Microchipping your Irish Setter is an essential step if you have one. Irish Setter are bright dogs that can easily slip out of their collar or escape from the yard. Microchipping these animals is thus critical so that they can be tracked down if they ever go missing. We’ll cover all you need to know about microchipping your Irish Setter in this blog post!
What is a pet microchip?
A microchip is a tiny computer chip, which is placed by a qualified microchip implanter under your pet’s skin, between their shoulder blades. The physical chip is very small, about the size of a grain of rice, and it will remain in your Irish Setter pup for its entire lifetime. This microchip contains all the information about you and your pet, including their vaccinations, medical records, breed type, etc. Microchips are not only used for identification but also to combat dog theft.
Why should you microchip your Irish Setter?
Microchipping is the best way to identify your Irish Setter. By law, all dogs should be microchipped. Although microchipping your dog is now compulsory, it also makes life easier to keep your dog safe. If he or she ever gets lost and ends up at the vets, which does happen more than you think, microchipped Irish Setters are much easier to reunite with their families than those who aren’t microchipped.
How can microchipping help me reunite with my missing Irish Setter?
If your Irish Setter gets lost, microchipping is a humane way to ensure that you are reunited with them. This means if someone found your missing dog and took them to the vet or rescue centre, when their microchip was scanned it would lead back to you as their pet owner.
In order to ensure microchipping is successful, it is important that your dog’s microchip information is registered and kept up to date. If you have just recently adopted a new Irish Setter, make sure the microchip database company has your most recent contact information so they can reach you when your missing pet is found. If you do not keep the contact details up to date on your microchip, if your Irish Setter goes missing, you may find it very difficult to be reunited with them.
At what age do I get my Irish Setter microchipped?
Irish Setters can be microchipped at any age, but it’s better if they are at least seven or eight weeks old. If you get your Irish Setter puppy microchipped before they are seven weeks old, their immune system is not fully formed. This could result in them rejecting the chip implant or it failing to work correctly.
If you live in the UK, by law your Irish Setter pup must be microchipped by the time they are eight weeks old. Typically, your breeder will have undertaken this exercise before you pick up your Irish Setter puppy, but it is always worth confirming with the breeder that this is the case. If you are not sure, you can go visit your local vet who will be able to provide you with that information. If they cannot find a chip, microchip implantation is a simple procedure they can do whilst you wait.
Does my elderly Irish Setter need microchipping?
Some people think that if their dog is old, they are not required to get it microchipped. This is not true unless your veterinarian says that the Irish Setter can’t be microchipped for health reasons. The vet will provide a certificate stating the exemption. In the UK, as regulations have made microchipping dogs compulsory, it is likely that your canine companion will already be chipped. Having them chipped is not enough, we would recommend that you check with your microchipping database that the details are correct and up to date.
Will microchipping hurt my Irish Setter?
Of course not, microchipping your dog is a simple procedure that doesn’t cause any type of pain. If you are worried about having pain inflicted on your Irish Setter, don’t worry. With modern technology today, the procedure is extremely quick and easy, a quick injection that doesn’t cause your dog any type of discomfort. When a vet uses a microchip scanner to identify your Irish Setter’s microchip number, this is also a painless procedure that takes a matter of seconds.
Are there any side effects of microchipping my dog?
Some people are concerned about side effects when it comes to microchipping their Irish Setter. There are some side effects that can happen with these chips but most of them are minor and not really something you need to worry about.
Microchips can cause allergies in your dog which will lead to irritation by the area where the chip was inserted or redness around it. This is very rare since they have been used for many years now without any major side effects being reported yet.
Another possible side effect might be an infection at certain sites although this isn’t common either according to research done on over 100 dogs who were all microchipped successfully and safe from side effects. With proper care and cleaning of the area chipped, microchipping side effects can be avoided.
Where can I get my Irish Setter microchipped?
All dogs from breeders should be microchipped prior to sale but if your Irish Setter puppy is not yet microchipped, there are various places where you can get it microchipped. Veterinary clinics, animal shelters, rescue organizations and even some pet stores offer this service for a fee where the dog owner will receive a certificate and correct microchip paperwork. Some rescue organisations may do this process for free.
How much does it cost to have my Irish Setter microchipped?
It costs about £20 in the United Kingdom to have a microchip implanted in your Irish Setter. The microchip implantation fee will be determined by the microchip brand you select, as well as other services you purchase with it. If you buy multiple services at once, such as vaccinations or pet identification tags, some microchipping businesses provide discounts. This cost could range between £20 and £30 if you don’t want to buy any more services from them.
I got my Irish Setter microchipped, what’s next?
When you get your dog microchipped, you should make sure you register your pet’s microchip details and your contact info with a government-approved UK pet database. Click here to read about the different pet database companies and what they offer.
Once your Irish Setter’s microchip is registered, it is your responsibility as the keeper to update it, especially your address and personal contact details, whenever you move to a different location. This makes it easier to reunite you and your pet when they go astray.
How can I update the information for my Irish Setter’s microchip?
You can update the microchip information at your local vet clinic or by getting in touch with the microchip company where your pet’s microchip details were registered.
Changing and updating a dog’s details on a pet microchip database costs between £6 and £20 in administration fees. Some charge you each time you modify your information, whereas others charge an upfront fee that covers all changes throughout your dog’s lifetime. Check with your database to see how they’re managed.
If you don’t keep your information current, the prospect of being reunited with your Irish Setter if they go missing is considerably less. Don’t put yourself in a position where you may never see your dog again. If the details of your Irish Setter remain unchanged, it will be the previous owner’s details that will be held on file with the microchip database as opposed to yours.
Please note, there is also a £500 fine due if your contact details registered with a government approved pet database is inaccurate.
Conclusion
Microchipping your dog is a vital part of pet ownership. It is a quick and easy painless procedure with no side effects at all if properly implanted. It’s important to microchip your dog and get their microchip details registered with an authorised pet microchipping database so if they were ever to run off, you will have the peace of mind that they could be returned to you easily.
I hope this article was helpful, and you learned everything you need about microchipping your Irish Setter! If so, please share with others who might also benefit from learning more information.