Ear Tattoo - Page 1

This might be a dumb question but I'll ask anyway.Do any of you have experience with a tattoo process damaging the ear cartiledge, causing the ear not to stand or delaying the time for it to stand.Do any of you think there is a remote possibility of this happening?What do you connsider the appropriate time to tattoo.What are your suggestions as for as equipment and proper procedure for  tattooing.                                                           Michael

We tattoo at 7 weeks, right along with the microchips. Have not had any problem with ears standing as of yet. About half of the puppies tattoo'd ears stand completely before the other.

Melissa

Melisa, Do you do the tattoos and microchips yourself. What brand of equipment do you use or reccomend? Also if you microchip yourself I would like more information about that process, if you don't mind. Thanks for your response, Merry Christmas                                                                                                                   Michael

I do tattoo and microchip myself and you need 2 people to do it.

The Microchips I order from Avid with the prepaid registrations. It is very similar to giving a vaccine.

The tattoos I use a stone mfg. model .300 I believe. It has spaces for 6 characters and green Ketchum paste ink. FYI it makes you look like the hulk if you get it on your skin so wear gloves. I also use alchohol prep pads for cleaning ears before tattooing.

Melissa

I have a question too so I hope you don't mind me jumping in here.  My dog has no tattoo.  She has a micro-chip but our club doesn't have a reader.  Should I go ahead and just tattoo "whatever" in her ear so that I can register that and be able to show her tattoo for identifcation purposes at trials?  Since she is BYB her breeder has no clue about tatoos and he doesn't have a registered kennel.  Does it matter what I put in her ear?  The club has the equipment and will do it for me if I choose to go thru with it.  She is 15mo old a week from tomorrow.  I don't think I want to be around when it happens. 
Deb

I believe that you may apply for a tattoo number from GSDCA/SV. I'm not real sure about tattooing an older dog and have been contemplating this myself. I have not found a vet as of yet who still tattoos.

germanshepherddog.com/regulations/individual_registration.htm

It says how to go about getting a tattoo #.

Melissa

DebiSue,
tattoos are out! They do not tattoo puppies in Germany anymore, as of January 1, 2010. So don't worry about it! What you do need to do is get the microchip no. certified (check with WDA for that) and start carrying a scanner. That is what we do! But since we have our own tattoo kit, we will continue tattoing our puppies. My husband was a UScA tattooer for many many years before we opted not to renew our membership last month.
Chris

DebiSue, I tatooed my older dogs myself. If you are going with USA, you can choose any combination of numbers and letters you wish. Tire the dog out well, it makes it easier. I clipped the hairs out of the ear and cleaned it well with rubbing alcohol. I then used an ice pack and iced it down well. Rub a good layer of green ink in the area of the tattoo, take the tattoo tongs and press down really well. It needs a bit more pressure than in a young pup. There is a vein going almost horizontal through the ear, please avoid hitting that one under all circumstances. The dog will squeel a bit, you may have to muzzle it up. After release of the tongs, rubb the ink in well, especially if its bleeding a bit. The problem with grown dogs is that the tattoo will not "grow" with the ear anymore like when you would do a small pup. Therfore it requires a good amount of force and rubbing to get a well readable tattoo. Its a messy job and the green ink will go everywhere, gloves, old clothing/shoes ect are necessary just in case. Dont wash the ink out of the ear, let it sit for a couple days. Even though my dogs are microchipped as well, and I do have my own scanner, I still prefer a tattoo as I dont have to worry to forget the scanner, or for what ever reason it doesnt work.

Michele, there is a vein close to the groove (the area the ear is flopping over). If it had been hit and caused an hematoma, the ear could have trouble standing up. I have seen some screwed up tattoos in puppies, but all had the ears standing up. To me the best place is above the groove a bit off center towards the outer site.

Chris, in our recent trial it happened that the chip of one dog did not work anymore. It was an avid chip. The scanner was fine as it did pick up on my dogs without problem. Unable to say if the chip "wandered", but we went with the scanner over the entire dog trying to find it.

Thanks to everyone,I want to get all the info and advice I can before I attempt to do this on my own.Any one wishing to advise futher about this,it will be greatly appreciated.                              Michael

I have never heard anything so pathetic in my life 'TATTOOS' are out !!!  they are not a fashion accessory,they are another deterant for dog theft ! they can be seen on contact with the dog which makes it alot harder for someone to pass on stolen dogs,they work well with microchips,what a hidious thing to say,especially in todays climate,dog theft is ripe and anything,and i mean anything that makes it harder for someone to steal dogs and sell them on is a good thing,all my dogs go on the national dog tattoo register,and i urge other people to do the same.