Microchipping is common practice amongst smaller species ownership, but it is often overlooked when it comes to larger species such as horses. Despite this trend, you shouldn’t have to forgo the advantages of having your equine friend microchipped.
Microchipping is safe and painless. Your vet implants a tiny electronic device (the size of a rice grain) into your horse’s neck via a syringe. The chip contains a unique number which is activated by the vet using their scanner.
There are many advantages in having your horse microchipped:
- If your horse is lost or stolen, his microchip number can successfully be used to track him down safely
- Microchips are virtually tamper-proof. Once the hair has grown back its existence is undetectable, except by scanners or xrays. Even if thieves had access to these measures, the chip has to be surgically removed which can leave very obvious scarring.
- Microchips are an invaluable tool in accurately detecting, treating, and analysing infectious diseases, such as the EI outbreak.
Microchipping your horse is an inexpensive way to ensure that you remain your horse’s beloved owner. If you would like to make an appointment to have your horse microchipped please phone us on (07) 5543 1213 for assistance.
We recommend you place your details with as many animal registries as you are able to, as different clinics, animal shelters, government agencies etc sometimes refer to different registries.
Your horse’s microchip is only as useful as the information held by the relevant registries, so please ensure you update this information if you are moving, or if your horse is going to a new owner ensure that this person is listed instead. Some Australian ones include:
