Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I'm new here so if this has been covered else where forgive me.I've had AVID chips implanted into my Beaded Lizards by a Vet. He placed them between the shoulders. I realize that this is only helpful if your animals can be recovered but many snakes are found. I have heard this is dangerous and the chips can and do cause cancer.All this can be found on the Indigo Fourum. My quetion is this...do any of you use them for your snakes and where would they be implanted exactly in the body cavity? If you don't use them then why not? Shannon

Shannon,

I work for a vet clinic and we used the AVID chips for a long time (recently switched to a slightly cheaper/more client friendly brand). While mostly we chip cats and dogs we would do snakes or lizards if a client wanted one. You asked where in the body cavity the chip would be implanted, no where. Microchips are acually implanted under the skin of the animal. I believe, but am not 100% certain that on snakes the chip is generally implanted in the tail just past the cloaca. Your vet should know though.

As far as the claims of chips causing cancer I would be a little skeptical. Is the possiblity there? Of course, but be realistic. For one the microchips are made from an inert glass material so that the body doesn't experience an adverse reaction when implanted. Secondly, while there are articles on the net pretty much saying that these chips cause cancer check your sources. The internet contains a wealth of information, but unfortuantely a lot of it is unfactual. I personally would be hesitant to accept anything not published in a peer reviewed journal. Certainly there have been studies done concerning cell phones and the like causing tumors or leading to other health issues, but I don't believe a correlation can be made to microchipping your pet. The reason being is the funamental way that these chips work. While your (insert favorite device here) is usually on for large periods of time and used daily over the course of our lives, micro chips are not. The only time a micro chip is active is when it's being scanned. Thus once implanted (usually it is scanned once after implantation to insure it's working as it should and that the correct chip number matches the paperwork) it is entirely possible that it may not be scanned again for the life of your pet. You certianly won't be scanning it multiple times a day over the life of your pet.

I personally don't have any of my snakes chipped simply because I don't really have a reason to. They aren't large expensive snakes (3 corns, 2 black racers, and 2 baby ball pythons) and I don't really worry about them being stolen (I'd love to see someone try and get my male black racer out, expecially if you're not used to handling snakes...lol), but ultimately the choice is a personal one. If you feel more comfortable with an animal that is permanently identifiable, do it.

Just my two cents, but hope it helps.
Dan
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>>I'm new here so if this has been covered else where forgive me.I've had AVID chips implanted into my Beaded Lizards by a Vet. He placed them between the shoulders. I realize that this is only helpful if your animals can be recovered but many snakes are found. I have heard this is dangerous and the chips can and do cause cancer.All this can be found on the Indigo Fourum. My quetion is this...do any of you use them for your snakes and where would they be implanted exactly in the body cavity? If you don't use them then why not? Shannon

Anything implanted can cause cancer. It is a forgein body and can result in a reaction. I do know that there is a current movement against microchips and the fact that they caused cancer in lab rodents. It also included a study of dogs. The study, if I am remembering correctly, only referenced two dogs getting cancer. One may have been related to the chip and one was directly related to the chip. In dogs, the chip is implanted in the same place that vaccines are given. Over vaccination has in fact been linked to cancer. Millions of dogs and cats are microchipped and if only two turned up with cancer, I personally feel the odds are good. I am unsure however where the snakes are microchipped, however I do know a great deal of high end ball python breeders are using microchips in their animals. Check with the folks in the ball forum.
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Cindy
PHFaust

Email Cindy

Land of the Outcasts!

I have AVID chips in all of my snakes except one and have had them there for almost 2 years (a year and a half before required by law) and haven't seen any adverse effects as of yet. (knock wood) All of my were placed by ACS officers during a pet drive they have every year.I haven't had to use mine yet either, but hopefully if I ever do need them they will do their job.
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thank you for your input but I need to know WHERE in the body of the snake is safe for injecting an implant. this is an Indigo snake. The tail? What about the hemi penis that are housed there? Need another idea.