Microchipping Cats

[Perseus]

I'm having my 5 month old kitten, Prometheus, neutered tomorrow and decided at the same time to have an ID microchip implanted since he will be under anesthesia already.  I've read about some controversy regarding using microchips and if they can cause cancer at the injection site.  I can't find any conclusive research other than they can cause cancer in mice, so I decided to go ahead with it.

The most commonly recommended microchips appear to be by Avid, www.avidmicrochips.com.  Luckily this is what my vet uses, too.  If anyone has had any bad experiences or other info with Avid or microchips, I would appreciate hearing about it.

Here's Prometheus after I told him he was being neutered tomorrow:

[GreyGhost]

Misty has the Avid chip. She has had it for about 5 1/2 years now. I have not noticed any problems. She has not gotten a tumor or lump anywhere near the injection site. I have also heard the controversy but feel the research is lacking and the benefits outweigh the risks at this point.

Keep us posted on how kitty does during and after surgery.

[Bonkers]

    Prayers that Prometheus comes thru being snipped and chipped with flying colors!!!

[Perseus]

    Prayers that Prometheus comes thru being snipped and chipped with flying colors!!!

Thank you, Bonkers.  Better late than never with the well wishes....

[GreyGhost]

Snipped and chipped I like that. Of course I wish the same.

[kaffe]

LOL - that picture sure brought a smile to my lips - a rare occurance these past few days.  I've never had any experience with microchips but have not heard any adverse reports from those who've had it done. 

How's the little one today?  He must be out of surgery by now - Cato was really really whoozy hours after the procedure as I recall and was very very clingy.

[Perseus]

How's the little one today?

The little champ came through with flying colors, and the whole vet hospital fell in love with him while he was there!  He's not even "drunk" any more and maybe just a bit wobbly.  He has a plastic collar on to keep him from licking his "wound" and he's totally disgusted about wearing it.  I have him confined in my bedroom but Athena is already playing footsie with him under the door.....

[GreyGhost]

Oooh. He got the cone........Thankfully not for too long.

I'm so glad to hear all went well and things should be back to normal very soon. I don't know of any animal that isn't totally disgusted with the whole idea of the "cone".

[meatball]

Aaaawwww I am so happy to hear that all went well for Prometheus.
By tomorrow it will be as if nothing happened, except for the little shaved tush 

Welcome home handsome.
You will be back in action with Athena before long.
Big head kisses for you

[Perseus]

Oooh. He got the cone........Thankfully not for too long.

GG, do you know how long the cone should stay on?  The vet tech didn't tell us exactly when we picked him up today.  I guess it's until he's healed?  How long does that usually take?

I took the cone off so he could eat a little bit just a short time ago, and as soon as he got done he went right to lick "that area".  So I put the cone right back on, but didn't realize I put it on upside down.  Then I see him walking funny and I'm wondering what the heck is going on?  THEN I realize it's covering his shoulders!  I'm such a bad mommy....

[kaffe]

Oooh. He got the cone........Thankfully not for too long.

So I put the cone right back on, but didn't realize I put it on upside down.  Then I see him walking funny and I'm wondering what the heck is going on?  THEN I realize it's covering his shoulders!  I'm such a bad mommy....

ha ha ha ha ha!!!     Oh, that's funny! 

If I remember corretly, the small incission closes up really quickly... I think by the 3rd or 5th day, or when the "wound" is dry, the little guy can lick himself already!

[GreyGhost]

Oooh. He got the cone........Thankfully not for too long.

GG, do you know how long the cone should stay on?  The vet tech didn't tell us exactly when we picked him up today.  I guess it's until he's healed?  How long does that usually take?

I took the cone off so he could eat a little bit just a short time ago, and as soon as he got done he went right to lick "that area".  So I put the cone right back on, but didn't realize I put it on upside down.  Then I see him walking funny and I'm wondering what the heck is going on?  THEN I realize it's covering his shoulders!  I'm such a bad mommy....

LOL. You are too funny. Not a bad mom just a silly one at times.

The wound should be just about healed before taking the cone off. Usually a few days. The skin (outside) will heal faster than the inside. When the skin is pretty much healed where he can't lick it and get it infected than the cone can come off. The inside will heal and be fine so long as the incision is healed. The cone simply prevents the animal from licking the incision site and opening it up and getting it infected. Did they use stitches, , glue, or staples? Most likely stitches. What is the color of the stitches?

[Perseus]

Well, the cone came off at 3:00 am this morning.  Prometheus had figured out how to use it as an assault weapon against mommy and daddy's faces as they slept (Siberian kitties are SOOO smart).  At 2:00 am I finally woke up and told him, if you don't lick "that area" for an hour, I'll take off the cone.  So we sat there staring at each other for an hour, and he didn't lick it once, so I took off the cone so we could sleep.  Now I've been up with him for a couple of hours already, and he's not licking it at all so I'll leave it off since I'm watching him closely.

I haven't looked close enough at "that area" to see the color of the stitches!  But the instructions sent home with him say there are no sutures to be removed so I think they just dissolve?

[kaffe]

That is correct: there are no sutures - the vets now just make a tiny incision perhaps 1/4 inch (if that) o the sack and pop out the jewels through and "snip" --- at least that was how it was with Kaffe and Cato... I had to clean "the area" with that mustard color liquid... forgot what it's called... to prevent infection. Ah! yes - with betadine!  But Cato's incision became infected anyway and he had to have a course of amox.

[GreyGhost]

Well, the cone came off at 3:00 am this morning.  Prometheus had figured out how to use it as an assault weapon against mommy and daddy's faces as they slept (Siberian kitties are SOOO smart).  At 2:00 am I finally woke up and told him, if you don't lick "that area" for an hour, I'll take off the cone.  So we sat there staring at each other for an hour, and he didn't lick it once, so I took off the cone so we could sleep.  Now I've been up with him for a couple of hours already, and he's not licking it at all so I'll leave it off since I'm watching him closely.

I haven't looked close enough at "that area" to see the color of the stitches!  But the instructions sent home with him say there are no sutures to be removed so I think they just dissolve?

Sorry to hear you got assaulted...lol. Even if it did make me laugh.

Some doctors use stitches some do not. It just depends on the doctor. Some just put 1 or 2 in that dissolve. Thats actually what I prefer. The reason I asked the color is that they have different colors . Pink are the ones that have to be taken out. At least on the ones we use.