Not to microchip my dog?

[Littlefluffyclouds81]

So the new law starts this month saying all dogs must be microchipped. I have a dog who is not microchipped and I am hesitant to do so because:

1. he is 12 years old and not the 'buggering off' sort. In fact, in 12 years I have never lost him (he is a complete mummy's boy and just wants to be wherever I am).

2. the microchipping needle is large and likely to be quite an unpleasant experience for him.

3. an article in the independent says that a senior vet advises people with puppies or small dogs (mine is small) to ignore the law as microchipping can cause problems. Not exactly sure what these problems are though. www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/ten-new-laws-that-come-into-force-in-april-2016-and-how-they-affect-you-a6964881.html

It seems a bit daft to put my dog through it at his age when I can pretty much guarantee I'm not going to lose him. AIBU?

You cant tell if your dog needs the boosters or not without a blood titre test. They cost the same as the booster but are worth if if you believe that over vaccinating is a problem.

It's the annual boosters I meant. Keeping the vaccinations up to date.

The annual boosters are not always needed they are done as a precaution.

We as humans don't have the mmr done every year do we?

Some dogs immunity level is high enough to never need boostering again. However it does need a titre test to prove it.

Dog ownership sounds complicated. I'll stick to my vaccinated cat.

Are human and pet vaccinations comparable? We have the flu jab annually so I guess it depends what you are vaccinating against.

Years ago I rescued a cat - or rather inherited one with a rented house (it lived in the garden - apparently previous tenant left it behind) it was estimated to be about 8 yo. Took it to the vets for a check up and they suggested vaccinations but said have it done once (it was two lots can't remember how far apart) and that should be ok for life. I was quite skint at the time and as they put it it might never have been vaccinated -or if it had, it had probably not had a booster for years and it had been fine up to then. (She had been neutered at some point.) She died at approx 17 of kidney failure. (She did have a thyroid op and a teeth clean at around 11 - the vet sent me to the Blue Cross and they did it because I had no money at the time - I have since given them a healthy donation to pay for it).
Current cat -came from a rescue centre as a kitten and I had to get her vaccinated and neutered as part of rehoming conditions. And I get her a booster every year because she does go into a cattery when we go on holiday and it is requirement. But otherwise I probably wouldn't bother now (she's 13)

Had a load of dogs go down with Leptospirosis Copehhagenii around here. Most of the dogs vaccinated with L2 got it while the dogs that were vaccinated with L4 did not. Don't tell me dog vaccines don't work. Dogs with Lepto look like they have Tango for blood and then often die so it's worth thinking about getting an annual vaccine just for the Lepto component itself. The outbreak was linked to stagnant water in a disused Lido where people were walking their dogs. It's carried by rats and in some cases is zoonotic. 'And he died of Canicola fever' is not the punch line of any joke I want to hear : (

I wish that my previous cats were chipped, before they decided to leave home.
But my present once has been chipped & "done".

Just to lighten the thread a bit, I'm going to "inject" this:- Microwaved dogs

One not Once

I hate the big brother enforcment of the chip. I just keep thinking about the story during the foot and mouth epidemic, of an old lady who had two pet sheep who lived with her, actually inside her house. They battered down her door and dragged them off for slaughter because she lived within the zone, not because they were sick (as if they couldn't have monitored their health instead). Paranoid me keeps thinking of a futuristic dystopia where they're killing all dogs unable to be hidden due to their chips...
In real life, it's highly unlikely you'll lose him. Just take no chances. I'm as likely to lose my two dogs as I am my kid to be honest. The livelier one is already chipped as he's a rescue, the other is elderly and goes on the long lead if we're somewhere unfamiliar.

Sorted

It's now actually illegal in England and Wales to have an un microchipped dog. They don't feel it and one day you'll be thankful for it. You'll never know. Think you should get it done ASAP.