So a very good practice is to have your dog scanned every year when it goes in for its regular check up and to have it scanned a couple weeks after implantation so the tract has healed and you can verify that it stayed put.
Yup, that's exactly what I do - it is part of their yearly exam. I've always heard about them migrating, but never heard of them actually being absent, so this is a good reminder. Does make you wonder where they go though.
According to both my vet and the mobile vet, the scanners are very good at picking up the chips even if they have migrated, especially on a dog that is basenji sized. If the battery in the scanner is good they can detect from about 6 inches away from the chip. Their procedure is also to wand the whole dog if they don't find it between the shoulders because of migration. If you have ever seen a chip then you know they are pretty large, about the size of a grain of rice which leaves a wound tract that they can follow right back out. The one vet said he sometimes has found them caught in the long hair of some dogs after they came out.
What can cause them to stop working or not to work? Then what do you do about it?
Rita Jean
They usually do not stop working. Occasionally there is a bad one that for whatever reason doesn't give off a consistent signal. That is one reason the vet should test scan it before implanting it. Unless you have your dog x-rayed when you don't get a signal from the chip after implanting you won't know if it stopped working, which if it did the vet can report to the company and your replacement should be free, or if it just isn't there anymore.
Thank you was not sure how they worked or did not.
Rita Jean
I know Zest's migrated. I felt it the first day I got her and suspected that's what it was. I asked at the vet's office for them to scan it. The tech tried - nope. The vet tried - nope. I said scan right there, and pointed to the ribcage behind her right elbow. Sure enough, that's where it is. I asked if she was lost would the animal control find it there, she said no. So I'm not really sure the scanners will pick it up from 6" away.
I know Zest's migrated. I felt it the first day I got her and suspected that's what it was. I asked at the vet's office for them to scan it. The tech tried - nope. The vet tried - nope. I said scan right there, and pointed to the ribcage behind her right elbow. Sure enough, that's where it is. I asked if she was lost would the animal control find it there, she said no. So I'm not really sure the scanners will pick it up from 6" away.
Wow, now what? Does anybody ever get another chip put in?
I didn't really believe that the scanners would pick them up that easily though I am sure it depends on several factors also. As for whether a shelter will find a migrated chip, it depends on the thoroughness of the shelter. The one in my county scans the entire dog because the chips migrate. I am sure that some probably only check between the shoulders and are likely to miss ones that migrate. There is now also the issue of different frequencies being used by different companies. It definately makes a case for tatooing in addition to chipping.
Wow, now what? Does anybody ever get another chip put in?
I agree - Now what? If chips can: Migrate back out thru insertion holes or to other areas. Become defective. Stop working. Someone said batteries (yikes).
The vet here said pounds & shelters may have different scanners, so cannot read all chips. And as we all know, Basenjis can be escape artists, bolt, get spooked, chew doors, scale fences, or back out of collars. My 3 basenjis could back out of any collars, martingales and harnesses. Any other ideas besides lockdown, collars and chips? Thanks, Maxie (Leigh)
Tatoo. My eldest basenji is tatooed on his inner thigh and though it is a little blurred it is still readable. It is his AKC number with AKC written above the number. He is registered with AKC's Companion Animal Recovery program as are all my dogs so if they called AKC they will be able to provide my phone number.
The hard part is finding a good tatoo person. There used to be a really good person who would come out for the club's fun match and do it there.
I just read this thread, whew, I am soooo glad Dan has Buddy back, safe and sound. What luck Buddy found great people to rescue him this time. A very quick happy ending!
Buddy says "hello and thanks to all".
i teach 4th grade and a student told me today miracles happen. another kid piped up a lot of disasters happen too. so i said you cannot have miracles unless you have disasters… all the kids shook their heads and agreed.... kind of thought provoking for 10 year olds... 
i teach 4th grade and a student told me today miracles happen. another kid piped up a lot of disasters happen too. so i said you cannot have miracles unless you have disasters… all the kids shook their heads and agreed.... kind of thought provoking for 10 year olds...
I shared this story with Petra (Basenjimamma) that happened to me with my first Basenji. I'll post this little miracle as well.
Talk about the dog Gods. When I moved into this house on Halloween 1983 I thought for sure I lost my first Basenji Nipper. It was my second to the last trip moving stuff and I brought Nipper. Then went back to get the last load. OK, no cell phones, no computers and no implanted chips. So I get back and the neighbor and my best friend who was sharing the place with me says "Nipper got out". I guess the kids left the gate open trick or treating. I was like "OH NO"! So me and my friend jump in our separate cars and go looking. Street after street, nothing, no kids have seen her and it's drissling rain out. I can't believe it my friend goes to the park, 7 blocks away and looks under parked cars and there she is shivering. I could not believe it! How did he ever know to do that? I think about that to this day. It's a miracle.
Pretty Buddy, looking content as all get out..
I looked all over the net for tattoers for dog in the houston area and you are right, they are hard…I mean impossible to come by..I might just have to open my own business..
Here's my gate solution. I went to the hardware store where I bought mega eye screws and a great big spring with hooks on each end. Ranchers use them on barn gates. I took the 2 eyescrews and screwed one on the fence and one on the gate. To those, I attached the two spring hooks. Now the gate "slams shut" on its own. For backup, I did the same with a heavy duty bungee cord. I'm going to do it to my front door as well. Now, Victoria is no longer tempted due to its high-powered "slam shut" feature.
Very smart and inexpensive..
Here's my gate solution. I went to the hardware store where I bought mega eye screws and a great big spring with hooks on each end. Ranchers use them on barn gates. I took the 2 eyescrews and screwed one on the fence and one on the gate. To those, I attached the two spring hooks. Now the gate "slams shut" on its own. For backup, I did the same with a heavy duty bungee cord. I'm going to do it to my front door as well. Now, Victoria is no longer tempted due to its high-powered "slam shut" feature.
Thanks Leigh! I was thinking today about putting a spring on that gate. Did you get my email?
Love the pic of Buddy, Dan, he looks like butter wouldn't melt 
When i ferst got Benji he kept escaping through the front door when we answered it, me and the kids would franticaly hurtle after him as he got nearer and nearer to thye main road. One day his luck ran out and he was run over, my eldest son saw it happened and shouted "oh no !!"
I am pleased to say he survived with a couple of head wounds and a scraped bottom. When he recovered he was very reluctant to go out a walk with just my son and i'm sure that because he heard James voice as he was hit he blamed him for the accident
