Tattooing of the Equine Eyelid: A Retrospective Study

Abstract 

In this retrospective study, medical records of 26 horses whose eyelids were tattooed were analyzed, and data regarding age, breed, eyelid pigment, eye color, sex, and reproductive status of the horses were compiled. Owners of the horses were contacted by telephone and questioned about their horses. Twenty-six horses were tattooed at Colorado State University (CSU), and one of them was tattooed twice. Records were available for 26 horses, and follow-up results by telephone were completed for 22 of those. Telephone follow-up times ranged from 3 months to 17 years after tattooing. American Paint Horses constituted 62% (16/26) of the cases, followed by Appaloosas (19% = 5/26), and Quarter Horses (8% = 2/26). In 100% (22/22) of cases, the reason for presenting the horse for a tattoo was lack of periocular pigmentation. Only two horses developed ocular or periocular squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) after their tattoos. Although the results of this study suggest that tattooing may be protective against SCC and solar blepharitis, it is by no means conclusive. However it appears to have no deleterious effects, and often owners like the appearance of the tattooed eyelid.

Keywords: Horse eyelid, Tattoo, Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), Periocular pigmentation, Solar blepharitis