Microchipping a rabbit??

[lunavenus]

The quarantine vet from the place I’m traveling to is telling me that I should microchip my bunnies for safety (just incase they run off) and for other purposes that is difficult to explain right now. 
Is microchipping bad? does the bunny feel it? Does it hurt? 
Do many bunny owners microchip their bunnies? Will it affect their health in the long term? 
I know they microchip cats and dogs… but I’ve never heard a bunny being microchipped before so I need some advice. 

[LittlePuffyTail]

My vet microchips bunnies. Mine are not chipped but I would def do it if they traveled frequently.

Microchipping is very safe. Not sure how many bunny owners do it but I know lots of cats and dogs that have had it done. The vet just makes a tiny nick in the skin and inserts a tiny little rice sized microchip. Not sure if the area is numbed first or not.

My advice is to find (if you don’t already have one) and ask any further questions you have.

[lunavenus]

I’ve heard some negative things about microchipping animals so I was thinking maybe I can tattoo them instead. Does anybody know where I can get my bunnies tattooed?…

[tobyluv]

One of my past rabbits was chipped when I adopted him from a shelter. I believe that they did it when they neutered him. As far as I know, it never affected his health.

[lunavenus]

Haha I’m so torn on what to do…
Should I chip them or not… what is better for them…
I’ve heard some horror stories of chipping and I’ve heard some great reunion stories too…
So I don’t know what to do……

[MiNinoJack]

Tattooing sounds painful, unnecessary and dangerous. How would anyone see the tattoo? Not to mention they would have to be sedated.

Microchipping is safe from everything I’ve heard. You can find a horrible story for just about everything on the internet if you look hard enough. Ask your vet if you feel unsure.

[lunavenus]

Vet said it’s safe so I guess I’ll go through with it this week and then see if any dangerous complications arise within the next 2 weeks.
Tattooing a bunny is actually really quick and safe, alot of breeders do it especially for show bunnies.
Some of the stuff they use look painful tho that’s why I was torn between a potentially painful tattooing session although quick OR a potentially harmful chip that somehow gives rise to unnecessary complications… But since people say that it’s relatively safe…. Maybe I’ll just stick with the chipping

[Brambino]

I’ve never heard microchipping have any serious risks at all. I’d be interested to know what risks you have found. It has been used for so long now in dogs, cats and rabbits, I think if there were serious problems they would be more well known?

It’s now the law in the UK to have your dog microchipped. If the law has been passed it will have been considered in parliament and deemed safe and appropriate to force all pet owners to microchip.

Saying that, the needle is really big and rabbits are relatively small. I wouldn’t want to have it done without at least local anaesthetic. Our dogs never blinked but Bramble is so small! She had hers whilst under anaesthetic for the spay.

Hope this is a little reassuring!

[lunavenus]

I read about it causing tumors/cancers occasionally but only like 300 cases have been reported to have any complications and over 4 million pets have been microchipped so I guess the risk is so tiny I’m more okay to go through with it. I mean fixing bunnies have a higher chance of complications too so I guess it’s fine to go through with a measly chip right?

[lunavenus]

So update on this:

My bunnies have been microchipped today and it was quick. The vet tech took them to the back for a bit while I waited outside in waiting room and then she brought them out within 5 minutes. Gave me a bunch of paperwork and resources so I could register the chip numbers.

The bunnies are fine. They don’t even know what happened. They hop around like nothings wrong and eat well haha. They gave me attitude when I brought them back home tho but quickly forgave me when I offered some treats. 

[Azerane]

Fantastic, I’m glad you got them chipped. I had Bandit microchipped, they did it under anesthetic during his neuter so I suppose I didn’t have to worry about the injection part of it. We never had any issues with the chip site and it was a great sense of security knowing that if I ever lost my boy that he had identification.

[LittlePuffyTail]

That’s great!

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