Tattoo on a Dogs Ear

[Trematode]

We learned in my intro to shelter med class that it is standard practice for most TNR programs to clip the left ear when the animal has been sterilized. This allows for quick ID from a distance if the animal is trapped again. It prevents potential stress to the animal because it can be immediately released and increases safety of the TNR workers because that is one less feral cat that needs to be handled unnecessarily. Tattoos and microchips require the worker to handle the animal whereas ear clipping does not.

I do not know if you are referring to my post or not, but in the case I saw, but the tattoos were applied post-surgery while the animals were still under anesthesia.

I am not sure if they continue that practice or not, because it was several years ago when the program was new and new to the area.

Interesting to know why most TNR groups prefer the ear notching! I was wondering why they did it. The vets made it seem to me like there was a potential for it to be slightly more problematic. Then again, they could have been talking about taking the tip off of the ear. It was a long time ago, so I forget. 😳

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[Emiloo4]

Also, your reply reminded me of another issue with ear cropping/notching.

.... like... the spontaneous combustion of a cat I had to witness?🙄

(I'm not really using this to make a point that there are risks with ear notching, I think it's a great tool for ferals... just sayin) 😛

 

[lmmcfatter]

In my opinion microchips are the eat way to go for identification

 

[PetPony]

I like to eat them too. 🙂

 

[devyn]

I like to eat them too. 🙂

Have you ever eaten one? I had a coworker swallow one once and then we traced it through her body throughout the day with the scanner.

 

[PetPony]

No, I was just trying to make a joke and refer to the previous poster's mistake.

 

[PetMySausage]

Have you ever eaten one? I had a coworker swallow one once and then we traced it through her body throughout the day with the scanner.

I like the way you guys think. I would love to have tried something like that!

 

[PetMySausage]

.... like... the spontaneous combustion of a cat I had to witness?🙄

Let me guess, volatile anesthetic combined with cautery?

Unfortunately, I've seen that mistake more than once over the years.

 

[sunshinevet]

Have you ever eaten one? I had a coworker swallow one once and then we traced it through her body throughout the day with the scanner.

Some of my friends have drunkenly microchipped themselves... in the back of the neck :O And registered themselves to each other...

Ohhh yeaaahhh the thrilling lives of vet students!!!

 

[hopefulinva]

Some of my friends have drunkenly microchipped themselves... in the back of the neck :O And registered themselves to each other...

Ohhh yeaaahhh the thrilling lives of vet students!!!

Well if they ever run away you can rest assured you'll get them back.

We had a lady bring in a stray cat to the hospital yesterday. She's been feeding and caring for this thing for years, and she finally decided to make sure he was up to date on vx and blood tests and whatnot. We scanned him - as we do all of our strays - and it turns out he's another patient of ours. Oops!

Anyway - it reminded me of this thread. =) So I thought I'd share.

 

[krist]

Well if they ever run away you can rest assured you'll get them back.

We had a lady bring in a stray cat to the hospital yesterday. She's been feeding and caring for this thing for years, and she finally decided to make sure he was up to date on vx and blood tests and whatnot. We scanned him - as we do all of our strays - and it turns out he's another patient of ours. Oops!

Anyway - it reminded me of this thread. =) So I thought I'd share.

We've had that happen before too! Some people bring these cute dogs in or whatever thinking theyve found a new "free" pet and turns it out it was already someone else's pet...how did you guys handle the situation?

 

[NStarz]

This thread just turned into a whole lot of awesome. I totally want to eat a microchip now.

 

[PetPony]

👍

This thread just turned into a whole lot of awesome. I totally want to eat a microchip now.

 

[nyanko]

We've had that happen before too! Some people bring these cute dogs in or whatever thinking theyve found a new "free" pet and turns it out it was already someone else's pet...how did you guys handle the situation?

There are some doctors who don't want to be involved, but I would absolutely contact the microchip company (since I assume that this is the way you know it's another person's pet - a person who found an animal with a collar and tag and wanted to keep it would almost certainly take the tag off before presenting the animal to a vet clinic) and have them attempt to contact the pet's original owner, and would explain to the client who brought the pet in that I was doing so and discuss the issue with them. What is the point of implanting microchips in pets if people are ignoring the info on them because the animal happens to be nice and they want to steal it?

 

[PetMySausage]

...What is the point of implanting microchips in pets if people are ignoring the info on them because the animal happens to be nice and they want to steal it?

I completely agree.

 

[Emiloo4]

Let me guess, volatile anesthetic combined with cautery?

Unfortunately, I've seen that mistake more than once over the years.

You got it! 👍

 

[hopefulinva]

We've had that happen before too! Some people bring these cute dogs in or whatever thinking theyve found a new "free" pet and turns it out it was already someone else's pet...how did you guys handle the situation?

Our awesome receptionists generally let the client know that we scan strays as a general procedure, and we always do it in the room in front of the client. If there's a microchip we just let them know the pet very likely already has an owner, and we're sure Fluffy appreciated the extra care, but it's our job to get him back home. Sometimes the people are disappointed, but usually they're happy the animal has actually been cared for and has a home to return to. 🙂

 

[sunshinevet]

We've had that happen before too! Some people bring these cute dogs in or whatever thinking theyve found a new "free" pet and turns it out it was already someone else's pet...how did you guys handle the situation?

Here its illegal for us to let them take the pet home again. So I always tell people I'm taking it out the back to scan for a m/c, and then if it has one, tell them that, if it doesn't, I tell them we'll keep it and it will go through proper channels - ie local pound or cat shelter etc. You're not allowed to rehome within 28 days here, and vet clinics cannot act as rehoming centers unless its part of a program (like a adoptacat program the local cat shelter runs through clinics). So I tell them that legally I cannot give the animal back and it will go through proper channels, if they're interested they can contact the jurisdiction they found it in and enquire about the animal through them.

Sure some people get upset with that - I've stopped caring! Lol.