Scars may fadeWhen a dog is sterilized, a scar will be left on its belly. But scars may fade, especially if the dog is very young when the surgery is performed, explains Dr. Roth. A tattoo at the incision site lasts forever. Plus, because tattoos are only applied here to indicate that sterilization has occurred, there’s no doubt about their meaning.For male dogs, it may seem like there’s an obvious way to tell if they’re neutered—whether or not they have testicles. But even this isn’t a sure thing. Some dogs suffer from retained testicles that don’t “drop” into the scrotum and therefore are never visible on the outside of their bodies.
“The rationale behind the tattoo,” Dr. Roth explains, “is that we want to prevent the pet from being put under anesthesia and having their body opened needlessly.” This is especially relevant for shelter dogs, who often come in as adults or strays and without any medical history.
Pet spay tattoos also help veterinarians rule out certain diseases and conditions related to the reproductive organs, says Dr. Roth, including pregnancy, a uterine infection or testicular cancer. And if your pet comes in with some urgent distress, a quick check will at least let the vet know whether the problem might or might not be related to this. “Knowing the spay/neuter status of a pet helps us to better help the pet,” Dr. Roth adds.
Why do some dogs have a line tattooed on them?A blue line tattooed on a dog’s belly is the operating veterinarian’s way of signaling that the dog has been spayed or neutered. The tattoo is done when the animal undergoes its sterilization surgery, usually with a tattoo gun owned by the veterinary hospital, explains Cherice Roth, DVM, chief veterinary officer at Fuzzy, an online pet-health company. “Alternatively,” she says, “we may also just add sterilized ink or dye directly into the incision. The tattoo is placed after the surgery is complete but before the pet has woken up from anesthesia.” Because the dog will be on pain medication during and after the surgery, it won’t feel any discomfort as a result of the tattoo.Wondering if your dog has this mark? If you have a
Here are some other reasons, related and unrelated to the ones above, that spay/neuter tattoos are a good idea for pets.
What does temperament mean in a dog?
Temperament has been defined as an animal’s personality, makeup, disposition, or nature. … Temperament is not the physical characteristics of a dog, and it is not learned behaviors such as sit, down and stay.
Tattoo Meaning: The Foo Dog, or Guardian Lion
Pups are tattooed to help identify them in case they are lost or stolen. Microchips are great, but sometimes do not always work. … A tattoo can be removed, but a microchip is more difficult to remove. The number on the pup is like a license plate, and will lead back to the breeder and the owner if the dog is registered.