By Krystal L. Beers, CSAN
The topic of pet microchipping is quite controversial. Ask whether to chip or not on any social media pet group and you’ll see what I mean!
Most veterinarians and pet breeders recommend them. The benefits touted mostly have to do with loss or theft recovery; while those on the other side of the issue talk about serious health concerns like tumors. They are all valid considerations.
However, the overall welfare of the animal should be the main concern, so let’s take a look at what microchips are, how they operate, and alternatives to keep your pet safe and healthy.
HOW IT’S MADE
The microchips most commonly used consist of an antenna, capacitor/tuner, and chip. These electronic components are encased in bio-compatible glass. Added polymers bond (interact) with the tissues of the animal to prevent migration.
Manufacturers say they are safe.
THE PROBLEMS
EMFs- Only selective frequencies are allowed to activate the implanted device that modulates the field in a manner that is read by the scanner as backscatter. However, the antenna is not a selective receiver and can intercept, generate current with, and re-radiate other electromagnetic waves in the environment even if the chip itself is not activated. In this day and age, we are surrounded by electromagnetic frequencies (EMFs), radar, and microwaves everywhere we go which represent potential hazards.
The components of pet microchips can consist of ferrous materials and so there are also hazards from MRI scans and strong magnets which are found in some household cooking ranges.
The polymers contain all kinds of toxins as impurities that migrate to the surface over time. Some chips are porous polypropylene; polymer encapsulated ones have an undisclosed composition; some patents suggest silicon-filled polyester.
Migration- The fact that microchips can and do migrate in the body is well-known. Where they migrate to is a problem.
A MORE SINISTER EFFECT
Dr. Katherine Albrecht, a consumer advocate and expert on the side effects associated with implanted microchips says: “Based on the alarming number of microchip-induced cancers we’re discovering… Merck and organizations that advocate pet chipping should… start warning pet owners of the risk of microchip-induced cancer.”
Dr. Otto Heinrich Warburg, M.D., Ph.D., studied cancer cells. In 1923, he discovered that chronic lack of oxygen causes cancer through the well-known Warburg effect. Implanting a foreign object under the skin causes cancer because it blocks blood circulation, thereby starving the surrounding tissue of oxygen. (1)
In the early 1950s, Henry Goldblatt and Gladys Cameron, at the Institute for Medical Research at Cedars of Lebanon Hospital, succeeded in transforming normal rat cells into cancer cells by repeatedly depriving them of oxygen.
In 1959, Paul Goldhaber gave further credence to Warburg’s hypothesis when he discovered that Millipore diffusion chambers, used to sample tissue fluid, caused large tumors to grow around them. The interference of free fluid around them deprived the tissue around the chambers of oxygen.
At a conference of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Dr. Albrecht presented a paper documenting the increasing number of animals being harmed by microchips. (2) Although there is no database yet for recording chip-associated adverse events, Albrecht’s organization CASPIAN is compiling such information and making it available to the public.
SAFE ALTERNATIVES
Microchips are only effective for lost or stolen dogs if the dog is taken to a veterinarian, if the correct scanner is used, or if the thief hasn’t inserted another chip over top.
What to do? Special I.D. tags can save the day.
In my search for a safe I.D. system, I found several tags that are reasonably priced and do not contain any type of chip! They operate on the location system in the smartphone used to call the number or scan the QR code on the tag.
BEST PRACTICES FOR PETS WITH CHIPS
What if your pet already has a microchip? Surgical removal is not recommended.
It is best to periodically monitor the chip’s location at your veterinarian's office. Also, stay aware of the development of any tumors near the chip site.
Because microchips cause chronic inflammation, you might consider testing your pet’s inflammatory markers periodically.
As a proactive measure, a healthy raw diet is highly recommended for its naturally anti-inflammatory benefits.
Testing your pet for lead is a good idea as well, because of the glass component of microchips.
1. Warburg, Otto, Franz Wind, Erwin Negelein. 1926. “The Metabolism of Tumors in the Body.” Journal of General Physiology 8: 519-30.
2. “Microchip-Induced Tumors in Laboratory Rodents and Dogs: A Review of the Literature 1990-2006”
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Copyright © 2024 Radiant Animal Wellness, Krystal L. Beers. All rights reserved. No part of this article may be reproduced in any form without the written consent of the Author/Publisher.
About the Author: Krystal L. Beers, C.S.A.N. is a Board Certified Small Animal Naturopath consulting on animal nutrition and wellness. With years of experience in animal wellness, Krystal is a blogger, writer, and presenter on natural pet care as well as the published author of three books on animal care, including Rabbit Care… Naturally, Give Your Dog a Species Appropriate Raw Food Diet, and The Eight Laws of Health in Animal Naturopathy. Krystal’s articles have been featured in various publications in both print and online. Krystal is passionate about using and sharing Young Living Essential Oils. Visit her Website: https://twohunnyz.wixsite.com/rawnaturopathy
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