Is this something I should worry about?

Myabee09

I took Shelby to the vet this morning for her spay. When I was signing the paperwork, I noticed that she would get a little line tattoo showing that she was indeed spayed. I jokingly said to her, "away shelbs, you're going to be tatted up like momma" (I have a large arm piece and a few other obvious tats). The girl behind the counter asked if I would like a design instead. I thought she was joking. Apparently not. She went on to tell me about her dog and all his tattoos. She wasn't the vet or a tech, so I'm not worried too much, but is this normal or should I say something to the clinic? Do people really get designs instead of just a basic line? It just sounds too crazy to be true.

Losech

I have no idea. None of my dogs have tattoos signifying they've been altered. A design would be cool, but weird at the same time...

Myabee09

I've seen the line many times as a groomer and it makes sense. If a dog gets loose and is picked up by animal control, they don't open the dog up for a spay to find out the dog has been altered already.

PoetikDragon

Can you determine with ultrasound if the dog is spayed?

Hinata23

My sister dogs have it. It's just to show they're altered incase they are lost... although I don't really know how you can't tell a male dog is altered lol

Myabee09

Well, I have herd of neuticals.., lmbo!!!

Saya

Well unless the male dog has fake balls.. Though do those thing look fake or real? Dumb thing to ask I guess.. haha I see no reason for it.

Yeah the line thing is to ID as a spayed/neutered animal.

My vet didn't do it so maybe different vets do different things?

Bella you can tell she was spayed.. I think I can or maybe it was her chest incision for the mast cell tumor..

Saya If you didn't know it you might not think she was spayed due to having fur on her belly.. I'm glad her fur grew back there they shaved her.

I'd hope they'd wait for her to be found before trying to open her up..

Calia

Haven't really heard of a design, but I have heard of having numbers tattooed on the dog. The numbers get registered and have a similar purpose to chipping with the added bonus of being practically impossible to remove when done on the thigh (unlike chips that can be dug out).

Though if the line is supposed to symbolize being spayed, making it something other than that could cause it to lose that meaning.

WrylyBrindle

With feral cats, they cut a notch in their ear so if they get trapped again its clear they have been spayed already. I have only heard of tattoos like Beth described (my sis' dogs have them, signifies Lifetime Registration in Penn) - or racing greyhounds with their reg tattoo'd on their ear...

jeffnkazuko

I don't see problem with A tattoo, but if the dog has more than one for decorative purposes I would definitely be concerned.

shibamistress

I've never heard of the tattoo before, but I guess it makes sense. But I do think it is kind of wierd about a design....

Myabee09

Yeah, it's the decorative part that bothers me. The girl at the counter apparently has LSU tattooed on her dog and she menioned him having others. I'm not prejudice againts tattoos on people, obviously, but I just imagine a little jack Russell wearing biker gear with a "mom" tattoo. No hearts and butterflies for my lady!

jellyfish

frankly, that seems unnecessary. Don't get me wrong, I am all for tattoos. But on a dog???

I'm okay with tattooing the dog for spaying/registration purposes. I think that is a great idea. but anything more.... thats a little much.