(a) With appropriate supervision and after establishing a veterinarian-client-patient relationship, a veterinarian may delegate veterinary care and treatment duties to non-veterinarian employees, or to the following independent contractors:

(1) licensed equine dental providers, in accordance with subsection (h) of this section; or

(2) chiropractors, in accordance with §573.14 of this title (relating to Alternate Therapies--Chiropractic and Other Forms of Musculoskeletal Manipulation).

(b) A veterinarian shall determine when general, direct, or immediate supervision of a non-veterinarian's actions is appropriate, except where such actions of the non-veterinarian may otherwise be prohibited by law. A veterinarian shall consider both the level of training and experience of the non-veterinarian when determining the level of supervision and duties of non-veterinarians.

(c) A veterinarian is subject to discipline if he or she improperly delegates care and/or treatment duties to a non-veterinarian, or fails to properly supervise the non-veterinarian performing delegated duties.

(d) A non-veterinarian shall not perform the following health care services:

(1) surgery;

(2) invasive dental procedures not enumerated in subsection (i) of this section;

(3) diagnosis and prognosis of animal diseases and/or conditions; or

(4) prescribing drugs and appliances.

(e) Euthanasia may be performed by a veterinary technician only under the immediate supervision of a veterinarian.

(f) A non-veterinarian may administer a rabies vaccine only under the direct supervision of a veterinarian, and only after the veterinarian has properly established a veterinarian-client-patient relationship.

(g) The use of a veterinarian's signature stamp or electronic signature pad on an official health document by a non-veterinarian shall be authorized only under the direct supervision of the vaccinating veterinarian.

(h) Delegation to an RVT. When feasible, a veterinarian should delegate greater responsibility to a registered veterinary technician registered by the Texas Veterinary Medical Association (RVT) than to an unlicensed person that is not a RVT.

(1) Under the direct or immediate supervision of a veterinarian, an RVT may:

(A) suture to close existing surgical skin incisions and skin lacerations; and

(B) induce anesthesia.

(2) The procedures authorized to be performed by an RVT in paragraph (1) of this subsection may be performed by a non-veterinarian only under the immediate supervision of a veterinarian.

(i) The following treatments may be performed by a licensed equine dental provider under general supervision by a veterinarian, and by a non-licensed employee of a veterinarian under direct supervision by the veterinarian:

(1) removing sharp enamel points;

(2) removing small dental overgrowths;

(3) rostral profiling of the first cheek teeth;

(4) reducing incisors;

(5) extracting loose, deciduous teeth;

(6) removing supragingival calculus;

(7) extracting loose, mobile, or diseased teeth or dental fragments with minimal periodontal attachments by hand and without the use of an elevator; and

(8) removing erupted, non-displaced wolf teeth.

(j) Exception for Emergency Care. In an emergency situation where prompt treatment is essential for the prevention of death or alleviation of extreme suffering, a veterinarian may, after determining the nature of the emergency and the condition of the animal, issue treatment directions to a non-veterinarian by means of telephone, electronic mail or messaging, radio, or facsimile communication. The Board may take action against a veterinarian if, in the Board's sole discretion, the veterinarian uses this authorization to circumvent this rule. The veterinarian assumes full responsibility for such treatment. However, nothing in this rule requires a veterinarian to accept an animal treated under this rule as a patient under these circumstances.

(k) Exception for Care of Hospitalized Animals. A non-veterinarian may, in the absence of direct supervision, follow the oral or written treatment orders of a veterinarian who is caring for a hospitalized animal, so long as the veterinarian has examined the animal(s) and a valid veterinarian/client/patient relationship exists.

A veterinarian shall be responsible for any acts a non-veterinarian employee commits within the scope of the employee's employment.

(a) A veterinarian who employs and/or supervises another veterinarian practicing veterinary medicine shall assure that the person is:

(1) actively licensed; and

(2) meets the requirements of §573.43 of this title (relating to Controlled Substances Registration) for registration with the federal Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS).

(b) A veterinarian who employs and/or supervises an equine dental provider shall ensure that the equine dental provider is actively licensed.

(a) A veterinarian must personally sign any official health documents issued by the veterinarian, and/or any official health documents for which the veterinarian has received compensation, regardless of whether said compensation is ultimately refunded, provided, however, that rabies certificates may be authenticated by either:

(1) the veterinarian's personal signature; or

(2) the use of a signature stamp or electronic signature by a non-licensed employee under direct supervision of the veterinarian.

(b) The issuance of any pre-signed or pre-stamped official health documents by a veterinarian is prohibited.

(c) Unless otherwise prohibited by law, and except as provided in subsection (d) of this section, a veterinarian may permit a non-licensed employee under the veterinarian's direct supervision to collect samples from animals for official tests.

(d) A person approved by the Texas Animal Health Commission (TAHC) and under the general supervision of a TAHC approved veterinarian may perform testing for brucellosis at a livestock market or collect blood samples on animals to be consigned directly from the ranch to slaughter and submit them to the state/federal laboratory for brucellosis testing.

(a) Definition. For the purpose of this rule, animal chiropractic and other forms of musculoskeletal manipulation (MSM) are systems of therapeutic application of mechanical forces applied manually through the hands or any mechanical device to diagnose, treat, and/or alleviate impaired or altered function of related components of the musculoskeletal system of nonhuman animals. Chiropractic and other forms of MSM in nonhuman animals are considered to be alternate therapies in the practice of veterinary medicine.

(b) Treatment using chiropractic and other forms of MSM. Chiropractic and other forms of MSM may only be performed by the following.

(1) A licensed veterinarian. Chiropractic and MSM may be performed by a licensed veterinarian under the following conditions:

(A) a valid veterinarian/client/patient relationship has been established as defined in the Act;

(B) an examination has been made by the licensee to determine that chiropractic/MSM will not likely be harmful to the patient; and

(C) the licensee obtains as a part of the patient's permanent record a signed acknowledgment by the owner or other caretaker of the patient that chiropractic or MSM is considered by Texas law to be an alternate therapy.

(2) A veterinarian's employee or an independent contractor. An employee or an independent contractor may perform these procedures on an animal under the direct or general supervision of the veterinarian if the conditions in paragraph (1)(A) - (C) of this subsection have been met.

(3) An individual to whom the exceptions of the Act, §801.004, apply.

(c) Responsibility. Whether the chiropractic/MSM is performed by a veterinarian or the veterinarian's employee or an independent contractor working under the supervision of a licensee, the Board will hold the veterinarian to a level of professional judgment as would be exercised by the average Texas veterinarian who performs or recommends chiropractic/MSM treatments in his/her practice.

(a) Definitions.

(1) Ultrasound--Mechanical radiant energy with a frequency greater than 20 kilocycles per second.

(2) Ultrasonics--That part of the science of acoustics dealing with the frequency range beyond the upper limit of perception by the human ear, but usually restricted to frequencies above 500 kilocycles per second.

(3) Ultrasonic radiation--The effect of ultrasound which is injurious to tissues because of its thermal effects when absorbed by living matter.

(4) Ultrasound therapy--Controlled doses of ultrasound used therapeutically to selectively break down pathologic tissues, as in treatment of arthritis and lesions of the nervous system.

(5) Diagnostic ultrasound--Ultrasound images used as a diagnostic aid by visually displaying echoes received from irradiated tissues.

(6) Ultrasonography--The visualization of deep structures of the body by recording the reflections of pulses of ultrasonic waves directed into the tissues.

(b) Use of ultrasound for diagnosis or therapy of animals. The use of ultrasound in animals to diagnose any condition or for any therapeutic purpose is the practice of veterinary medicine and shall only be performed by a licensed veterinarian or under the general supervision of a licensed veterinarian.

(c) Use of ultrasound by persons who are not licensed veterinarians.

(1) For diagnostic purposes. A person who is not a licensed veterinarian may perform ultrasonography on an animal for diagnostic purposes only if: the person administering the ultrasound is doing so at the request of a licensed veterinarian; the veterinarian has established a veterinarian/client/patient relationship; and it is the veterinarian who uses the ultrasonography to make a diagnosis.

(2) For therapeutic purposes. A person who is not a licensed veterinarian may perform ultrasonography on an animal for therapeutic purposes only if a veterinarian has: established a veterinarian/client/patient relationship; made a diagnosis; prescribed ultrasonics as a treatment; and the person administering the ultrasound is doing so at the specific request of a licensed veterinarian.

(d) Prohibited acts. Any person who uses ultrasound on animals in a manner inconsistent with this rule shall be in violation of this rule and the Texas Veterinary Licensing Act.

(a) Definition. For the purpose of this rule, acupuncture is:

(1) the insertion of an acupuncture needle and the application of moxibustion to specific areas of a non-human animal's body to relieve the discomfort associated with painful disorders, to induce surgical anesthesia, and for therapeutic purposes; and

(2) the administration of thermal or electrical treatments or the recommendation of dietary guidelines, energy flow exercise, or dietary or herbal supplements in conjunction with the treatment described by paragraph (1) of this subsection. Acupuncture in non-human animals is considered to be an alternate therapy in the practice of veterinary medicine.

(b) Use of Acupuncture in the treatment of animals. Only licensed veterinarians may use acupuncture in the care and medical treatment of animals. No veterinarian may allow a non-veterinarian employee or other agent to perform acupuncture in the treatment of an animal patient.

(c) Client Consent Required. Before acupuncture may be used in the treatment of an animal, the veterinarian must obtain a signed statement from the animal's owner or caretaker acknowledging that acupuncture is an alternate therapy in veterinary medicine and approving its use in the treatment of the animal. Before signing the statement, the veterinarian shall inform the client of the conventional treatments available and their probable ability to cure the problem. The statement shall become a permanent part of the patient's record.

(d) Standard Used in Determining Appropriate Use of Acupuncture. If the Board receives a complaint against a licensee about treatment involving the use of acupuncture, investigation of the complaint may include opinions from other licensees who use acupuncture in their treatment of animals. However, veterinarians who practice acupuncture shall exercise the same degree of humane care, skill, and diligence in treating patients as are ordinarily used in the same or similar circumstances by average members of the veterinary medical profession in good standing in the locality or community, or in similar locations or communities, in which they practice.

(e) Other Board Rules Not Preempted. Nothing in this rule shall remove or limit in any way the applicability of other rules of the Board as they apply to the practice of veterinary medicine.

(a) Definition. For the purpose of this rule, holistic medicine means: the practice of veterinary medicine that believes in a blend of alternative and, if need be, conventional approaches of treatment in an effort to develop a system of complementary medicine to treat the whole patient. In practice, it incorporates less conventional methods such as herbal medicine, acupuncture, chiropractic, homeopathy, and applied kinesiology, with more conventional methods, such as modern drugs, surgery and diagnostics. Use of holistic medicine in non-human animals is considered to be an alternate therapy in the practice of veterinary medicine.

(b) Use of holistic medicine in the treatment of animals. Only licensed veterinarians may use holistic medicine in the medical treatment of animals. No veterinarian may allow a non-veterinarian employee or other agent to perform holistic medicine in the treatment of an animal patient.

(c) Client Consent Required. Before holistic medicine may be used in the treatment of an animal, the veterinarian must obtain a signed statement from the animal's owner or caretaker acknowledging that holistic medicine is an alternate therapy in veterinary medicine and approving its use in the treatment of the animal. Before signing the statement, the veterinarian shall inform the client of the conventional treatments available and their probable ability to cure the problem. The signed statement shall become a permanent part of the patient's record.

(d) Standard Used in Determining Appropriate Use of Holistic Medicine. If the Board receives a complaint against a licensee about treatment involving the use of holistic medicine, investigation of the complaint may include opinions from other licensees who use holistic medicine in their treatment of animals. However, veterinarians who practice holistic medicine shall exercise the same degree of humane care, skill, and diligence in treating patients as are ordinarily used in the same or similar circumstances by average members of the veterinary medical profession in good standing in the locality or community, or in similar localities or communities, in which they practice.

(e) Other Board Rules Not Preempted. Nothing in this rule shall remove or limit in any way the applicability of other rules of the Board as they apply to the practice of veterinary medicine.

(a) Definition. For the purpose of this rule, homeopathy is: a system of therapeutics in which diseases are treated by substances which are capable of producing in healthy animals symptoms like those of the disease to be treated, the substance being administered in minute doses. Use of homeopathic remedies in non-human animals is considered to be an alternate therapy in the practice of veterinary medicine.

(b) Use of Homeopathy in the Treatment of Animals. Only licensed veterinarians may use homeopathy in the medical treatment of animals. No veterinarian may allow a non-veterinarian employee or other agent to perform homeopathy in the treatment of an animal patient.

(c) Client Consent Required. Before homeopathy may be used in the treatment of an animal, the veterinarian must obtain a signed statement from the animal's owner or caretaker acknowledging that homeopathy is an alternate therapy in veterinary medicine and approving its use in the treatment of the animal. Before signing the statement, the veterinarian shall inform the client of the conventional treatments available and their probable ability to cure the problem. The signed statement shall become a permanent part of the patient's file.

(d) Standard Used in Determining Appropriate Use of Homeopathy. If the Board receives a complaint against a licensee about treatment involving the use of homeopathy, investigation of the complaint may include opinions from other licensees who use homeopathy in their treatment of animals. However, veterinarians who practice homeopathy shall exercise the same degree of humane care, skill, and diligence in treating patients as are ordinarily used in the same or similar circumstances by average members of the veterinary medical profession in good standing in the locality or community, or in similar localities or communities, in which they practice.

(e) Other Board Rules Not Preempted. Nothing in this rule shall remove or limit in any way the applicability of other rules of the Board as they apply to the practice of veterinary medicine.