Can a RVN microchip a horse?

Re: Can a RVN microchip a horse?

Mark Hedberg — Fri, 21 Sep 2012 13:47:23 GMT

[quote user="Phrin Vernon RVN"]

Thanks for the replies - had someone asking me about it and it got me thinking!

So Mark - I read the RCVS guidelines that a RVN could chip a horse, under the direction of a VS that deemed them suitably trained and competent? Is that right? Or would it have to be an REVN?

[/quote]

Sorry to be a chicken here, but I'd probably suggest asking the RCVS - I don't know the answer to this, unfortunately!

Kind regards,
Mark

Re: Can a RVN microchip a horse?

molladog — Fri, 21 Sep 2012 13:03:11 GMT

Unless the rules have changed, (which I don't think they have,), VN's cannot microchip a horse as it has to be implanted into the nuchal ligament + is therefore classed as an act of veterinary surgery.

Re: Can a RVN microchip a horse?

Beholden — Thu, 20 Sep 2012 19:59:12 GMT

Would it also depend on the registering body?

Here the main registry is the IHB, and the marking charts (which contain the chip number, location of the chip etc) must be completed and signed off by a vet. The chips are issued to the vet. In large animal practice, its often of course the nurses that actually fill the details out on the form, but its always signed off by the vet, and its on their head.

If your horse was already chipped (by an nurse or a layperson) or chipped by an unknown previous to purchase, you could I am sure, have the vet come out, read the chip and do up the chart to apply and register, but it would sort of defeat the purpose....as you would have to pay the vet at the end of the day.

Weatherbys state that 'only a qualified veterinary surgeon may microchip a horse' on their ID passport requirements.

Re: Can a RVN microchip a horse?

Phrin Vernon RVN — Sat, 04 Aug 2012 00:03:26 GMT

Thanks for the replies - had someone asking me about it and it got me thinking!

So Mark - I read the RCVS guidelines that a RVN could chip a horse, under the direction of a VS that deemed them suitably trained and competent? Is that right? Or would it have to be an REVN?

Re: Can a RVN microchip a horse?

Sophie Bedford RVN CertVNECC — Sat, 28 Jul 2012 15:24:14 GMT

We've had to surgically remove one before that was implanted into a shoulder muscle by a pet store. Didn't cause immediate problems but after a year or so the owner couldn't work out why her cat was always going lame! Very scary - I still get nervous microchipping small wriggly puppies and kittens!

Re: Can a RVN microchip a horse?

Julie — Fri, 27 Jul 2012 22:22:11 GMT

[quote user="Lauren Innes"]

Any one else concerned by this?? I heard a horror story of a groomer that was a chipper, and managed to placed the chip in the animals spinal cord. eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeek

[/quote]

Oddly enough, I heard a similar story but the person causing the injury was a student vn not a groomer!

Re: Can a RVN microchip a horse?

Lynne Vickers — Fri, 27 Jul 2012 08:52:34 GMT

Sorry I should have made it clear. I was specifically answering the question of if a VN could microchip a horse

Re: Can a RVN microchip a horse?

Mark Hedberg — Thu, 26 Jul 2012 23:20:08 GMT

It's interesting; microchipping a horse is considered an act of veterinary surgery. Microchipping a companion animal is NOT an act of veterinary surgery.

I quote http://www.rcvs.org.uk/advice-and-guidance/advice-notes/

Advice note 6:

[quote]

1) RCVS Council last approved guidelines on microchipping in February 2000 (RCVS News, March 2000). Following a review of these guidelines by the Veterinary Surgery Working Party, the following guidelines have now been agreed.
a)    implantation by methods other than the subcutaneous route, ear tag or bolus will generally amount to veterinary surgery in view of the potential for pain or stress or for spreading disease, and in some cases the likely handling difficulties;
b)    the repair or closure of the entry site, where necessary, will generally amount to veterinary surgery;
c)    sedation and analgesia are medical treatment and so amount to veterinary surgery. Depending upon the nature of the treatment which is necessary it may be lawful for it to be carried out by a suitably qualified veterinary nurse under veterinary direction or by the owner;
d)    the procedure may amount to veterinary surgery if there is special risk to the health or welfare of the animal.
2) The new advice strengthens the existing advice and makes clear that the RCVS considers the microchipping of horses within the nuchal ligament an act of veterinary surgery.[/quote]

Some courses are worryingly simple; an online video and you're done.

(Full disclosure: The College does run a microchip implanting course; however you are required to attend a day of training supervised by a trainer from Pet ID, and you are required to demonstrate microchipping on at least two companion animals. We offer the microchipping of animals free to local owners or rehoming charities in our area around our centres, so we have enough to make sure we're happy with the practical experience on the course. The course is a bit more expensive but once you do this course you do a proper microchipping, full stop. You also learn about the legal requirements and what you can and can't do.)

Re: Can a RVN microchip a horse?

Lauren Innes Bsc(hons) , RVN — Thu, 26 Jul 2012 18:24:00 GMT

worryingly you can do course, i believe and on line course for about £100 to learn to be a microchipping person, and then you are free to frolick with your microchips, far and wide and chip any passing creature.

Any one else concerned by this?? I heard a horror story of a groomer that was a chipper, and managed to placed the chip in the animals spinal cord. eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeek

Re: Can a RVN microchip a horse?

Alia — Thu, 26 Jul 2012 18:23:04 GMT

Anyone can train to be an implanter for dogs and cats etc but for species where the chip is implanted into a body cavity, this can only be carried out by a vet. Sorry not sure of where horses are chipped however I think it is a VS only procedure?

Re: Can a RVN microchip a horse?

Roseann21 — Thu, 26 Jul 2012 17:58:39 GMT

[quote user="Lynne Vickers"]

Microchipping is considered an act of veterinary surgery and as such follows the same guidelines as any other surgical procedure, whereby if a body cavity is not being entered the procedure can be delegated to a qualified Veterinary Nurse under the Schedule 3 rules.

[/quote]

No, it's not "an act of veterinary surgery", anyone can train to be an implanter.

Re: Can a RVN microchip a horse?

shelly jefferies — Thu, 26 Jul 2012 17:44:05 GMT

[quote user="Lynne Vickers"]

[/quote]

If this is the case how comes charities, pet centres etc run microchipping days or microchip the stray animals as untrained or unqualified nurses?!?

Re: Can a RVN microchip a horse?

Lynne Vickers — Thu, 26 Jul 2012 16:12:08 GMT