does anyone know about tatooing animals for security and could it be painful ?

Question

where does it get done and the cost

Answer 1

Dog identification is a practice instituted for record keeping and identification of dogs and tattooing is a form of identification but now that microchipping is available, I think that is a better alternative, unless your reason is for a dog sport that requires a tattoo. A microchip will be registered to the owner and if the dog gets lost they can trace the microchip to the owner.
Tattos are uncomfortable and can be painful. Tattoo prices vary depending on the tattooer and the registry used. You can get it done by any vets that have the equipment and some Schutzhund clubs have people that can do tattoos.

Answer 2

In Canada, tattooing is mandatory for all registered dogs. It does not have to be painful. Tattoo A Pet has a method that is painless or almost painless and they have a national registry too. Sometimes a Tatoo A Pet rep will have a booth at a local dog show or there might be a rep near you who can do the tattoo.

Microchips are the "in" thing here in the US but chips can and do migrate which can cause serious problems - especially in the toy breeds. It is important to make sure the vet is experienced and knows not to get too close to the spinal cord. The microship needle isn't exactly pain free either anymore than any other needle is.

The advantage to a tattoo is that it's readily visible making identification instantaneous if you have a registration card showing the tattoo is yours. Here is the link to Tattoo A Pet: http://www.tattoo-a-pet.com/. I am planning to buy a kit this year. I know two breeders who have used this system and they really like it. The decision to use a microchip or tattoo is strictly a personal one. Just use whichever one works best for you.

Answer 3

Instead of getting a tattoo, why don't you go for a microchip? They only cost of $30 at your vet. Its a small chip the size of a grain of rice that is inserted just below the skin around the shoulder blades. You are able to go online and enter your personal information, such as address , phone #, name and pets name. All ASPCA locations, vets and other places have the scanners and most places will scan a dog as soon as they are found. Then your dog can be returned to you and it seems a whole lot easier than tattooing your dog, plus after a while it might not be as visible.

Answer 4

My sister adopted a dog that has a tattoo--it's a symbol so we can't figure out what it means. Obviously wasn't done to identify the dog if she got lost or stolen or whatever. Supposedly they do tattooing in the ear or inner thigh. The link below shows a dog being tattooed (they say it doesn't hurt but the dog seems to be flinching--can't believe they don't at least do some form of sedation). Nowadays, I think people are doing microchipping instead since the tattoo id has to be registered in order to be useful, and there isn't a standard place that everyone registers.

Answer 5

I don't know much about tatooing animals...actually I know the vet I work for doesn't do it and I don't think any of our local vets do. Might I suggest a microchip? Most vets can scan for them, as well as pounds and shelters. Also, it's a low tech solution, but get your pets ID tags for their collars. My vet charges $28.00 for microchipping and zip for scanning for one. Many times people have brought strays in to us to be scanned, and unfortunately they don't have a chip. That little tiny microchip could have been the difference between getting back home and going to the pound! Good Luck!

Answer 6

most older vets still do it and have the equipment, but tattooing dogs is really outdated. It USED to be the only way to permanently mark your dog. Some shelters still tattoo dogs on a routine basis, but almost every one has switched to microchips, which are way easier to put it, very inexpensive, and work nationally.

Answer 7

Your best bet for security is to have a microchip implanted. It's getting to be quite common and any vet can do it. It will probably run $30-$40. Your dog will feel it but only momentarily.

Answer 8

Micro-chipping is more acceptable than tatooing. Tatoos can fade or be changed.

Answer 9

I don't have my dogs tattooed, I got them microchipped. The vet charged $40.00 for the chip and doing the procedure. You then have to register them on the site where the microchip is from and I think I paid $15.00 or $18.00 for that.

Answer 10

The first dog I had tattooed screamed bloody murder - but he started the moment he got on the table (before anything happened) kinda killed my sympathy.... The last just seemed to be BOOOAAARD to tears.....
Now each dog I got microchipped screamed like banshee...