Page 92 - Speedhorse December 2019

THE LATEST ON MICROCHIPPING
by Nancy S. Loving, DVM
Photos by Oklahoma Large Animal First Reponders
Microchips provide a permanent ID that isn’t prone to fading or difficult to read.
Microchipping dogs and cats is a routine prac- tice for devoted owners who want to be noti- fied if their lost pet is found. This practice of
microchipping is becoming prevalent throughout the horse world for accurate identification. In fact, many competitive organizations and breed registries are now requiring it for ease of verifying identification of individual horses.
THE MICROCHIPPING PROCESS
The process for horses, or for any animal, is
fairly innocuous. After scanning the chip to ensure readability, a veterinarian uses a large gauge needle
to inject the chip below the mane into the nuchal ligament of the left side of the neck, about half way between the poll and withers. Development of a new mini-chip enables insertion with a smaller gauge needle. The microchip, with its surrounding glass- polycarbonate capsule, is roughly the size of a grain of raw rice. The injection of the chip causes minimal discomfort to the horse and there is no scar associated with the procedure. Encapsulated within the fibrous nuchal ligament, the chip isn’t likely to migrate.
The entire process, including purchase of the microchip, is usually accomplished for less than $100. Once inserted, the chip is scanned again to ensure that it is transmitting readable information. Then the horse owner registers the chip with the appropriate microchip manufacturer company, as well as with
the sport organization and/or breed registry. This is a one-time process that needs no repeat fee or renewal.
Horse owners need to be proactive about register-
ing their microchips. Once registered in a database like Equine Protection Registry (EPR) offered by Microchip ID, Inc., it is easier to track down a lost, stolen, or displaced horse. Once a horse is registered in the database, it is possible to obtain an ownership certificate or to download that paperwork to a mobile app. Should a horse go missing, an immediate search alert is sent out via the website to notify multiple agencies (state veterinarian’s office, brand inspectors, horse rescues, and Stolen Horse International) about the missing horse.
Some breed registries automatically include registration within EPR, but take the time to ensure that your horse is registered as thoroughly as pos- sible. During registration, it is often possible to add
a veterinarian’s name or other alternative people who can be contacted about a found horse. For horses with a unique equine lifetime number (UELN) within a breed registry, this number can be connected with the microchip number for added identification. Your contact information that links you to your horse is only available through the microchip manufacturer, sport organization, and/or breed registry with whom you registered. A microchip company is an unbiased entity that proves the chip is verifiable and that your horse is registered to you.
The Jockey Club started requiring microchipping and digital registration of all Thoroughbred racehors- es in 2017. Microchips provide a permanent ID that isn’t prone to fading or difficult to read. Currently, microchipping Quarter Horses still remains voluntary but is highly recommended.
Nancy S. Loving, DVM
88 SPEEDHORSE, December 2019
VETERINARY VIEWS
Before beginning the microchipping process, many vets will scan a horse to insure that they have not previously been chipped.
The veterinarian will clean and prep the site where the microchip will be inserted, which is below the mane into the nuchal ligament of the left side of the neck, about half way between the poll and withers.