TEXAS VET NEWS By Dr. Bob Judd, DVM and the Texas Farm Bureau Texas Farm Bureau Radio Network

Microchips have been used for years in dogs and cats for identification purposes.  These microchips have also been used in horses, although not to a great extent.  Microchips are tiny devices that have a barcode identity tag and can be read with a special reader.  The microchips are implanted in the horse’s neck ligament about a third of the way down the neck from the head.  They are supposed to be compatible with living tissue and not cause a reaction, although we have experienced one such reaction and the chip had to be removed. 

There are two companies that manufacture the equine chips at this time. Unfortunately, the problem in the past has been that different readers are required for different chips.  This problem has supposedly been solved as a universal reader has been developed, although these universal readers or scanners are not very common.  It is believed that by 2006, all livestock, including horses, will have to be permanently identified.  The USDA developed an animal identification plan in 2002 because of the concern with tracing animals and contagious diseases such as foot and mouth disease and mad cow disease.  Other methods of a permanent IDs are lip tattoos and branding.  If microchips are chosen for the method of identification, the USDA should chose one type and require it to avoid confusion with the scanners, as this information will be required on all equine coggins tests.  Louisiana passed a law about 10 years ago requiring permanent ID in horses using either a microchip, brand, or lip tattoo.  Since most horses get their ID when they are young, lip tattoos and branding are not common; most horses in Louisiana are microchipped.  If you have a question about microchipping your horse, contact your veterinarian.

Date Published: 2/9/2005 12:49:00 PM