Ear Tattoo Question...

[Barton's Big Bunnies]

I bought a bunny that I was told was tattooed with an EZ-Pen. When I brought him home you could see where it was tattooed but that it still needed to heal.
About 10 days later you could see the scar of the tattoo but looked like there was hardly any ink.
And a few days after that, the middle letter bubbled up with scar tissue.

I want to show him but need to know what I should do about his tattoo. I use the clamp style tattoo. I wasn't sure if I should re-tattoo him with my clamp or have someone else that uses the EZ-Pen re-tattoo over his scar or what I should do....:?:

 

[luvabunny]

The scar tissue will probably not hold the ink.
I had mine re-tattooed directly under the original.
No doubt they are the same tattoo, but one is legible.

 

[SarahMelisse]

I have a couple rabbits from a breeder who used a tattoo pen and they look just like that. One has even disappeared. I don't show so its not a problem for me, but it looks like you have a lot of space on the ear to just clamp a fresh tattoo below the existing one as luvabunny suggested.

 

[Bad Habit]

Is this a common problem with tattoo pens?

 

[skysthelimit]

Not that I know of. I have rabbits tattooed with pens and clamps.

 

[Lastfling]

Most of my pen tattoos hold up well. I've had a few to fade, but most were done once and are still legible.<br /><br />__________ Thu Dec 20, 2012 4:39 pm __________<br /><br />

 

[MamaSheepdog]

I have no idea why the ink didn't penetrate, but that first pic looks pretty painful. The scar looks more like those new "burned tattoos" that people do, whatever they are called. :?

I agree that you can probably remark the ear below, but the scar itself seems prominent enough and doesn't look like it will go away. You might try applying cocoa butter ointment to the "S" in the hope of minimizing that proud flesh.

Do you know the age of the rabbit when the tattoo was done? Maybe it was too young?

 

[Barton's Big Bunnies]

I didn't think the scar tissue would hold the ink but I wanted to make sure that was correct. And also did not want to do anything to him that might cause a DQ when showing. I'm new to showing & was not sure if having 2 tattoos was allowed.
He was tattooed the same day he was sold to me & he was 2mos old. He is now 6mos old. What is the proper age to tattoo.

 

[KKRabbitry]

Ouchy, that does look like it hurt.
Maybe the tattoo pen did not have enough ink on it when it was done?
We have had a few that fade, and few that are still dark after years.
It takes practice to get it just right.
It easy to use to much pressure, then it can bleed and wash out the ink.
To little pressure won't get the ink under the skin.

 

[OneAcreFarm]

It looks like either they went over it too many times and basically rubbed the skin off or they were dragging the needle too quickly and tearing the skin. Either way, they need a lesson on how to use a tattoo pen...

 

[Bill]

It appears to me that maybe there is some irritation or possibly infection in the early pic. Maybe the needle or ear wasn't clean?

 

[MamaSheepdog]

What is the proper age to tattoo.

I tattoo between 6 and 8 weeks, sometimes older. However, early on I had someone tattoo a rabbit for me at a show because I wanted to see someone more experienced do it, and she said that she doesn't like to do them when they are very young because it causes a raised scar. She likes to wait until about 4 months.

I think the technique used has more to do with scarring, but more mature tissue is probably not as easily damaged.

 

[Mary Ann's Rabbitry]

that looks burnt to me.

 

[OneAcreFarm]

that looks burnt to me.

It *does* kind of look like they did it with a wood burning tool or something... :shock:

 

[kbotelho]

It defiantly looks like the needle was burred, we recommend to change the needle every 10-20 rabbits. A very dul needle would cause scarring like that!

 

[Barton's Big Bunnies]

So should I have someone else tattoo under his current scar/tattoo with a pen so it looks similar or should I use my clamp tattoo under his current scar/tattoo?

 

[OneAcreFarm]

So should I have someone else tattoo under his current scar/tattoo with a pen so it looks similar or should I use my clamp tattoo under his current scar/tattoo?

I think either one would work...whatever is easier for you.

 

[Rustina]

As a person who is a tattooist, I would not recomend having that tattoo gone back over, it will not hold ink and will be very very painful for your bunny. When a tattoo scars like that it is either too much pressure/ repitition , or infection. The first picture looks like it was a little of both. It would be best to retattoo under the old scar. Clamp, or someone who is good at using that tattoo pen. Just my opinion.

 

[Barton's Big Bunnies]

Thank you all so much for your opinions!

 

[Ramjet]

It looks like either they went over it too many times and basically rubbed the skin off or they were dragging the needle too quickly and tearing the skin. Either way, they need a lesson on how to use a tattoo pen...

I was at one time a tattooist .... What I see from that image is pure scar tissue , what causes that is the needle penetrating too deep.

There are five layers of the epidermis (and nine total layers within the skin) as shown in the image below (In Humans):

Penetration into the 3rd and 4th layers are acceptable , anything penetrating further will scar (And the bodies immune system will attack the ink causing failure / fading) much like we see in the OP's images.


Penetration into the Stratum Granulose is optimal.