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What age can you safely microchip pups

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#2 ·
We had our last pup done when we got her second round of puppy shots. I'm not sure I would do it any sooner. It is a little painful.
 
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#3 ·
I wouldn't, just ID them in some other manner. Are you going to do dew claws? Remember to sterilized the instrument in between pups. If you are planning on doing swabs, the puppies have to be weaned to avoid cross-contamination. With pups, unless you do them older, the EIC testing will probably be more informational to you and people should retest later to be entered on OFA. at least that's how I see it.
http://www.vdl.umn.edu/guidelines/canineneuro/blood/home.html
http://www.vdl.umn.edu/guidelines/canineneuro/cheekswabs/home.html
 
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#5 ·
I would think the pups would need to be AT LEAST two weeks to microchip. That's a little late for dews.

I'd do what Erinsedge said. Id bands and maybe fingernail polish. A couple forms of "id'ing" would help the system not fail.

WRL
 
#7 ·
I've used fabric paint as it is acrylic and nontoxic, it sticks pretty well, but let it dry for a few before putting back in with littermates and mom or it will get smeared. You can also snip parts of hair off, like right hip, left hip, right shoulder, etc., but that gets a bit much for me, especially with a big litter that is all the same color. I personally do not like collars or ribbon, etc on newborn necks and it can easily come off too, when you are concerned about perm id.
 
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Discussion starter · #8 ·
Rainmaker said:
I've used fabric paint as it is acrylic and nontoxic, it sticks pretty well, but let it dry for a few before putting back in with littermates and mom or it will get smeared. You can also snip parts of hair off, like right hip, left hip, right shoulder, etc., but that gets a bit much for me, especially with a big litter that is all the same color. I personally do not like collars or ribbon, etc on newborn necks and it can easily come off too, when you are concerned about perm id.
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Fabric paint? Forgive me but where would a guy get that and in multiple colors?
 
#9 ·
Walmart or anyplace with crafts, it's just in little squeeze bottles, easy to use, cheap, good array of colors, though I try to stick with colors that will match up with actual collars later. Lasts at least a week between applications.
 
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#15 ·
Sniper said:
I had a litter born last night and want to test for EIC. Can you safely microchip pups that are only a couple of days old?
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You most certainly can. We have done 2 litters for a total of 20 pups, all of them microchipped at about 3-4 days old. Have not had one single problem with them, all are doing great and the chips are staying put very well. If you put them in your self, it takes a little practice and can be a little mentally stressful, but doesn't hurt the pup anymore than it does to remove a dewclaw.
 
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#16 ·
Dogtrainer4God said:
You most certainly can. We have done 2 litters for a total of 20 pups, all of them microchipped at about 3-4 days old. Have not had one single problem with them, all are doing great and the chips are staying put very well. If you put them in your self, it takes a little practice and can be a little mentally stressful, but doesn't hurt the pup anymore than it does to remove a dewclaw.
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Of course you can, you can do lots of things, doesn't mean they are the best or make the most sense. That needle is long and big in comparing a newborn to even a 2-4 week old pup, put it in the wrong angle or spot, dead or paralyzed pup, especially for a novice. Those babies can jerk hard and fast. Personally, unless there was very good reason, I'd wait on investing in testing anyway til all the pups make it past those critical first couple of weeks, freeze the dews now, after marking the pups, send in later. The EIC testing is pretty quick these days.
 
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#17 ·
You can also shave small area’s on the pups to id them, you don’t have to worry about it coming off or wearing off. Shave a different spot on each pup, like leg, ear, or spot on the back. We have never chipped very young pups either.
 
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Discussion starter · #19 ·
Matt Griffiths said:
You can also shave small area’s on the pups to id them, you don’t have to worry about it coming off or wearing off. Shave a different spot on each pup, like leg, ear, or spot on the back. We have never chipped very young pups either.
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I might give that a try as well. First try with fabrc paint.....was ah..... well..... a train wreck.
 
#20 ·
My pups had litterbands on. For EIC testing, I labeled snack size ziploc bags with the color and my information and my vet put the dewclaws with gauze into them for me. You can keep them in your freezer until you need to test.

I have tried ribbon, fabric paint (does not dry fast enough), and nail polish. I am really happy with my litterbands - they do not come off and are easy to adjust. I started with the small size and the pups are wearing the large size at 4 weeks old.

I have heard that you can use swabs as long as the puppy has not nursed or eaten for 2 hours for VetGen. I don't know about EIC. I'd stick with dew claws though.
 
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