This method of identifying animals has been used for a long time in farm animals, in pets, and even in wild animals. The latter is undergoing such manipulation in order to study migrations. In agriculture, horses, cows and other animals are labeled. In fact, this is an identification tattoo, for the application of which they use special devices (marking machines). At the moment, one of the best ways to find out about the animal any information is the stigma. Pedigree dogs are stigmatized at the age of 45 days at the same time as litter activation. For breeders of RKF, the rule is established that this is a mandatory procedure for all babies. At the same time, the tattooed data is entered in the pedigree books of the dog breeding club and in the puppy’s documents (puppy card, and then in the pedigree).
Why a stigma may be required
Dogs are subjected to this procedure mainly to ensure that the animal has identification marks in case it is lost, runs away or is stolen. Also, when acquiring a thoroughbred puppy, if the buyer chose him before activation (until the 45th day), the latter will have a guarantee that he will get exactly the baby he wanted. It is impossible to replace a stigmatized dog. If you want to insure the animal, then the insurance company will require the presence of a pet identification tattoo. For a show dog, a mark is a must, it helps to avoid fraud in the rings (substitution of animals).
What is the mark
Dogs are stigmatized using the following equipment: glue stick and tongs. The first is, in fact, a pen-shaped tattoo machine. Its “core” is a needle containing ink - black ink. During the procedure, in advance, for example, with a gel pen, the outline of letters and numbers is drawn with a typewriter. It creates a large number of small punctures, delivering ink under the skin. Clipper-tongs are a panel with numbers and letters made with small needles. First, the desired combination is pierced on the skin, then a mixture of tattoo paste with novocaine is rubbed. After a couple of days, it crumbles, but what got into the wounds remains.
How animals make stigmas
Dogs, as already mentioned, must be branded at the age of one and a half months. However, if the owner wants to do this for an adult pet, the procedure can be performed at any age. Usually, anesthesia is not required, it is necessary to hold the animal well. The manipulation is relatively painful, but is carried out very quickly, up to a maximum of five minutes. It must be performed by an experienced specialist, preferably a veterinarian. Most often, brands are placed in the inguinal region and on the inside of the ears, as well as on the stomach or inner thigh. The hair is cut off at this place, rubbing the skin with alcohol.
What information does the brand contain
Dogs without it are extremely difficult to identify if something happens. Of course, you do not receive a one hundred percent guarantee that the lost dog will be found in any case. However, if the organization that issued the pedigree is RKF, then the chances are maximum. The stigma is two lines of letters and numbers. Only the first three are presented in the upper row. They belong to the Latin alphabet and are assigned to each nursery, being randomly selected. The bottom row is individual for each specific puppy and can contain up to six characters (letters, fractions, numbers). What they will be and in what order, each nursery decides independently.
In Russia, branding of dogs is a very popular way of identification. He also has drawbacks: over time, the tattoo fades, spreads out, overgrows with hair, even completely resolves. The stigma is difficult to read in animals with a dark color and pigmented skin. The biggest difficulty is that there is no unified hallmark database; cynological organizations have their own. Abroad, this procedure was practically abandoned, replacing it with microchip. A small electronic device implanted under the skin contains all the necessary information about the animal and its owner. All of them are issued in one format and are easily read by any scanner intended for this.