Tattooing bunny’s ear

[lunavenus]

I just posted bout microchipping and I really don’t like the idea of having a foreign object in my bunnies…. 
Does anybody know where I can take my bunnies to get Identification numbers or words tattooed onto their ears like what breeders do for show rabbits?? 
Is it safe for me to do it myself? (though I’d rather not!!) 

[blubudgie]

Microchipping is safe and effective, it’s used on cats and dogs all the time. If your rabbit ever gets lost, shelters can just quickly scan and find the microchip number and find your name and contact info to reunite you and your pet.

I’m not sure a rabbit tattoo works the same way, I always thought those were just ways for breeders to ID their rabbits for rabbit shows. It doesn’t correspond to any kind of contact info that shelters can pull up when they read it. someone correct me if im wrong.

[Mikey]

It is mostly to ID their rabbits at shows or for breeding, i think. My Blue has his ear tattooed (breeder had them tattooed so the babies wouldnt be mixed up when being sold), but its not readable any more. Its just a blockish smudge inside of one of his ears. I agree that microchipping is the easiest and possibly safest way to go. My past 4 dogs have been chipped and never had an issues caused by it

[Q8bunny]

My rabbit savvy vet is against microchipping. Rabbit skin is very fragile and the way it’s attached to the muscles is different from other animals and they’re very susceptible to abscesses. She’s seen a lot of microchips in rabbits “travel” under the skin over time and cause problems.

[Mikey]

Oh wow i didnt know that about rabbits and microchipping. We never asked our rabbit about them since our buns dont leave the house and when they do, they are harnessed and crated. Maybe harness training Luna and Venus will be a better bet? You can get rabbit harnesses at some pet stores, or you can have then custom made at online stores (Ill have to find the links again). You can always add a small name and number tag to the back/top, which might also alert people into noticing that shes a pet rabbit that got loose and not just a “wild” rabbit

[lunavenus]

It’s not more about the losing the rabbit, I think the quarantine vet I’m consulting with wants my bunnies to be easily recognized…
What he says is he doesn’t want the authorities to be like “how do we know these are the rabbits on the permit” and start some BullSh** like that….. So he’s trying to offer me some advice on a way around that, which is getting them microchipped for recognition.
I’ll try calling my vet tomorrow and see how he feels about it.
I’m also really hesitant to microchip my bunnies because they are so fragile and I don’t really like the idea of it (never did and probably never will). I don’t mind if other people do it to their rabbits or pets but I feel like it’s not for me.
I’d rather go with the ear tattoo if anything to be honest…..

[mango]

Oh crap. I wish I heard about this risk before I microchipped my bunnies last month. I searched posts on various forums before deciding on it and yet somehow this is the first time I came across this issue.

[Q8bunny]

Mango – I’m sorry to have worried you. Like any medical procedure (even highly risky ones) I’m sure there are many positive outcomes. Just be mindful of where the insertion points are and include the general area in your weekly or monthly bunny once-over.

[Author]

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