A black-and-white photo of a person mid-air in a Superman-style body suspension pose, supported by multiple hooks in their back and legs, smiling joyfully toward the camera. They are suspended horizontally in a large indoor space with high ceilings and visible rigging. A group of onlookers—some seated, some standing—watch with expressions of admiration, amusement, and support. The atmosphere is lively and communal, capturing a moment of shared experience and transformation.

Veterinary Pathology Tattoo

Kim got this blackwork microscope tattoo as a celebration of passing the Veterinary Anatomic Pathology board’s certification (the “V” of course stands for “Veterinary”). I wonder… would a tattooed veterinarian be more or less likely to tattoo an animal (a common practise by the way)? Tattoo by Dano at Main Street Tattoos in Edgewood, MD.

Comments

48 responses to “Veterinary Pathology Tattoo”

  1. Jess Avatar
    Jess

    Holy crap, I think I know this person outside of BME…

    I love the tattoo 🙂

  2. Jess Avatar
    Jess

    Holy crap, I think I know this person outside of BME…

    I love the tattoo 🙂

  3. Jess Avatar
    Jess

    Holy crap, I think I know this person outside of BME…

    I love the tattoo 🙂

  4. Jess Avatar
    Jess

    Holy crap, I think I know this person outside of BME…

    I love the tattoo 🙂

  5. afk612 Avatar
    afk612

    “I wonder… would a tattooed veterinarian be more or less likely to tattoo an animal?”

    I don’t think that you can judge that based on someone’s occupation, whether it’s involving animals or not.
    Just my opinion.

  6. afk612 Avatar
    afk612

    “I wonder… would a tattooed veterinarian be more or less likely to tattoo an animal?”

    I don’t think that you can judge that based on someone’s occupation, whether it’s involving animals or not.
    Just my opinion.

  7. afk612 Avatar
    afk612

    “I wonder… would a tattooed veterinarian be more or less likely to tattoo an animal?”

    I don’t think that you can judge that based on someone’s occupation, whether it’s involving animals or not.
    Just my opinion.

  8. afk612 Avatar
    afk612

    “I wonder… would a tattooed veterinarian be more or less likely to tattoo an animal?”

    I don’t think that you can judge that based on someone’s occupation, whether it’s involving animals or not.
    Just my opinion.

  9. commonwealth Avatar

    i tattooed a dog at work today after we spayed her… tattooing numbers in plain black is pretty boring

  10. commonwealth Avatar

    i tattooed a dog at work today after we spayed her… tattooing numbers in plain black is pretty boring

  11. commonwealth Avatar

    i tattooed a dog at work today after we spayed her… tattooing numbers in plain black is pretty boring

  12. commonwealth Avatar

    i tattooed a dog at work today after we spayed her… tattooing numbers in plain black is pretty boring

  13. animal hospital worker Avatar
    animal hospital worker

    I work in an animal hospital and one of the doctors has quite a few tattoos including a half sleeve and a piece on her calf of a sacred heart with her dogs name in it. I have asked her about her opinion on tattooing animals and she has firmly stated that she would not tattoo an animal. She also refuses to dock tails and ears or declaw a cat.

  14. animal hospital worker Avatar
    animal hospital worker

    I work in an animal hospital and one of the doctors has quite a few tattoos including a half sleeve and a piece on her calf of a sacred heart with her dogs name in it. I have asked her about her opinion on tattooing animals and she has firmly stated that she would not tattoo an animal. She also refuses to dock tails and ears or declaw a cat.

  15. animal hospital worker Avatar
    animal hospital worker

    I work in an animal hospital and one of the doctors has quite a few tattoos including a half sleeve and a piece on her calf of a sacred heart with her dogs name in it. I have asked her about her opinion on tattooing animals and she has firmly stated that she would not tattoo an animal. She also refuses to dock tails and ears or declaw a cat.

  16. animal hospital worker Avatar
    animal hospital worker

    I work in an animal hospital and one of the doctors has quite a few tattoos including a half sleeve and a piece on her calf of a sacred heart with her dogs name in it. I have asked her about her opinion on tattooing animals and she has firmly stated that she would not tattoo an animal. She also refuses to dock tails and ears or declaw a cat.

  17. quinnn Avatar
    quinnn

    My cat was fixed today and got two tattoos (ID on ear and something marking that she was fixed on her belly).

    She was out while she got the tattoos. I think the belly one is a great idea. Should she find another home and they wanted to get her fixed once she was shaved they would see that they didn’t have to do an unnecessary surgery.

  18. quinnn Avatar
    quinnn

    My cat was fixed today and got two tattoos (ID on ear and something marking that she was fixed on her belly).

    She was out while she got the tattoos. I think the belly one is a great idea. Should she find another home and they wanted to get her fixed once she was shaved they would see that they didn’t have to do an unnecessary surgery.

  19. quinnn Avatar
    quinnn

    My cat was fixed today and got two tattoos (ID on ear and something marking that she was fixed on her belly).

    She was out while she got the tattoos. I think the belly one is a great idea. Should she find another home and they wanted to get her fixed once she was shaved they would see that they didn’t have to do an unnecessary surgery.

  20. quinnn Avatar
    quinnn

    My cat was fixed today and got two tattoos (ID on ear and something marking that she was fixed on her belly).

    She was out while she got the tattoos. I think the belly one is a great idea. Should she find another home and they wanted to get her fixed once she was shaved they would see that they didn’t have to do an unnecessary surgery.

  21. Kenny Avatar
    Kenny

    I’d just like to say congrats to Kim for passing 😀

  22. Kenny Avatar
    Kenny

    I’d just like to say congrats to Kim for passing 😀

  23. Kenny Avatar
    Kenny

    I’d just like to say congrats to Kim for passing 😀

  24. Kenny Avatar
    Kenny

    I’d just like to say congrats to Kim for passing 😀

  25. J Avatar
    J

    “I wonder… would a tattooed veterinarian be more or less likely to tattoo an animal (a common practise by the way)?”

    Makes no difference, actually. Most of the tattoos we use in vet med aren’t intended for decoration, and aren’t often requested/optional on the part of the owner. We tattoo cow ears as proof of brucellosis vaccination, tattoo ferret ears when they’ve been castrated or spayed (usually done at the breeder’s, before the ferret is sent to a pet store), tattoo and/or ear-notch feral cats when they’re castrated or spayed, many humane societies tattoo dogs when they’re spayed before adoption (in case they come back, so they don’t try to spay them again). Race horses are often tattooed as permanent ID for breeding/registration purposes. Tattooing of show dogs (and rabbits, and i imagine other animals) is becoming less common as most breeders are switching to microchips, but does still happen; again it’s a permanent ID for breeding/registration purposes.

    For curiosity’s sake though–the doctor at the clinic i work at who does the most tattooing (cow ears) is also the one who threw a complete tantrum when his daughter got a belly-button ring.

  26. J Avatar
    J

    “I wonder… would a tattooed veterinarian be more or less likely to tattoo an animal (a common practise by the way)?”

    Makes no difference, actually. Most of the tattoos we use in vet med aren’t intended for decoration, and aren’t often requested/optional on the part of the owner. We tattoo cow ears as proof of brucellosis vaccination, tattoo ferret ears when they’ve been castrated or spayed (usually done at the breeder’s, before the ferret is sent to a pet store), tattoo and/or ear-notch feral cats when they’re castrated or spayed, many humane societies tattoo dogs when they’re spayed before adoption (in case they come back, so they don’t try to spay them again). Race horses are often tattooed as permanent ID for breeding/registration purposes. Tattooing of show dogs (and rabbits, and i imagine other animals) is becoming less common as most breeders are switching to microchips, but does still happen; again it’s a permanent ID for breeding/registration purposes.

    For curiosity’s sake though–the doctor at the clinic i work at who does the most tattooing (cow ears) is also the one who threw a complete tantrum when his daughter got a belly-button ring.

  27. J Avatar
    J

    “I wonder… would a tattooed veterinarian be more or less likely to tattoo an animal (a common practise by the way)?”

    Makes no difference, actually. Most of the tattoos we use in vet med aren’t intended for decoration, and aren’t often requested/optional on the part of the owner. We tattoo cow ears as proof of brucellosis vaccination, tattoo ferret ears when they’ve been castrated or spayed (usually done at the breeder’s, before the ferret is sent to a pet store), tattoo and/or ear-notch feral cats when they’re castrated or spayed, many humane societies tattoo dogs when they’re spayed before adoption (in case they come back, so they don’t try to spay them again). Race horses are often tattooed as permanent ID for breeding/registration purposes. Tattooing of show dogs (and rabbits, and i imagine other animals) is becoming less common as most breeders are switching to microchips, but does still happen; again it’s a permanent ID for breeding/registration purposes.

    For curiosity’s sake though–the doctor at the clinic i work at who does the most tattooing (cow ears) is also the one who threw a complete tantrum when his daughter got a belly-button ring.

  28. J Avatar
    J

    “I wonder… would a tattooed veterinarian be more or less likely to tattoo an animal (a common practise by the way)?”

    Makes no difference, actually. Most of the tattoos we use in vet med aren’t intended for decoration, and aren’t often requested/optional on the part of the owner. We tattoo cow ears as proof of brucellosis vaccination, tattoo ferret ears when they’ve been castrated or spayed (usually done at the breeder’s, before the ferret is sent to a pet store), tattoo and/or ear-notch feral cats when they’re castrated or spayed, many humane societies tattoo dogs when they’re spayed before adoption (in case they come back, so they don’t try to spay them again). Race horses are often tattooed as permanent ID for breeding/registration purposes. Tattooing of show dogs (and rabbits, and i imagine other animals) is becoming less common as most breeders are switching to microchips, but does still happen; again it’s a permanent ID for breeding/registration purposes.

    For curiosity’s sake though–the doctor at the clinic i work at who does the most tattooing (cow ears) is also the one who threw a complete tantrum when his daughter got a belly-button ring.

  29. fantasien Avatar

    where i am, tattooing of animals when sterilised/microchipped is optional, but since the animal is unconscious when it happens nearly everyone says yes, tattoo them.

    i’m training to be a vet nurse, and i foresee myself getting lots more tattoos of animals! i had a client show me her first tattoo, just after we had euthanased her last rat. it was of two ratties cuddled together. it was so awesome to have her share it with us 🙂

  30. fantasien Avatar

    where i am, tattooing of animals when sterilised/microchipped is optional, but since the animal is unconscious when it happens nearly everyone says yes, tattoo them.

    i’m training to be a vet nurse, and i foresee myself getting lots more tattoos of animals! i had a client show me her first tattoo, just after we had euthanased her last rat. it was of two ratties cuddled together. it was so awesome to have her share it with us 🙂

  31. fantasien Avatar

    where i am, tattooing of animals when sterilised/microchipped is optional, but since the animal is unconscious when it happens nearly everyone says yes, tattoo them.

    i’m training to be a vet nurse, and i foresee myself getting lots more tattoos of animals! i had a client show me her first tattoo, just after we had euthanased her last rat. it was of two ratties cuddled together. it was so awesome to have her share it with us 🙂

  32. fantasien Avatar

    where i am, tattooing of animals when sterilised/microchipped is optional, but since the animal is unconscious when it happens nearly everyone says yes, tattoo them.

    i’m training to be a vet nurse, and i foresee myself getting lots more tattoos of animals! i had a client show me her first tattoo, just after we had euthanased her last rat. it was of two ratties cuddled together. it was so awesome to have her share it with us 🙂

  33. lala Avatar
    lala

    It’s nifty..

  34. lala Avatar
    lala

    It’s nifty..

  35. lala Avatar
    lala

    It’s nifty..

  36. lala Avatar
    lala

    It’s nifty..

  37. Paul Avatar
    Paul

    I think it’s a silly design, but knowing it has special meaning,and what that meaning is – I can understand of course why they’d get it. Also it’s a great tat;as far as explaining to people the reason why it was done,and it’s originality.

  38. Paul Avatar
    Paul

    I think it’s a silly design, but knowing it has special meaning,and what that meaning is – I can understand of course why they’d get it. Also it’s a great tat;as far as explaining to people the reason why it was done,and it’s originality.

  39. Paul Avatar
    Paul

    I think it’s a silly design, but knowing it has special meaning,and what that meaning is – I can understand of course why they’d get it. Also it’s a great tat;as far as explaining to people the reason why it was done,and it’s originality.

  40. Paul Avatar
    Paul

    I think it’s a silly design, but knowing it has special meaning,and what that meaning is – I can understand of course why they’d get it. Also it’s a great tat;as far as explaining to people the reason why it was done,and it’s originality.

  41. a veterinary professional Avatar
    a veterinary professional

    I’m a heavily tattooed veterinary nurse and current vet student–and soon to be veterinarian!
    And, I would allow a client to tattoo their pet while it was under anesthesia for a routine procedure. As long as the tattoo is simple enough that it can be done pretty quickly. A friend of mine had their dog tattooed at my last job and I watched it heal. (And, it healed really quickly, and the dog didn’t even lick at it or pay any attention to it). I say it’s fine because it’s a permanent identification that looks a whole lot more pleasing than the sloppy black numbers I would be able to do. But, I wouldn’t dock a tail/ear or declaw since that’s PAIN..and continuous pain and discomfort. I will consider declawing kittys if owners have immunosuppressive diseases that may require it. But, back to the original question….indeed I feel tattoo enthusiasts may be more likely to agree to a quick tattoo on a pet.

  42. a veterinary professional Avatar
    a veterinary professional

    I’m a heavily tattooed veterinary nurse and current vet student–and soon to be veterinarian!
    And, I would allow a client to tattoo their pet while it was under anesthesia for a routine procedure. As long as the tattoo is simple enough that it can be done pretty quickly. A friend of mine had their dog tattooed at my last job and I watched it heal. (And, it healed really quickly, and the dog didn’t even lick at it or pay any attention to it). I say it’s fine because it’s a permanent identification that looks a whole lot more pleasing than the sloppy black numbers I would be able to do. But, I wouldn’t dock a tail/ear or declaw since that’s PAIN..and continuous pain and discomfort. I will consider declawing kittys if owners have immunosuppressive diseases that may require it. But, back to the original question….indeed I feel tattoo enthusiasts may be more likely to agree to a quick tattoo on a pet.

  43. a veterinary professional Avatar
    a veterinary professional

    I’m a heavily tattooed veterinary nurse and current vet student–and soon to be veterinarian!
    And, I would allow a client to tattoo their pet while it was under anesthesia for a routine procedure. As long as the tattoo is simple enough that it can be done pretty quickly. A friend of mine had their dog tattooed at my last job and I watched it heal. (And, it healed really quickly, and the dog didn’t even lick at it or pay any attention to it). I say it’s fine because it’s a permanent identification that looks a whole lot more pleasing than the sloppy black numbers I would be able to do. But, I wouldn’t dock a tail/ear or declaw since that’s PAIN..and continuous pain and discomfort. I will consider declawing kittys if owners have immunosuppressive diseases that may require it. But, back to the original question….indeed I feel tattoo enthusiasts may be more likely to agree to a quick tattoo on a pet.

  44. a veterinary professional Avatar
    a veterinary professional

    I’m a heavily tattooed veterinary nurse and current vet student–and soon to be veterinarian!
    And, I would allow a client to tattoo their pet while it was under anesthesia for a routine procedure. As long as the tattoo is simple enough that it can be done pretty quickly. A friend of mine had their dog tattooed at my last job and I watched it heal. (And, it healed really quickly, and the dog didn’t even lick at it or pay any attention to it). I say it’s fine because it’s a permanent identification that looks a whole lot more pleasing than the sloppy black numbers I would be able to do. But, I wouldn’t dock a tail/ear or declaw since that’s PAIN..and continuous pain and discomfort. I will consider declawing kittys if owners have immunosuppressive diseases that may require it. But, back to the original question….indeed I feel tattoo enthusiasts may be more likely to agree to a quick tattoo on a pet.

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