spooky season. Keep reading to see what you should be aware of this Halloween to keep your dog safe! Costumes If you read our blog post last week, you got some DIY dog costume ideas. While dressing your pet up can be lots of fun, you’ll want to make sure that your dog is comfortable in their costume beforehand. It’s a good idea to do some desensitization with them and their costume ahead of time, and unfortunately if they seem to be uncomfortable you may have to scrap the costume altogether. Even if your pup seems comfortable, it is important not to leave them unattended in their costume. Keep a close watch to make sure they aren’t chewing on any parts of the costume - if there are any strings or dangling parts like bells these are extra enticing to chew on! Chocolate And Candies This danger is one you’re probably aware of! The darker the chocolate the more dangerous it is to your dog, and the amount that can be safely ingested before becoming toxic is dependent on the weight of your dog. The safest thing to do is make sure your chocolate and candy is kept well away from your pup. It’s important to keep candy away from your dog too, especially if they contain the artificial sweetener Xylitol as this is highly toxic. Even empty candy or chocolate wrappers can cause an issue! If your dog eats these, which they may be tempted to do since they will still smell like whatever treat was in there, they can cause an intestinal blockage. Raisins A less commonly known food risk to your dog is raisins. Grapes can be highly toxic, although it is unknown why or what causes this toxicity. It also seems to only affect some dogs, but can cause organ failure so it’s best to keep your dog away from them just to be safe Decorations Decorations and pumpkins can be a hazard to your dog too. Keep a close eye on any electrical cords. Pumpkins are totally safe for your pup to eat, but you shouldn’t let them get into any mouldy or painted pumpkins. There has also been a hack going around the internet to use bleach to extend the life of your pumpkin. Make sure you keep it safely away from your dog if you have treated it with bleach due to the high toxicity of bleach. Alcohol If you’re having a party with alcohol around, ensure that your dog doesn’t get into any spilled liquor. Sweeter drinks can be particularly appealing to your dog, and if they are a “counter surfer” they may even drink right out of an unattended glass. If your pup does get into alcohol, you may notice a loss of coordination, vomiting, and weakness. In severe cases, alcohol consumption can lower their temperature, blood pressure, blood sugar, and cause changes in breathing and heart rate. Pet Loss Halloween is one of the most important nights to be vigilant about pet loss prevention. If you have trick or treaters coming to your door, it is a good idea to keep your dog on a leash or in a separate room to avoid them escaping through an open door. It is also a good idea to keep a collar and ID tag on your pet, and making sure they are microchipped is even better! If you want more information on microchipping, you can read a blog post about it here. Halloween is a holiday that you and your dog can both enjoy together, but it’s always better to be safe than sorry... so keep these hazards top of mind! Stay healthy, stay happy, stay curious, Happy howl-o-ween #healthygang!, The healthybud team
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Socializing Our Buds
A very important responsibility of any new pet parent is to allow their companion to socialize early and often. Well socialized dogs will lead to better behaved dogs. There is more to socializing your pup than just going to a dog park, socializing also includes introducing your dog to new people, and environments of all types. Here are some other ways to socialize your dog: Where/How? In the local dog park In crowded area (subway, downtown sidewalks etc.) Doggy day cares In your own home If not properly socialized, dogs are likely to be fearful of new situations and environments; like meeting new people or visiting new places. Fear can also turn into aggression which we want to avoid. Socializing your dog through activities like the ones mentioned above will helps to ease anxiety. And it doesn’t stop during adulthood, dogs who spend time interacting, exercising, and playing with other dogs and people live happier and healthier lives. The saying “a tired pup is a good pup” couldn’t be more true; don’t believe us, try it out for yourselves! Helpful Tips Start small by stimulating all of your dog’s senses in their own home. Introduce them to new smells, sights (strange items like bags or bottles), and sounds (like doorbell, knocking, vacuum, blow dryer or boiling tea). Introduce your bud to friends and family of different size, age, gender and ethnicity Consider a puppy socialization class - not only is it an awesome way to make your dog more comfortable but it’s also a great place to meet fellow pet parents Keep In Mind Each dog should be socialized at a pace that they can handle. Bringing a dog into your family with an unknown history can add to the challenges of socialization (if you’re adopting be sure to ask the shelter about the way the dog interacts), so take things slowly at first. It’s a step by step process and each step will create a building block that will benefit you and your dog for life.
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