Dan's lost Basenji, Buddy

[Basenjimamma]

Dan,
I am so sorry this happened to you and Buddy..I had no clue, just saw this thread.
Gosh, I can not believe it.. thanks heavens he is Ok and safe and in your home again..
He might be slightly "shellshocked' from his adventure, maybe that is why he is laying low today..

[tanza]

@imbj:

Glad Buddy is okay and back home!!!

Regarding microchips - make sure you go to the vet and scan it (every once in a while) to make sure it's working… My first B had a microchip and was okay when I first got it for her but a few years later, the vet just happened to re-scanned it and it wasn't working (or got deactivated or something)... Anyway, she got it working again... Just my$0.02...

And sometimes they just migrate and can't be found… so, yes I agree..... have your dog's chip checked.

[nobarkus]

@imbj:

Glad Buddy is okay and back home!!!

Regarding microchips - make sure you go to the vet and scan it (every once in a while) to make sure it's working… My first B had a microchip and was okay when I first got it for her but a few years later, the vet just happened to re-scanned it and it wasn't working (or got deactivated or something)... Anyway, she got it working again... Just my$0.02...

That's why we should always have that collar on as well in case that chip does not scan. I got lucky it scanned and the person was more than willing to go all the way to the SPCA too. Had the collar been on she could of just called me right then from her home. I offered her money for her time and gas but they flat out refused saying it was no problem at all and that they are SPCA volunteers. If you could pick someone to find your B it would be this girl Megan and her mother. They totally love dogs. Maybe Buddy knew what he was doing when he went up to her on the street.

[lvoss]

Ever since this spring when we had Sophie scanned and couldn't find her chip we have learned that the most common reason for them not to scan is because they aren't actually there. What happens is they are implanted and then scanned and everything seems fine but the chip can migrate right back out of the tract it went in. Next time the dog is scanned there is no chip. So a very good practice is to have your dog scanned every year when it goes in for its regular check up and to have it scanned a couple weeks after implantation so the tract has healed and you can verify that it stayed put.

[nobarkus]

@lvoss:

Ever since this spring when we had Sophie scanned and couldn't find her chip we have learned that the most common reason for them not to scan is because they aren't actually there. What happens is they are implanted and then scanned and everything seems fine but the chip can migrate right back out of the tract it went in. Next time the dog is scanned there is no chip. So a very good practice is to have your dog scanned every year when it goes in for its regular check up and to have it scanned a couple weeks after implantation so the tract has healed and you can verify that it stayed put.

Good idea Lisa! We have learned something here that we cannot assume that just because the dog was scanned it will always work.

[renaultf1]

@lvoss:

So a very good practice is to have your dog scanned every year when it goes in for its regular check up and to have it scanned a couple weeks after implantation so the tract has healed and you can verify that it stayed put.

Yup, that's exactly what I do - it is part of their yearly exam. I've always heard about them migrating, but never heard of them actually being absent, so this is a good reminder. Does make you wonder where they go though.

[lvoss]

According to both my vet and the mobile vet, the scanners are very good at picking up the chips even if they have migrated, especially on a dog that is basenji sized. If the battery in the scanner is good they can detect from about 6 inches away from the chip. Their procedure is also to wand the whole dog if they don't find it between the shoulders because of migration. If you have ever seen a chip then you know they are pretty large, about the size of a grain of rice which leaves a wound tract that they can follow right back out. The one vet said he sometimes has found them caught in the long hair of some dogs after they came out.

[Rita Jean]

What can cause them to stop working or not to work? Then what do you do about it?

Rita Jean

[lvoss]

They usually do not stop working. Occasionally there is a bad one that for whatever reason doesn't give off a consistent signal. That is one reason the vet should test scan it before implanting it. Unless you have your dog x-rayed when you don't get a signal from the chip after implanting you won't know if it stopped working, which if it did the vet can report to the company and your replacement should be free, or if it just isn't there anymore.

[Rita Jean]

Thank you was not sure how they worked or did not.

Rita Jean

[agilebasenji]

I know Zest's migrated. I felt it the first day I got her and suspected that's what it was. I asked at the vet's office for them to scan it. The tech tried - nope. The vet tried - nope. I said scan right there, and pointed to the ribcage behind her right elbow. Sure enough, that's where it is. I asked if she was lost would the animal control find it there, she said no. So I'm not really sure the scanners will pick it up from 6" away.

[nobarkus]

@agilebasenji:

I know Zest's migrated. I felt it the first day I got her and suspected that's what it was. I asked at the vet's office for them to scan it. The tech tried - nope. The vet tried - nope. I said scan right there, and pointed to the ribcage behind her right elbow. Sure enough, that's where it is. I asked if she was lost would the animal control find it there, she said no. So I'm not really sure the scanners will pick it up from 6" away.

Wow, now what? Does anybody ever get another chip put in?

[lvoss]

I didn't really believe that the scanners would pick them up that easily though I am sure it depends on several factors also. As for whether a shelter will find a migrated chip, it depends on the thoroughness of the shelter. The one in my county scans the entire dog because the chips migrate. I am sure that some probably only check between the shoulders and are likely to miss ones that migrate. There is now also the issue of different frequencies being used by different companies. It definately makes a case for tatooing in addition to chipping.

[Maxie]

@nobarkus:

Wow, now what? Does anybody ever get another chip put in?

I agree - Now what? If chips can: Migrate back out thru insertion holes or to other areas. Become defective. Stop working. Someone said batteries (yikes).
The vet here said pounds & shelters may have different scanners, so cannot read all chips. And as we all know, Basenjis can be escape artists, bolt, get spooked, chew doors, scale fences, or back out of collars. My 3 basenjis could back out of any collars, martingales and harnesses. Any other ideas besides lockdown, collars and chips? Thanks, Maxie (Leigh)

[lvoss]

Tatoo. My eldest basenji is tatooed on his inner thigh and though it is a little blurred it is still readable. It is his AKC number with AKC written above the number. He is registered with AKC's Companion Animal Recovery program as are all my dogs so if they called AKC they will be able to provide my phone number.

The hard part is finding a good tatoo person. There used to be a really good person who would come out for the club's fun match and do it there.

[MacPack]

I just read this thread, whew, I am soooo glad Dan has Buddy back, safe and sound. What luck Buddy found great people to rescue him this time. A very quick happy ending!

[nobarkus]

Buddy says "hello and thanks to all".

[jonny b.]

i teach 4th grade and a student told me today miracles happen. another kid piped up a lot of disasters happen too. so i said you cannot have miracles unless you have disasters… all the kids shook their heads and agreed.... kind of thought provoking for 10 year olds...

[nobarkus]

@jonny:

i teach 4th grade and a student told me today miracles happen. another kid piped up a lot of disasters happen too. so i said you cannot have miracles unless you have disasters… all the kids shook their heads and agreed.... kind of thought provoking for 10 year olds...

I shared this story with Petra (Basenjimamma) that happened to me with my first Basenji. I'll post this little miracle as well.

Talk about the dog Gods. When I moved into this house on Halloween 1983 I thought for sure I lost my first Basenji Nipper. It was my second to the last trip moving stuff and I brought Nipper. Then went back to get the last load. OK, no cell phones, no computers and no implanted chips. So I get back and the neighbor and my best friend who was sharing the place with me says "Nipper got out". I guess the kids left the gate open trick or treating. I was like "OH NO"! So me and my friend jump in our separate cars and go looking. Street after street, nothing, no kids have seen her and it's drissling rain out. I can't believe it my friend goes to the park, 7 blocks away and looks under parked cars and there she is shivering. I could not believe it! How did he ever know to do that? I think about that to this day. It's a miracle.

[Basenjimamma]

Pretty Buddy, looking content as all get out..