Title

Using tattoos to identify neutered pets.

Authors

Schweighoefer-Stuckenberg, Andrea

Abstract

Both animal rescue groups and private clients bring stray or abandoned cats and dogs to veterinary practices. These animals have no clinical history and frequently undergo unnecessary anaesthesia and surgery, only for the vet to discover that ovario-hysterectomy has already been performed. There are only three ways to confirm that an animal has been neutered: · Exploratory surgery, which is painful, invasive and expensive; · Hormone assays, which are expensive; and, · A tattoo, which is immediately recognisable, costs only a few cent and can be per formed after surgical alteration, while the patient is still under general anaesthesia. Vets can significantly improve an animal's future welfare by making a simple identifying mark at time of neutering: A simple, linear tattoo beside the incision line for dogs, a discreet tattoo in the left ear for cats and rabbits and an ear tip for feral cats.

Subjects

ANIMAL rescue; TATTOOING; VETERINARY medicine; ANESTHESIA; HYSTERECTOMY; ANIMAL welfare

Publication

Veterinary Ireland Journal, 2012, Vol 2, Issue 11, p560

ISSN

2009-3942

Publication type

Academic Journal