Re-surfacing Micro Chip

[seche]

Has any one heard of micro chips working their way to the surface of a horses neck?

This appears to be happening to my horse on his neck where the chip was put in circa 6 years ago. I cant think what else it is as its the exact site where the chip was inserted.
Was wondering if I should have it removed as it is now sticking up quite proud rather than laying flat between his neck muscle and skin..
(Its certainly not a warble fly or any form of bite)...

 

[meifen]

Before equine microchipping became EU Law I visited the Zangersheide stud in the Netherlands and I distinctly remember reading an article in one of their magazines arguing AGAINST microchipping horses and one of the reasons given was the fear of resurfacing chips. From what I recall, the stud had invested a lot of money into research on the possible negative side effects of equine chips and had concluded that the process is potentially damaging especially to competition horses who are worked more rigorously and thereby use their necks a greater deal than pleasure horses.

My own personal experience of microchips has been very negative as well. I used to breed a few foals to my own stallion and had to get them chipped at a young age-- I found the process to be unduly painful and distressing. The needle and chip were extremely large in comparison to the foals' necks and they became nervous towards human handlers for months afterwards. The mares would often become distressed at their foals cries which I found was extremely dangerous to the handlers involved. After one foal had had this done it took the vet 6 times to scan the neck before the chip was picked up! (bear in mind if your horse goes missing rescue centres will quickly scan over the neck and if no detection comes through they assume it is not chipped)

My dog has two microchips! He is a rescued lurcher and one of the conditions of rehoming him was to get him chipped, which we did. The vet scanned him and nothing came up so he was chipped. 2 years later we met the dog's old owner by chance on a walk and told us that he had chipped him and was devastated when he ran away from home and angry that he was not contacted by the rescue people who failed to scan his chip properly. The man gave us his original microchip number and we took him to the vet to see if this was correct. Low and behold, after scanning over him thoroughly two readings were picked up!

Conclusion? Microchips don't do what they say on the tin. Your concerns are legitimate, they definitely move about

 

[sywell]

If there is a danger of it breaking through the skin you could end up with an infection. If you have to have a new chip it must show up in the passport as well as the old chip. I also do not like chips.

 

[meifen]

p.s please keep us updated on what happens and if it turns out to be what you suspect. would love to gather as much info on microchips as possible to inform others. Hope your horse recovers soon and good luck with everything

 

[SpruceRI]

My friends' horse has a mysterious lump - like the size of a painkiller capsule under his skin, which you can move all round his body!

It used to just sit to one side of his wither, but you could push it over the other side.

When I rode him the other day the lump was near his shoulder and I could move it up his neck.

Is this likely to be his microchip?

My friend has had the vet out to look at it - minus a scanner unfortunately - and at the time he said it might be a cyst and to leave well alone. But I think from the shape of the lump and the firmness of it, that it's the chip.

Can microchips 'break loose' and go a-wandering?

 

[ArcticFox]

You can't compare chipping a dog to chipping a horse.

A microchip in a dog is place subcutaneously, so a lot of them migrate under the skin, when people scan a dog (or a cat) they should scan the back of the neck and all around the front as they can often end up around the shoulder area (still under the skin). There have been cases when dogs (or cats) have been given two chips, usually due to the first chip migrating so its up to the scanner handler to make sure they have scanned the whole area.


A horse has a chip placed in the nuchal ligament, this is so they don't migrate. I am not sure about them working back up to the surface although it depends on how deep the chip was placed at the start I guess.

I have never seen a chip migrate to the surface, but if you are that worried - get a vet to check it out!

Also most vets I know put a bleb of local under the skin to implant the chip in a young foal, and most don't find it painful or distressing. I guess it depends on how well the foal is handled and how many people are around to assist.

Would be interested to read the research paper if you can find it Maefen. Although nowadays you can get a passport for your horse with just the chip and no drawing so I guess there isn't too many problems with resurfacing - and I'm pretty sure weatherby's would be right on it if they had identified that too.