Concept Current Provisions
Proposal
Regulation
and Bylaw
Making
Powers
Scope of
Practice Please refer to Appendix C Please refer to Appendix C
The Veterinarians Act states
that the practice of veterinary
medicine “includes the
practice of dentistry, obstetrics
including ova and embryo
transfer, and surgery, in
relation to an animal other
than a human being.” Definition
The practice of veterinary medicine is the assessment of the physiological or
behavioural status of an animal or group of animals and the diagnosis, treatment,
prevention, and/or control of any condition, disease, disorder or dysfunction.
Authorized Activities
The following is a list of proposed activities which would be legislatively authorized
to veterinarians; this means that only a veterinarian can perform these activities
independently, or delegate them to someone (regulated or unregulated) who is
not authorized but is deemed competent by the veterinarian to perform them, as
long as delegation is not prohibited. Under delegation, the veterinarian remains
responsible for the supervision and outcome of the activity.
The list of authorized activities includes:
1. Making or communicating a diagnosis identifying a disease, disorder,
dysfunction or condition as the cause of an animal’s signs and presentation
2. Performing a medical assessment to determine the fitness for purpose or
soundness of an animal, or group of animals, on which it is reasonably foreseeable
that a person or organization will rely on the assessment.
3. Ordering laboratory tests on an animal or on specimens taken from an animal.
4. Prescribing, compounding, dispensing, or selling a drug
5. Performing a procedure on tissue below the dermis
6. Performing a procedure below the surface of a mucous membrane
7. Performing a procedure on or below the surfaces of the teeth, including the
scaling of teeth and occlusal equilibration
8. Performing a procedure on or below the surface of the cornea
9. Setting, immobilizing, or casting a fracture of a bone or a dislocation of a joint or
a severed tendon
10. Administering a substance by injection or inhalation, or monitoring of such
11. Moving the joints of the spine beyond the animal’s usual physiological range of
motion using a fast, low amplitude thrust
12. Putting an instrument, arm, hand, or finger,
i. beyond the external ear canal,
ii. beyond the point in the nasal passages where they normally narrow,
iii. beyond the larynx,
iv. beyond the opening of the urethra,
v. beyond the labia majora,
vi. beyond the anus or cloaca, or
vii. into any other natural or artificial opening into the body
46 Achieving a Modern Approach to the Regulation of Veterinary Medicine in Ontario