Tattoing your rabbit

This is the method that I have used, forever, and the tatoos come out OK. This is what i've found gives the best tatoos, in my opinion, although I've never used an electric or hand held tatooer, I have a rabbit with a great tatoo that was done by hand.

1. Tatoo rabbits as early as possible 6-8 weeks, but no later than 3 months.
2. Wipe the ear out with a "sunburn cream" I like to use the kind with lidocaine or benzocaine in it, there is also a cream marketed for humans called EMLA cream which, when applied topically and let set for about an hour is supposed to deaden the area. But at $42.00 a tube, the sunburn cream will do.
3. If you don't want black fingers for 3 days, put gloves on. I don't use them. If you wash your hands right after you are done, there is little left on.
4. Clean the tatoo digits, and put them in the clamp and test it on a piece of paper or cardboard.
5. Rub some of the tatoo ink in the rabbits ear.
6. Hold the rabbits ear, and get the pliers in position.
7. Clamp firmly, and quickly. I put alot of pressure on the pliers, I don't have alot of hand strength. I do this with the rabbit on a table or the floor or in a chair, they will jump, but if you have the clamps held firmly. The rabbit will not go far. Expect that some will squeal. Also, position the pliers where you want them and firmly and quickly clamp and release.
8. Release the pliers and rub some tatoo ink in the holes with a small 1/4" paintbrush.
9. Wipe the excess ink off with a baby wipe
10. Cover the area that you tatood with hemmorhoid cream, or vasaline And let it set.

I use a cheap weston 1/4" pliers, I have plastic numbers, and metal letters. I cannot see any difference between the plastic digits, and the metal digits.

Recently, someone told me that they quit using alcohol to clean the rabbits ears, due to the fact that they thought that the alcohol caused the tatoos to fade over time. So this year I quit using the alcohol. And it does seem to improve the tatoos.

The last 2 tatoos I did, we used the india ink. I don't like it (yet!) the tatoo ink in the jar seems to "feather out" and help fill in the holes, and the india ink seems to make smaller markings in the individual holes. Both will work. Recently, I used the paste that is in a tube and had to redo about 10 as not a single tatoo came out at all! Also, if tatoo ink gets old, or freezes it may cause the tatoo to not come out at all also.

Other Sites that instucts on tatooing is:
Cooley's Country Critters