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Microchipping should be simple. Implant chip, pet gets lost, pet is scanned, owner on file is contacted, happy reunion!

What’s the problem? Often owners don’t send their information into the database so when the vet, shelter, or rescue worker calls for info, there’s nothing to report. Chips are mainly sold in bulk and buyer info collected at the time of sale. If any part of the information chain is missing, this can mean bad things for your pet. Most database organizations will start backtracking through the chain till they find information for the animal, but don’t count on it.

Microchip Information Chain
Step 1: Pet is scanned —> Step 2: Database is contacted for owner info. Missing? Go to next step —> Step 3: Database looks for any info about the vet who implanted chip. Missing? Go to next step. —> Step 4: Search database for info of vet, breeder, or entity who bought the chip. Missing?  —> Step 5: Contact manufacturer of chip for buyer info. Missing? End of the line. Pet is on its own, available for rehoming.

Backtracking takes valuable time away from the recovery process and you see how easily it breaks down if any contact info in the chain is missing or not updated. In the worst case scenario, the chip can’t be tracked back before the animal is euthanized at a shelter.

So if you have a microchipped Frenchie or pet, and you haven’t sent in the paperwork to link him/her to YOUR contact info, or you’ve moved and haven’t updated your information, don’t rely on someone in the chain to be there. Go ahead and send your contact info in now. Make sure to write the microchip number down for your records and share it with your vet as backup. Most vets are willing to be an alternate contact, too.

Maybe you aren’t sure if your contact info is up-to-date? Call or write the database and see what they have on file. (Contact links and phone numbers at the end of this entry.) Some databases will do it for free, some for a small charge.

Now for another complicated part, there are different kinds of microchips. Just like radio signals (which is exactly what they are transmitting when scanned) they have different frequencies or “channels.” The most common frequency used in the US is 125kHz. In Europe 134.2kHz is the standard. (If you plan to travel internationally with your pet, something to consider and research.) Some chips are encrypted, meaning their presence can be confirmed, but you need the right scanner to read the number. Current scanners can read both chips, but shelters and rescues faced with limited funds, might have an old scanner. If you are using a chip bought through your vet, breeder, or shelter, you are probably safe, however, doesn’t hurt to know the type and brand. As a backup plan, a collar with an ID tag is always a good idea.

Last, are the databases. There are six major ones. Which one to sign up with? Always best to sign up with the database used by the manufacturer of the chip, but that doesn’t prevent you from signing up with other databases, as well.

Main databases/information registries
24PetWatch ………..  866-597-2424
AKC CAR ………….  800-252-7894
AVID/PetTrac US … 800-336-2843 x 4
Banfield ……………… 877-LOST-PET (877-567-8738)
HomeAgain ………..  888-HOME-AGAIN (888-466-3242)
ResQ ………………….  877-PET-LINK

Microchip lookup sites
Pet Microchip Lookup (AAHA)
Check the Chip (Chloe Standard)
AVID

Some sellers of microchips and chipping equipment
Microchip ID Systems
Revival Animal Health
Check with your vet or a local shelter

The thing to remember is, just chipping your pet doesn’t protect them. Keeping your contact information updated in the database is the most crucial part of the recovery process.

Picking up from an item featured at Tilda in the Burbs; dog stencils for decorating.

The Esty shop owner’s description of this stencil is “Boston Terrier.” Is it a Boston, or a Frenchie in disguise? (Click on the images to visit the shop.)

Check out the bobble-head stencil, too.

It has been pointed out, a near Non-Sporting Group win almost happened last year with “Lola,” Ch. LeBull’s Midnight Confessions. She took Group 2 (second place), which made her squeaky close to winning Group in 2009. Our congratulations and apologies for leaving out her impressive placement on a prior blog entry. She is a gorgeous girl.

Curious to see whom else may have been left out, checked the Westminster site for results. Only one Frenchie has won Group 1 placement, five Frenchies made their way to Group 2, one to Group 3, and thirteen placed Group 4. A total of 20, not too shabby for a snorty, little breed that is often greeted with the line, “A face only a mother could love,” by the non-initiated.

Below is a list each year a French Bulldog placed in the Non-Sporting Group at Westminster. You might notice a few names are missing. If you know the winner for that year, or know a link where the list can be found, comment below and will add the name(s) to complete the list. Have a few guesses of the winners from the excellent list of National Specialty winners complied by Frenchbulldogz.org, complete with photos of most winners. The Specialty Winner list is also available from The French Bull Dog Club of America.

2010 – Group 1 – Ch. Robobull Fablehaft Im On Fire – “Bru” – male
2009 – Group 2 – CH. LeBull’s Midnight Confessions – “Lola” – female
2004 – Group 4 – Ch. Bandog’s Jump for Joy – “Joy”- female
1999 – Group 4 – Ch. Licks Cool Hand Luke – “Luke” – male
1989 – Group 4 – ?
1970 – Group 4 – (Best guess: Ch. Ralanda Ami Pierre)
1963 – Group 2 – (Best guess: Ch. Ralanda Ami Francine)
1959 – Group 4 – Ch Bouquet Nouvelle Ami – “Jo Jo” – male
1957 – Group 3 – Ch Bouquet Nouvelle Ami – “Jo Jo” – male
1956 – Group 2 – Ch Bouquet Nouvelle Ami – “Jo Jo” – male
1955 – Group 4 – Ch Bouquet Nouvelle Ami – “Jo Jo” – male
1953 – Group 4 – Ch Bouquet Nouvelle Ami – “Jo Jo” – male
1951 – Group 4 – ?
1950 – Group 4 – ?
1942 – Group 4 – (Best guess: Ch Glamourette)
1931 – Group 4 – ?
1930 – Group 4 – ?
1927 – Group 4 – ?
1926 – Group 2 – ?
1924 – Group 2 (Reserve) – (Best guess: Evergay Charmer)

Before 1924, the Non-Sporting Group didn’t exist. The highest award was Best of Breed and the occasional special trophy within the breed. In 1907, Westminster began awarding Best in Show. In 1992, show entries were limited to Champions only.

Show Lingo

For those who aren’t quite up on their show talk, show people have their own type of verbal shorthand for Group placing dogs. This is probably to distinguish from regular class wins, where a 2nd-4th place win is nice, but no chance at points. Whereas, even a 4th place Group placement earns all-breed points for dogs on the show campaign trail, as well as considerable bragging rights. Here’s a guide to the lingo:

1st place = Group One placement/win or G1 or Winning Group

2nd place = Group Two placement/win or G2

3rd place = Group Three placement/win or G3

4th place = Group Four placement/win or G4

Recently listened to a presentation by the American Heartworm Society. (Did you even know there was one?) They threw out some rather alarming facts:

Thanks to Hurricane Katrina, the U.S. demographics of heartworm have changed forever. Heartworms have always been more of an issue in coastal and warmer, southern states because they are transmitted via mosquitoes. Because so many heartworm-positive dogs were rescued and transported to other states from the Gulf Coast, areas, which rarely saw heartworm cases, are now more likely to have them. Before all those rescued dogs were treated for heartworms in their new state, local mosquitoes were treated to dog blood, swimming with microfilariae (baby heartworms). YUCK!

However, it’s just a matter of time before heartworms spread to cooler, northern states. According to AHS, anywhere it’s warmer than 80°-85° for more than two weeks, that area is in danger of heartworm transmission and heartworm cases have been reported in all 50 states. If you live in a northern state and don’t give monthly heartworm preventative during the cold or cooler months, you may need to rethink this approach.

Another thing putting your dog at risk could be your neighbor. A very large percentage of Americans don’t even give their dogs heartworm preventative. Your dog could get infected from mosquitoes snacking on your neighbor’s dog. Or, in very rare cases, humans can be infected with heartworms. Ewww…

Ivermectin (oral), milbemycin oxime (oral), selamectin (topical) and moxidectin (injected) are the main ingredients in preventative heartworm medicine. The thinking used to be; a safe, 40-day window existed between doses, if a dose was a week or so late, your dog was covered. Now the research shows, 30 days, no grace period. Our vet once told us, you aren’t treating for the coming 30 days, you are treating for whatever happened in the past 30 days. Another reason to opt for that once-a-year heartworm test. Make sure some sneaky mosquito didn’t slip Fido unwelcomed guests.

If your dog is infected with adult worms, they need a different approach to kill the worms safely. It only takes a few months to go from larval to adult stage and heartworms can live for five to seven years. Giving the monthly medicine to kill microfilariae (larval worms) can cause complications if the dog has adult heartworms. Dying adult worms cause serious, sometimes fatal, problems to their host. Often, dogs undergoing treatment must be hospitalized. Heartworm prevention is much preferred to treatment, by both you and your pet.

You and your vet can decide what type of medicine and which brand is best for your pet. Personally, we go with an oral tablet given once per month, which also contains flea prevention/sterilizer (lufenuron). (Tip for litter planners: a few months before planning a litter we change our girl to an oral heartworm medicine WITHOUT lufenuron, and keep her on this until she’s had her pups and is finished nursing. While lufenuron is considered safe for pregnant animals, we’d rather avoid using it while our pups are developing in utero and nursing.)

According to AHS, there is no proven or effective holistic treatment for heartworms. Garlic might work for vampires, but not these blood-borne killers.

If you’d like to learn more, visit:
American Heartworm Society
FDA

At your next vet visit, ask about heartworm prevention and be sure you’ve circled on your monthly dosage day on your calendar. Make this monthly treat a truly heartfelt one.

As most readers know by now, this blog is always on the lookout for new and usual art forms which incorporate French Bulldogs. Found a new one recently and it’s trés cool! Hand-painted Enameled Jewelry by Bev Yokley. Very nice, intricately cut, hand-painted enameled jewelry, and she can even do custom work from your photographs. She produces a wide range of animal art, whether you want something made of your Frenchie, your cat, or your giraffe!

She first sketches onto copper, then paints, cuts, and fires the metal to create the durable enamel pin.

Here are a few examples from her website:

And these aren’t Frenchies, but gives you an idea of how detailed her work can be.

If you’d like to see more, visit www.horsebrooch.com