Is microchipping safe for rabbits?

[Liung]

I worked at a vet clinic for a little while and came out of it with, among other things, the firm belief that every dog and cat owner should get their pet microchipped. It's easy, affordable, quick, and greatly increases the chance of getting your pet returned to you.

Now, a nearby vet office is offering a low-cost microchipping clinic to try and promote microchipping, and it occurred to me... What about my bunnies?

I mean, the chances that they ever do get out are low. They are, after all, indoor pets. But, sometimes I take them outside to play in the back, and despite having gone over the entire fence with chicken wire I may have missed something.

I take them out to the vet. Delilah ADORES going out and being worshipped as is her due, so I take her with me on trips to the pet store and such. One person suggested that with how much she loves going out and being fussed over, I should look at bringing her in to schools and old folks' homes.

I'm very careful about securing them, they wear Y harnesses that always have a leash attached, even when they're in their stroller, so that if by chance they do jump out they can't go far...

But I can't prevent every eventuality, and isn't it better to have something and not need it, than need it and not have it?

The chances that they'll run away are tiny. The chances that they'll be rescued if they run beyond my reach aren't good. The chances that any shelter or vet's office would even check them for a microchip are microscopic.

But I would absolutely drop $15-30 on the off-chance that the above conditions may occur.

Now, on a dog or cat there's no issue, the insertion is so easy they can do it on the spot, no anaesthetic or anything. They make it a routine part of a spay or neuter procedure, just because it's a good a time as any, but literally you can have it done any time.

I don't THINK bunnies would be any different, but as per my obsession with covering all eventualities... Has anyone heard if it's not okay for rabbits to be microchipped?

Now have a picture of Delilah in her stroller, meeting a new friend. (She LOVES dogs, due to being raised by two as a baby. Dogs are... generally unsure of what to make of the strange-smelling creature that moves towards them instead of running away.)

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[MiniLopMad]

I know someone here in Sydney who microchips rabbits and I've seen pounds and rescues hold discount micro-chipping days for rabbits and ferrets, so I assume that it's safe.

The only thing I would worry about is pain... I'm not too sure how that would work. My vet put off the micro-chipping of my kitten until his neuter, because she said it can be painful. I wonder how a bunny would feel it then :/

Would applying a local anaesthetic cream be suitable for rabbits?

I'll be following this, as I'm curious too

 

[Liung]

Like I said it didn't seem to be any big deal, as the clinic I worked at would do it any old time. I think I remember watching a dog get it done on the spot, and he might have yelped? But was fine otherwise. No extra instructions, no antibiotics or pain meds, that was it.

Of course, bunnies are much smaller, and their skin is much thinner and more delicate. Perhaps it would be much more painful. Or, since the skin doesn't resist as much, perhaps less painful?

But at the same time as knowing that rabbit's skin is very thin, I remember when Lahi was getting a needle three times a week to treat his eye abscess, some rabbit owners were saying that they administered the needle to their rabbit themselves, and commented that it was very difficult to get through the skin. Which was confusing at the time (rabbit skin is both thin and delicate AND touch and difficult to pierce?) but I didn't question it as my vet wasn't charging me to administer the needles, so it wasn't an issue.

Thus the asking, as what I already know about rabbits could suggest either way.

As a side-note, in case size/weight/age/medical history makes a difference:

Delilah is a lop (I was told Holland but she's actually probably a mini lop, based on her face shape, though she doesn't deserve the "mini"), 5 year old spayed female, ~7 lbs. She's very healthy, other than some occasional gut issues, which is fortunate because getting her to take her medicine is a nightmare.

Lahi is a dwarf cross, 9 year old neutered male, >5 lbs. He's had a lot of health issues in the past, including conjunctivitis, a retrobulbar abscess, multiple tooth spurs, removing one back molar entirely, sore hocks, GI Stasis, a choking incident, and some mild depression after the death of his sister about 3 years ago (she was unspayed, and we believe she developed reproductive cancer). He's also struggled to keep on his weight, re: tooth problems, blasting the abscess with antibiotics, and his depression. However, his attitude toward being handled is very cooperative, and tolerates everything that must be done to him with an air of mournful resignation.

He's so delicate I feel iffy about going ahead without absolute assurance that microchipping is risk-free. Delilah is young and robust, and she's the one that goes on excursions anyway.

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[Liung]

Oh, and @MiniLopMad, generally any kind of topical cream is not recommended for rabbits, because they'll invariably try to groom it off. In this case it may not matter, as they can't reach the back of their own necks, but they can groom each other's necks, so it's not sustainable long-term.

So unless something is 100% definitely safe to ingest, never apply it to your rabbit. Even stuff labelled safe for pets or children must be side-eyed, because dogs and children don't obsessively clean themselves with their tongues.

Vets have to consider this problem when it comes to cats, but cats can be given Elizabethan collars (the Cone of Shame) if it's really necessary. Also, what may be safe for humans, dogs, and cats, may not necessarily be safe for an animal that isn't a carnivore and is much smaller than all three.

 

[missyscove]

The needle used with most microchips is so sharp that the pets hardly even feel it. The chip goes in the subcutaneous space (the same place fluids and many medications are commonly administered). I've seen numerous animals chipped and the ones that I do find react are those whose owners are watching because the owners see the size of the needle and get nervous. If pets are chipped away from the owners they typically don't react. Both of my current rabbits have microchips and my previous rabbits did as well. I personally held Cricket while she received her chip and she didn't react at all.
If you're at all concerned about the actual procedure, consider having it done any time your pet is under sedation or anesthesia for another procedure.

 

[Liung]

That's a good point, actually. Lahi's the one I'm concerned about, and he's actually due for a dentist appointment soon, to trim his tooth spurs. Delilah won't be undergoing anesthetic in the foreseeable future, but again, she's not delicate like Lahi is.

Yeah, definitely hear ya there. The clinic I worked at had a squeaky toy, and an assistant would come in and distract the dogs while the needle went in. Distracted, they would forget to be tense and nervous, and wouldn't feel a thing. Otherwise, they'd be picking up on their owner's worry and stress, and smelling the fear and stress of all other patients before them (inevitable no matter how much disinfectant the clinic uses), and be so tense they'd feel the needle.

If it's just a question of a needle, actually, Lahi is the one who'd be absolutely fine. He had to get a massive needle 3x a week for 7 weeks, to treat his abscess. And every time the vet and assistants couldn't praise him enough for being such a little trooper. Never struggled, never tried to get away. Just an air of "ughhhh... you again..."

But is there something more to consider than the needle itself? Again, with the size difference, what's small and unnoticeable for a dog is not necessarily so for a rabbit. Even between cats and dogs, the needles used on cats is usually a smaller gauge.

And, thanks to being uniquely affected by pasty abscesses, an infection is much more serious in rabbits than in dogs or cats. I don't think microchip implantation is prone to infection, but what do I know.

 

[missyscove]

I've never seen a reaction to a microchip in any species. If I try hard enough I can feel the microchip under my rabbits skin which I can't usually do in a dog, but it doesn't seem to bother them any.

 

[Azerane]

The only negative thing I've heard about chipping rabbits is that the chip can sometimes be more likely to move around, but I'm not sure how accurate that is.

I had Bandit microchipped, the vet recommended I wait until his neuter and have it done while he was under anesthetic which is what I did. But I don't see why it couldn't be done without it, it wouldn't be painful long.