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BC Animal Owners Association
  • ABOUT US
    • Who we are
    • What we do
    • Mission & Objectives
  • THE PROBLEM
    • Unauthorized Practice
    • List of practices
  • THE SOLUTION
    • The Proposal
  • Support Us
    • Spread the word
    • DONATE
  • ABOUT US
    • Who we are
    • What we do
    • Mission & Objectives
  • THE PROBLEM
    • Unauthorized Practice
    • List of practices
  • THE SOLUTION
    • The Proposal
  • Support Us
    • Spread the word
    • DONATE

Unauthorized practice list

The College of Veterinarians of BC ‘Unauthorized Practices’2 list includes but is not limited to:
Massage & Reiki
Acupuncture & Acupressure
Acutherapy
Chiropractic
Physiotherapy
Tellington Touch
Behavioural Training
TCM Traditional Chinese Medicine
Dentistry
Holistic
Homeopathy
Herbal Therapy
Botanical Medicine
Pharmacy
Nutraceutical Medicine
Craniosacral Therapy
Here is a more detailed list from a College of Veterinarians of BC Memo:
“The more common areas of unauthorized practice occur:
  • ​Acupuncture and Acutherapy examination and stimulation of specific points on animals by use of acupuncture needles, moxibustion, injections, low-level lasers, magnets for the diagnosis and treatment of numerous conditions.
  • Alternative and/or complementary practices includes "alternative approach health care?", Reiki, Tellington Touch, acupuncture, acupressure, Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), and homeopathy (including diets).
  • Behavioural Consultants who independently assess and 'treat' companion animals (dogs, cats).
  • Botanical Medicine use of plants and plant derivatives as therapeutic agents.
  • Chiropractic examination, diagnosis, and treatment of animals through manipulation and adjustments of specific joints and cranial sutures. Usually human chiropractors independently assessing and treating companion animals (dogs and horses) through corrective manipulation.
  • Dentistry anything beyond cosmetic teeth cleaning as clarified by the Supreme Court in the BCVMA v. K-9 Dental case. Primarily related to scaling (hand or machine) and extraction. Equine primarily limited to floating and wolf teeth extraction.
  • General includes assessing, diagnosing, neutering, administering vaccines or drugs, dehorning ruminants (cattle, goats, sheep), diagnostic testing (thyroid, dental x-ray, ultrasound, blood and urine), advertising with "Veterinary" title or implying qualification as a veterinarian, performing surgery (suturing, cattle/ swine caesarian) and providing advice or treatment recommendations. Diagnosis and prescription of drugs are not exempted and always fall within the scope that significant harm can be easily demonstrated.
  • Homeopathy administration of substances in very minute doses to animals that are capable of producing clinical signs in healthy animals similar to those of the animal to be treated.
  • Holistic Medicine comprehensive approach to health care employing alternative or complementary and conventional diagnostic, and therapeutic modalities; in practice, holistic medicine may incorporate any or all of the above modalities as well as conventional medicine, surgery, and dentistry.
  • Massage therapy use of the hands and body to massage soft tissues.
  • Massage and Physical or Physic-therapy rehabilitation of animal injuries; including by stretching, massage therapy, stimulation by low level lasers, electrical sources, magnetic fields, and ultrasound, rehabilitation exercises, hydrotherapy, and application of heat and cold. Includes laypersons who provide physiotherapy, therapeutic massage, myotherapy, hydrotherapy, and non-registered chiropractors.
  • Nutraceutical Medicine use of micro- and macronutrients, and other nutritional supplements as therapeutic agents.
  • Pharmacy really diagnosing and/or prescribing by pharmacists. Major issues pertain to independently providing treatment advice and failure to follow provincial Pharmacy, Pharmacy Operation and Drug Scheduling Act (PPODS). Inquiries that pertain to the retail of medicines by provincial lay outlets are referred to the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Fisheries (MAFF).
  •  Veterinary Includes retired veterinarians and consultants not-registered with BCVMA as General Private Practice (GPP) or Specialty Private Practice (SPP), and registered veterinarians practicing from non-accredited facilities.”
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Unauthorized Practice of Veterinary Medicine in BC2, Published January 2012 By: Dr. John Brocklebank, Deputy Registrar
References
2) “Unauthorized Practice of Veterinary Medicine in BC,” College of Veterinarians of BC, Published January 2012 By: Dr. John Brocklebank, Deputy Registrar, 
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BCAOA loves animals!
BCAOA represents animal owners who want freedom to access non-veterinary animal health practitioners who provide services that are complementary to veterinary care. 
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BC Animal Owners Association represents animal owners who want freedom to access non-veterinary animal health practitioners who provide services that are complementary to veterinary care.

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