Vet Exotic Vet wants to microchip?

Yeah, that does sound really silly. I would be interested to know what the response would be if you spoke with the Doctor and asked "why?" Like, IF a pig ran away, and IF it survived long enough to be found in a stranger's yard or park, WHO would think to have a pig checked for a microchip?

I second that as odd. My vet is very cavy savvy and they do not chip them.

I third that as odd. I have two cavy savvy vets, one who knows enough to handle most common problems and another who is a specialist for tricky diagnosis, surgery, etc., and neither has ever suggested microchipping. My four cats are microchipped, even though they're indoor pets, just in case they get out and lose their collars. I just can't see the guinea girls escaping. Other than finding a lost pet, I can't see what the purpose would be.

I would just say no to the microchipping it is your pet and your in control, now if they give you attitude about not wanting the microchip then id find a different vet. I know my vet for my cats microchip but they never made me do it, none of my animals have been microchipped. they are probably just showing they can do it and some people might fall for it.

Honestly, it sounds like a way to scalp money from pet parents. Microchips are NOT fun for the animals. I've helped assist a few restraints for microchips and honestly if I was a dog/cat, I would try to bite your face off too. The needles are huge, a little smaller than the average pencil. Yes, pencil. ouch.

I think they're trying to get more money out of you. If your pig somehow gets out of it's cage, out the door, runs away and survives long enough for someone to find it and actually think to check for a microchip on something so small..... i mean... doesn't that just sound silly? Anyone on this site (yourself, obviously included! ) is waaaaay more careful than that. There's absolutely no need to microchip a guinea pig. that's just silly fiddle-faddle.

That's so strange. I can't think of ANY reasoning for microchipping a pig...

I mean, it'd be different if they were known to periodically pack their little suit cases and say "Mom, I think it's time for me to see the world."

I'm glad I wasn't being crazy for questioning the vet! I have opted not to go to that vet. I called and asked about it and they said "If the Guinea Pig gets out and runs off you will be able to be notified when they take them to the pound and have their chip scanned." Yeah, right. My girls wouldn't last five minutes outside, too many dogs, cats, snakes, and wild rabbits in my area. Plus, I don't see them escaping from the house, they are too spoiled already to want to venture out of my lap!
Thanks for the input! @219lindsey, I could see Princess doing that, lol!

I Googled microchippinh guinea pigs out of curiosity and came up with a NZ site that mentions it and says they even microchip fish! Uh, okay... Microchipping

Apparently, guinea pigs, bunnies, etc., are frequently microchipped in labs for easy identification, but I just don't see the need for it in pet piggies.

svillemomof4 said:

I'm glad I wasn't being crazy for questioning the vet! I have opted not to go to that vet. I called and asked about it and they said "If the Guinea Pig gets out and runs off you will be able to be notified when they take them to the pound and have their chip scanned." Yeah, right. My girls wouldn't last five minutes outside, too many dogs, cats, snakes, and wild rabbits in my area. Plus, I don't see them escaping from the house, they are too spoiled already to want to venture out of my lap!
Thanks for the input! @219lindsey, I could see Princess doing that, lol!

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I have a Princess over here that probably would too

I think it is ridiculous... Aja climbed out of the old cage ONCE but she just hid out under my bed (we then changed the cage so we wouldn't have to worry about her hurting herself). And microchipping a fish is even more insane.

Jusk skip the chip, but I wouldn't rule out the vet by that little bit of info on their website. It's probably simply a service they offer if someone wanted it.

I suppose if you showed guinea pigs and therefore traveled with them and had them in and out of cages in a chaotic environment, a chip could be helpful if your pig escaped among a bunch of others. But that's the only scenario I could conjure up that might make a tad bit of sense.

Two things to consider - exotic vets tend to see more exotic animals which might be subject to theft as much as just getting loose or running away, which might be why an exotic vet would suggest microchipping animals that should otherwise always be contained and confined on their owners' property.

Another consideration is that there are circumstances beyond the control of the owner which might cause the pet to become loose - natural disasters come most immediately to my mind. Marsha Weaver, owner/operator of the Cozy Cavy, had many of her pigs and rats displaced when her home was destroyed in a tornado, some found alive, some not.

Definitely doesn't seem like an outrageous idea and I certainly wouldn't dismiss them as a qualified vet for that reason, especially if it's just something you're seeing on their website and you haven't actually visited them or at least talked to them yet.

@Paula, I dismissed them because when I did call them on the phone the response to my question of why they want to micro chip them seemed a little far fetched. They want to do it on all piggies they see. We do not have a lot of disasters in my area, I couldn't tell you the last time a tornado came and destroyed a house, trailers yes but not a house and we live in a house. We get hurricanes, but not a real one since 1989, and my husband and kids would leave town for that with our GP's in hand and go to a cousins house who has no pets (while I have to stay and work). Plus, I wouldn't chip my kids as infants so why torture my GP"s? I could see entertaining the idea if I took them to shows or something but I don't. And the vets office wants to do it to all of them, not for certain circumstances. Just seems fishy.

You may feel it may not be necessary, but if you live in a high crime area or an area KNOWN for disasters (IE tornadoes or earthquakes) I'd definitely chip them. I have my dogs chipped because the complex across from mine has recently started overloading with "pit bulls". I swear, they all look and act like fighting dogs. Last thing I need is my babies to get stolen, used as bait or sold to god knows who or where. And my complex is gated with a guard always at the gates, surveillance cameras and even tire spikes in the exit gates. Sounds a little much, but it's a low income/moderately high crime area.

ETA: I just noticed you live in SC. The last hurricane you had was actually early 2000s. I don't think you received much of that hurricane, but you still received some of it. And those are quite predictable and you can plan in advance. It will really depend on your area.

No, the last real hurricane we got in my area was in 1989. We had one in 1999 but that didn't even make landfall, just skirted the beaches and we knew that was all it would do. I live about 45 min from the coast (an hour with normal people's driving, I drive like NASCAR) or about 35 miles so it is way different for us when a hurricane comes, we don't get hit as hard as places closer in. Even Hugo, the big one of '89 didn't do any major damage to our area. Trees were down but not a single home was taken, or that I know of (I'm talking about the town I live in, not the coast). All the damage was from the coast and inland for 20 miles or so. We also had a hurricane that was coming in '08 but it turned out to sea. But, MrWhistles, if I lived in FL I would consider it more, y'all have so many of them! You have been very blessed recently, knock on wood!! The last tornado that hit us was several years ago, it took out a whole trailer park but that was one where the trailers were all over 20 years old and not built to withstand anything!
Like I said, for me, where I live, it seems strange that they would automatically want to chip every little animal since we do not have the disasters and such like some places. This is a vet who knows the area, they live here. They want it done on the first visit, not asking if you live in a high crime area or not. I agree with other's, it feels like they are just trying to get money out of me. Getting a dog or cat chipped is one thing but a guinea pig is so different. They are tiny and their little hearts may not be able to handle the stress of the procedure. If my rotti hadn't been chipped when I adopted him from the pound I don't know that I would have done it on my own. I just can't stand to see any pet or human in pain......except spiders and snakes!

To @Mr.Whistles point - I think that's the only reason I would think microchipping would make sense. I don't think I would ever get my girls microchipped (god knows the looks I got weeks after they got their temps taken at the vet) but I'm not in an area known for natural disasters.

It makes me sad when vets try to gouge money out of you - I've been lucky to find two great clinics (one for my cat, one exotics for my pigs) that are just great! God knows exotic vets are pricey enough without trying to get more money out of you!

While some of the "Maybe..." situations we've come up with are pretty valid, the thing is, if someone found a pig, who would even think of having them checked for a chip?

I actually did look up SC's hurricane history, it stated the most recent hurricane was in 2002.
Regardless, the area you're describing is like the area I board my horses. So I really wouldn't deem microchipping your pigs necessary.