I want to get Otis and also our newbie Moses microchipped, so I called my vet to ask about it. They use HomeAgain, which is one of the more common brands, I believe.

Otis has been very vocal the last few times we have been to the vet, so I have opted to muzzle him so I don't have to worry about him biting any of the techs..now, since I want Otis chipped, the vet says I should put him under so it would be easier for them to do it…
I don't want to put him under, for a minor thing like that, god forbid something were to happen.
Not only do I think it is silly, he gets shots without being put under, yet they want to do this. I realize that the needle is larger then normal, but is it "traumatically" (homemade word) larger?
It takes the chip from $50.00 up to $150.00..
What do you think about it?

When I had my cat done, they gave her a local anesthetic before inserting the microchip. She did just fine with that. That needle they use to put in the chip is HUGE.

All of my dogs have been chipped without anesthetic, local or otherwise, with no problems.

I don't know about doing one as an adult and I don't know about Home Again.

I will say the needle is pretty large. My 3 were done as pups without anesthetic - Liyah was done around 12 wks and she did scream bloody murder and then sobbed a little afterward, but she is a little dramatic. The tip of the needle is about an eighth of an inch if I remember correctly - she got an Avid chip.

I have done puppies at 8wks and yes the needle is really, really big… and I helped do a litter of Silky Terriers... lots of screaming for 5 seconds... then they forget all about it...

But rather then put Otis under, I think if they are concerned, a local anesthetic would be a good solution.

You should work with Otis to see if you can him over being "vocal" at the Vet. Best thing to try is just take him there without anything being done and let the techs give him treats... and then just leave... that way he doesn't associate every visit with something possibly painful....

Buddy was chipped while he was under being neutered. If Otis isn't under anesthesia it will hurt for a minute and he'll yelp so you may want to muzzle him if he tries to bite. Can't they give a local anesthetic?

Sophie was done twice with a home again chip. The first one as a puppy, the second at 2 years old. She cried more at her first DHPP shot than for either microchips. Nicky was also done as an adult and though he did flinch when they injected him causing it to be a bit off to the side, it didn't traumatize him.

Nobarkus has a good point. YOu could just have Otis chipped when you have him neutered. Otherwise, if he isn't good at the vet as it is, definitely muzzle him for the chip.

@lvoss:

All of my dogs have been chipped without anesthetic, local or otherwise, with no problems.

We also have been chipped our dogs (at the age 3 and 1) and puppies at 8 weeks with no problem. And yes needle looks big but it lasts just a minute.

Something to be aware of is that most locals sting as they go in, so they are uncomfortable in themselves. I would opt for getting it over with quickly, with no extra meds of any kind.

I can understand getting it over with, but we could say the same thing next time you go in for a skin polyp removal. I'm a wimp with my pets. I'd rather they have a little minor sting from local anesthesia with a 26 gauge needle than a huge hurt from a needle that's 3mm in diameter. Again, it's a personal preference thing.

I think Nobarkus and Renaultf1 are right…have them done while they are already under for neuter, if they are getting that anyway.

I agree with having it done when they are neutered, that's what I did this time. My last dog was already neutered, so I had to weigh having it done while he was awake, with or without pain meds. I decided it was only going to hurt for one of the injections either way, (with a local or without) and if it was me, I'd just go for it, so that's what we did, and he only whimpered just a second and that was it.

Of course this was the dog who also was a trooper when we needed a blood donor dog, so ….

He saved three poisoned Poms that day, without any fuss at all.

Guys, I know I could trust on you all to give me great advice. They(my vet) always give local anyway, at least that is what the girl at the front desk told me, so if numbing is a question they will do that. I talked it over with my hubby and he does not want him to be put under just for this, so I will talk to them and see what they say about just letting us do it anyway..it is brief I know, but it was brief when the DR pierced my eardrum too, and oh…my did that hurt..
Again, Thanks for all your input..I will let you kow how it went, when it goes...;)

Hey one question…when you say Otis has been "very vocal" at the vet, do you mean that he has been growling? If so, Pat has some great advice of just doing social visits with him to the vet...you might want to give that a try.

I have a funny story about "very vocal." In my case, when Brando had his broken leg he had to have the cast changed 2x per week for the first 3 wks and then 1x per week for the following 5. He was "very vocal" to the girls when he was having it changed...he'd sing and talk to them :D:D:D while it was being changed. The vets in the practice all love him, as do the office girls, so they all wanted to keep him after he started doing that...what a little flirt :D. Hey, at least he was happy...he'd just sit there and let them do whatever!

Of course, other owners were always asking what all the noise was... :D:D:D

As for issue of local anesthesia, just remember every animal and person reacts differently. I hate going to the dentist because the local makes me feel ill for a day and because my nerves are not in the textbook locations it usually doesn't numb the right places anyway. So if this is his first time getting a local, watch him to make sure there are no adverse effects.

@lvoss:

As for issue of local anesthesia, just remember every animal and person reacts differently. I hate going to the dentist because the local makes me feel ill for a day and because my nerves are not in the textbook locations it usually doesn't numb the right places anyway. So if this is his first time getting a local, watch him to make sure there are no adverse effects.

That's why I said I would opt for getting it over with, without extra meds…

Hi again..
Well Otis and Moses ended up getting their microchips an hour ago. I talked to friend after being on here last, explained what the vet had said and all that, she said..well come down here, we do microchips here…duh..She works for CAP, Citizens for Animal Protection, so I drove over to her location, had both dog microchipped and back home within the hour...easy peasy. By the way, they did not use local anesthesia..

She said Otis was an angel, no growls or even fighting back, Moses however, put up a struggle..he is very strong so it is hard to contain him, sometimes.
Now they both have their chips and are good to go.

Renault1 and Tanza, I did speak to the female vet ( the one I feel is on the same page as I am as far as diet and general health..i.e she doesn't push Hills Science Diet, nonstop) in our office, and she agrees on bringing Otis in for "happy" visits, so I will be doing that here, starting tomorrow..
I will also do that with Moses, to get him started on a good leg with the vet..

Poor Otis has been to the vet a lot, after his car accident, with his diarrhea and all, so it is time for some good, happy, no poking or prodding visits..

Again, thank you all for all your input and ideas..

Exactly why I suggested "happy visits"… I knew that Otis had been to the Vet for a few not so pleasant things in a short time... enough to make any dog a bit leary of the Vet office....

Sometimes they never forget bad experiences at the Vets office, much depends on your Vet... My first Vet never really liked Basenjis and Maggii and OJ picked up on it... also when OJ was a baby, he got very, very ill... he was at the Vet more then home and we really thought we were going to lose him... he did recover but never trusted that Vet... once I started going to a different Vet (for many other reasons)... he loved his Vets... he would crawl up beside me in the waiting room and go sound asleep...

Tanza, you hit the hammer on the nail..I don't feel as if the male Vet (head of the office) likes basenjis very much, now the female, she is lovely. We are doing our happy visits with her..and if I sense that he might need a new vet, I won't hesitate to change..
She has been very helpful, and I feel a connection with her, I hope Otis feels that I trust her..if that makes sense.
Happy visits it is..

both our dogs took about 2 seconds from walking into the room with the needle to walking back out. jonny just looked at the vet, hansel yelped quickly and on our way we went. i cannot imagine putting them out for THAT. but neither one dislikes going either. they both look at it as an AMAZING chance to smell, jump, chase, visit, investigate,… well you get the idea. they love it there. SO MANY dog food bags to smell. lol