Acts of Veterinary Science

Summary

The Veterinary Surgeons Act of 1936 in Queensland regulates the practice of veterinary science.

In Queensland there are certain veterinary activities that legally, can only be provided as a service (done for payment or reward) by registered veterinarians. These activities are known as ‘acts of veterinary science’ and may encompass:

  • diagnoses
  • surgeries
  • medical treatments
  • other procedures related to the health, well-being and management of animals.

In practical terms, individuals who are not registered veterinarians should avoid engaging in activities that are considered acts of veterinary science.

If you are unsure as to whether a layperson (non-veterinarian) is legally able to perform a procedure or activity on your animal, consult your veterinarian. Always seek professional veterinary advice to maintain the health and welfare of animals while adhering to the relevant legal standards.

Definition

The Veterinary Surgeons Act 1936 defines an act of veterinary science as:

  1. ‘Veterinary Science’ means the science of veterinary surgery or veterinary medicine.
  2. ‘Veterinary Science’ includes the following:
    1. Diagnosing diseases in, and injuries to, animals, including, for example, testing animals for diagnostic purposes;
    2. Giving advice based on a diagnosis under paragraph (a);
    3. Medical or surgical treatment of animals;
    4. Performing surgical operations on animals;
    5. Administering anaesthetics to animals;
    6. Signing or issuing certificates relating to the description, health, diagnosis or treatment of animals.
  3. However ‘veterinary science’ does not include –
    1. an act done for animal husbandry or animal dentistry prescribed under a regulation not to be veterinary science; or
    2. Using an animal, or allowing an animal to be used, for scientific purpose in accordance with the Animal Care and Protection Act 2001, section 91.

Interpretations

Determinations have been made in respect to whether specific procedures represent veterinary science.

If it is not clear that a certain activity or procedure falls within the statutory definition of veterinary science the following considerations should be applied to each case:

  • Is the activity or procedure something which any veterinarian must have been trained to carry out?
  • Is it necessary to be a veterinarian in order to understand why and how it is done and what the risks are?
  • Does it require a full assessment by a veterinarian of the best course of action at the outset?
  • Does it require continuing assessment by a veterinarian who can take the necessary action if something goes wrong?
  • Does it entail entering a body cavity* of the animal?
  • Is there a potential for pain or stress to the animal if it is not done properly?
  • Is there a potential for spreading disease?
  • Does it involve decisions on the use of medicines?

Positive answers will tend to strengthen the case that the activity or procedure in question may be an act of veterinary science. The questions are not, however, a checklist to be applied mechanically. One or more 'yes' answers do not necessarily imply that the activity or procedure is an act of veterinary science, and it may not be possible to give firm 'yes' or 'no' answers to all the questions. In borderline cases the conclusion may be that it is indeed an act of veterinary science, but one which could be carried out by a non-veterinarian subject to appropriate safeguards.

*  A body cavity is any ‘hollow space’ or enclosed cavity and includes the abdominal cavity, thoracic cavity, pelvic cavity, cranial and spinal canal, teeth cavities, orbit and eye, tympanic cavity, joint spaces and other synovial cavities.

The following determinations have been made by the Veterinary Surgeons Board of Queensland in accordance with the above guidelines:

Procedures not deemed to be veterinary science unless administration of restricted drugs is required or making of diagnosis is required

Lay people (non-veterinarians) are able to perform the following procedures as long as drugs are not needed to be administered or a diagnosis is required.

  • Microchipping (for cats and dogs, you must have the correct qualifications and completed a required course to be able to implant microchips)
  • Acupuncture
  • Chiropractic/manipulation procedures
  • Embryo transfer (nonsurgical)
  • Scaling, cleaning, polishing teeth
  • Taking of blood for examination
  • Deworming
  • Farriery
  • Ultrasound pregnancy testing (non-invasive only)

Procedures deemed to be veterinary science

Only registered veterinarians can provide these services (done for payment or reward):

  • Stomach tubing of horses
  • Artificial insemination of horses
  • Invasive dental procedures such as extractions and prostheses – all species
  • Ultrasound pregnancy testing when invasive – all species (by entry via rectum/vagina) – all species (NB – there is an exemption for people accredited to use transrectal ultrasound to test for pregnancy in cattle under an approved cattle procedures accreditation scheme*
  • Laparoscopic insemination
  • Transcervical artificial insemination

*There are currently no cattle procedures accreditation schemes approved in Queensland.

Procedures deemed to be acts of veterinary science but exempted by the Veterinary Surgeons Regulation 2016

The following acts done for animal husbandry or animal dentistry are not veterinary science and can be performed by lay people (non-veterinarians):

  1. castrating—
    1. cattle or sheep of less than 6 months; or
    2. (goats of less than 2 months; or
    3. pigs of less than 3 weeks
  2. dehorning—
    1. cattle of less than 6 months; or
    2. goats or sheep of less than 3 months
  3. spaying cattle using the Willis dropped-ovary technique, noting section 27A of the Animal Care and Protection Act prescribes that only veterinarians or an accredited person can spay cattle using the Willis dropped-ovary technique
  4. tailing sheep of less than 6 months
  5. mulesing sheep of less than 1 year
  6. filing or rasping a horse’s teeth
  7. artificial insemination of cattle, deer, goats, pigs or sheep
  8. teaching techniques about pregnancy testing of cattle by a veterinary surgeon to an owner of cattle
  9. pregnancy testing of cattle using rectal palpation or transrectal ultrasound by a person accredited to use rectal palpation or transrectal ultrasound to test for pregnancy in cattle under an approved cattle procedures accreditation scheme see the Animal Care and Protection Act 2001, section 93A.*

*There are currently no cattle procedures accreditation schemes approved in Queensland.

Fee or reward

It is an offence under the Veterinary Surgeons Act for a person who is not a registered veterinarian to perform an act of veterinary science for a fee or reward.

Use of title ‘Dr’ by veterinarians

Veterinarians are able to use the title of doctor (title includes description and status) however the Board requires that, if the title is used, it should be followed by:

a) the person’s name; and

b) words or abbreviation of words, intended to indicate and could be reasonably understood to indicate, that the person is a veterinarian.

Use of additional qualifications

Only a description of the qualification in respect of which registration is granted and those that the Board has recognised as post graduate veterinary science qualifications are entered in the Register of Veterinary Surgeons and the published Roll.  Additional qualifications not relative to veterinary science may be used by veterinarians but the primary registrable veterinary science degree should always be used in first instance.

Use of qualification—MRCVS

The use of the description ‘MRCVS’ is permitted only by those veterinarians who gained membership of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons by virtue of successful completion of the statutory examination conducted by the College (the equivalent of the National Veterinary Examination of Australia).  Membership gained by examination is a registrable degree in the United Kingdom and Australia and is recognised as such.

Membership in other circumstances is awarded when registering with the College by payment of a fee and production of evidence indicating the person is the holder of a veterinary science degree recognised by the College.  Registration confers membership of the College while the person remains financial with the College.  The Queensland Board considers the use of the qualification ‘MRCVS’ outside the UK is inappropriate when membership was gained in this manner.  The fact that a person has practised in the UK at some point of time should not be held out to the public as an additional qualification inferring superiority over others.

Last updated: 19 Jan 2024