Does anyone know about dog id tattooing?

Question

im in two minds of getting my 4 month old pup a microchip or a tattoo on his ear they both have there good and bad points but i do not know much about the proceedure of tattooing does anyone have any info? also is it a specialist or a vet thing?

Answer 1

In England contact the The National Dog Tattoo Register. The breeder of my Dobermann b*tch had the litter tattooed in the ear before I collected her because this form of identification offers a permanent and visible means of identifying your pet to others. The down side is that Tori's tattoo has faded over time, but I was advised by someone at the NDTR that a partial tattoo and the breed will still find the canine on the register.

Microchipping is another permanent form of identification, which my b*tch has too. I had my male Dobermann chipped soon after he arrived. In England it's not a "return to sender" as there is currently no obligation on the part of vets/rescue/dog wardens to check for a chip. Another issue is that not all scanners read all chips. That said, I would still get any future canine of mine chipped. It's quick and even my most wimpy Dobe managed just fine!

http://www.dog-register.co.uk

Answer 2

Micro chipping is less painful than tattooing & probably cheaper too. If you are in the Uk the National Canine Defence League will have info on their website, or the RSPCA.

Good Luck.X :-)

Answer 3

In the UK I would just have a microchip inserted. Make sure it is compatible with the pet passport scheme if you intend to take the dog out of the country to anywhere in the EU.

Dog wardens and the main pet charities all check for microchips and the police use microchip registration as proof of ownership in disputes. Some microchips can be used to monitor the dogs temperature, but not all. You need to ask about this before a microchip is inserted if you want a chip that does this.

Tattoos are hardly ever used anymore. It is probably not legal to get anyone apart from a vet to do this in the UK as it will count as a surgical procedure. A dog would need sedation or anaesthesia to do it safely and humanely.

Problems with microchips are very rare but include migration from the injection site and occasional failure to scan. Just get the chip checked occasionally at your vets to make sure everything is working OK.

Edit: I've checked the legislation. Tattooing dogs in England is covered by The Mutilations (Permitted Procedures) (England) regulations 2007. It is legal for lay people to tattoo dogs providing they minimise pain and suffering, use hygienic conditions and do it in accordance with good practice. As usual with legislation it is very vague and open to interpretation. I would honestly just go with the microchip like nearly everyone else does.

Answer 4

Get the microchip.

People hardly ever tattoo anymore, so if your dog is lost, the majority of people won't even think to look for a tattoo. Tattoos can also distort over time, or the dog's hair can grow over it and make it harder to see.

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Answer 5

We micro-chipped AND tattooed all our dogs. The tattoo is applied by a tattoo artist. Look for one with experience on dogs. The tattoos are applied to our dogs' inner thighs (a dog won't hold still while the needle buzzes in their ear). No anesthesia necessary, just need help in holding down the dog. It only takes about a minute.

The advantage of a tattoo ... no machinery is needed to read it. Anyone can see it and use it to ID the dog.

Disadvantage ... on a growing dog, the tattoo might become distorted and difficult to read over time.

Advantage of a microchip ... simple procedure that many pet owners are using, almost all shelters and vets have scanners.

Disadvantage ... potential for shifting of the chip, and you need a scanner to read it.

Answer 6

Hi i tattoo all my pups and it costs about the same as a microchip

it takes just about 3 seconds to do it its like a clamp that goes on his ear with little pins on it in the shape of some numbers the tattooist clamps the ear then quickly rubs some green or blue ink on the clamped ear and you don't touch rub or wash the ear for a while then you will see the tattoo number clearly the good and bad point of micro chip is its quick almost painless but usually bleeds and its hard to see and if hes stolen then the only way you get him back is if someone scans him .The good and bad points for tattooing the bad is it will hurt the pup but only for a few Min's and he might rub the ink on the wall but it washes off but i would get it done in the garden just in case the good points for tattooing is it very visible to see and it often puts thieves off stealing him and its easily traced back to you if he gets lost  you should also get a sticker for your car/house saying these dogs are tattooed for identification on it and a tag for his collar with the tattoo company  number on it  

Answer 7

Tattoos can be altered the number changed if the dog is stolen,  

Answer 8

the vet can take the dogs temperature with the microchip so saving the dog the trauma of the thermometer.

          

Answer 9

http://www.dog-register.co.uk/

As you say, there are pros & cons to both methods - nothing stopping you having both though!

Answer 10

I would recommend microchip.  The microchip is actually registered in a data base and information (if you keep it current) is readily retrievable.  Home Again and Avid are both well established.  The provide scanners to your local animal shelters and animal controls.  Tattooing has no data base and the question is what info do you tattoo.  Tattoos do fade after time and if it is a long haired animal the hair regrows over the area making them difficult to find.  You don't see tattooing in ears much they tattoo on the inside of the thigh or abdomen.