In the US, it is much easier to seek approval for, and use in studies, mice and rats, under controlled conditions (much easier to maintain humanely, spacewise, and with regards to hygiene, they also mature much faster than a dog or cat)- most products must undergo safety testing in 2 animal species before being approved for testing in humans, so they are a common starting point for health studies. I realized too, that I wrote the incorrect name of the chip - it is VERICHIP, not VERISIGN (verisign is a completely different company and product! OOOPS!).
As for the studies referred to, testing was also reviewed from a German study, at Hannover Medical School, I believe, and another study at Ecole Nationale Veterinaire of Unite d'Anatomie Pathologique, in France, in the article. Your point about the breeds of mice and rats is a good one - I hadn't thought of that, often certain breeds are more susceptible to cancer. The description did not include the breeds. It did point out that the tumors - sarcoids, fibroids, adenocarcinomas, and others - were located directly around the glass-encased capsules. They also reported a single case of a French Bulldog in Italy with a sarcoid right around the microchip, and mentioned that a study had fairly recently been prompted to study dogs -some of the tens of thousands of them - that had been implanted.
Which is the question that led me here - has anyone elsewhere had any problems with their microchips in dogs? I love the international nature of this website, and the combined experiences of the users! In years of working with dogs, I'd never heard complaints of cancer from microchips, but never really asked anyone,either. The only issue I've ever had was a microchip, around 5 or 6 years back, that migrated downwards from it's place between the shoulders, and removed by my veterinarian, and didn't cause any injury or illness to the dog. Certainly nothing such as cancer! I'm sure there is a good chance of this being yet another media frenzy article!
Marcy
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