Yes I understand totally, and agree with whats said, I don't personally chip my dogs as I am not comfortable with the process and have several friends with chips that have moved and landed up in the chest area and one even in a front leg so if given an option I don't chip my dogs but do dna test them to prove who they are.
I chipped rogan as I was led to believe I had to otherwise Optigen wouldn't have accpeted his blood.
When I referred to cost I was comparing swabs with the blood draw, the swab method is free where I paid 55 pounds for the blood test for Rogan to be done at my vets, I for future would love to have the choice of a swab or blood and would happily chip the dog if that meant the result could not ever be doubted, as I agree we need to work on this basis.
When we have had both our labs eye tested and hips done we were never asked by the vet nor opthamologist if they had been chipped I guess it comes down to those carrying out the tests ie vets to be stricter with the requirements ?
Mine was only £16 last Sunday plus £65 for the hip ex-rays!! You know I've never been happy about microchips but I think it so important that we have 100% guarantee of identification on the health tests, particularly the Optigen test, which quite frankly frightens me to death, that I asked Pauline to go ahead and do it!
All dogs coming to out eye sessions who are chipped are scanned, but of course there is no compulsion. As for people cheating the system, yes, of course it goes on. We sometimes suspect, but that's not enough.
A friend was working in a test one day. His friend said to him as they were waiting for the start, "I thought you were working your dog today!" He said, "I am." So his friend said, "Why have you brought your bitch then?" Oops!
Would breeders accept being dictated too by the KC? I doubt it. But then comes the other side of the coin. How many times have we said about one thing or another, "It's about time the KC got off the fence and made a stand!"
But then, another thought for you. The Optigen test is a DNA test, so why not do a DNA profile at the same time? 100% guarantee of the dog. And any puppies from that dog could be identified.
Nicola, can I ask why it was so expensive for the blood draw at your vets? At the most a blood draw would be £20 at my vets, ie, £5 to draw blood and a short consultation fee.
The cost of the vet fee's wasn't an issue for me. I too have issues with microchips migrating and I would rather do swab tests as these are much less invasive and stressful than shaving and blood being drawn. I don't believe all vets are the same but after a vet completely stressed out one of my bitches I swore I would do everything I can not to let that happen again. My dogs trust me and are quite happy for me to poke around in their mouth and it seemed the most obvious choice.
The eye specialist that I use does not scan the dogs he tests. He checks the paperwork but he's been doing it for so long and really really knows his stuff. I had heard that a dog was taken to him to get his eyes checked and he claimed that it wasn't the correct dog and didn't tie up with the paperwork handed over. The dog listed on the paperwork had a clear result previously but had a specific detail about his eyes which this same breed dog didn't have!
It's never going to be a perfect system unless it's made compulsory but at least it's being used, there are so many labradors being bred in my area that have no health tests what so ever and people are happy to buy them
I genuinely don't know why my vet was so expensive, they generally are though to be honest and are the most expensive in the area, but at the same time I am v confident in their treatment and handling of my animals. we are personal friends of one of the partners on a social level and we get discounts etc if he is on, and for the multiple boosters etc for our lot, but the draw was I thought a bit TOO expensive hence why I would happily go for the swabs.
Must ask for a breakdown next time I am in and check what I was all charged for.
From a cost view I can see where cheek swabs would be favourable as it cost me 55 pounds to have Rogan's blood sample taken
Good grief my vets are far from the cheapest in the area, and they charge me about £12 a time for taking blood, an activity that between Optigen testing and ovulation tests seems to be occurring with increasing regularity atm
It cost me approximately £140 to get ovulation testing carried out. I had to pay for a pack of ten tests as the vet couldn't/wouldn't buy it in otherwise. They also didn't do vaginal cytology (sp) so I didn't have much option if I really wanted to find out when she ovulated. This broke down into £5 for each blood draw and the rest for the kit plus two consultations. At the end of this I still don't think the tests were worth it as she wouldn't stand when the test indicated that she was just about to ovulate on day 17.
The more experienced breeders will be able to put me right on this, but if she is just about to ovulate then you can add another two days on for the eggs to mature?? She actually went 61 days from her first mating on day 14 as I went by their behaviour and she was more than happy to stand
I had to pay for a pack of ten tests as the vet couldn't/wouldn't buy it in otherwise.
Likewise, although I have only paid for a pack of 6 (obviously plus the blood tests ) - hopefully she won't need the six - but we'll see - don't know what the shelf life is, but I have at least another year before I will need any for Clover
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I guess it comes down to those carrying out the tests ie vets to be stricter with the requirements ?
Our eye specialist scans and checks the chips against the registration papers 
and the number is also recorded on the eye certificate 
