I.D. chips, or microchips, are tiny electronic chips implanted in pets that shelters can scan for information to return lost animals to their owners. While these chips have created some controversy because of links to cancer, allergies or tissue injury, the risks are small or inconclusive.
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Microchips
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A microchip is a tiny computer chip, the size of a grain of rice, that is imbedded under a pet's skin using a hypodermic needle. The chip has an identification number that veterinarians or shelters can scan.
Risks
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The risks generally associated with microchips are cancer, allergies and injury due to the microchip's moving into tissues or organs. Although some evidence supports the presence of these risks, they are generally considered so small that the benefits outweigh the risks, according to the American Veterinary Medical Association.
Cancer
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One study linked microchips and cancerous tumors, but the evidence of that study has been called into question, according to vetinfo.com. The study was done on lab mice, which are more vulnerable and easily harmed than large animals. Preventing pets' separation from owners outweighs the risk, according to the Washington State Veterinary Medical Association.
Allergies
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In rare cases, a pet could suffer an allergy to a microchip. However, microchips are encased in bio-compatible glass that generally does not irritate or harm the animal.
Tissues and organs
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Some worry that microchips could move into other tissues and organs, causing blockage or injury. In the vast majority of cases, once microchips are inserted into the pet, supportive tissue builds up around them, keeping them in place. As with allergic reactions, a few rare cases of this have been reported in research conducted by the British Small Animal Veterinary Association.
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