This is a discussion article on how many of us as animal lovers are practicing veterinary medicine without a license.
After reading of Tammie Hedges arrest and being charged with practicing without the proper veterinary license, I decided to look into just what that means in the state of North Carolina.
According to the North Carolina Veterinary Medicine Board:
(6) ‘Practice of veterinary medicine’ means:
a. To diagnose, treat, correct, change, relieve, prevent animal disease, deformity, defect, injury or other physical or mental conditions; including the prescription or administration of any drug, medicine, biologic, apparatus, application, anesthetic, other therapeutic/diagnostic substance or technique on any animal.
I’m not positive but this is most likely a misdemeanor that will carry a fine if the case isn’t dropped. Note from Michael (Admin): It is a Class 1 misdemeanor for unauthorized practice of veterinary medicine in North Carolina according to the AVMA. Each act in violation of any provision shall constitute a separate violation. Tammie was administering painkilling and antibiotic pills. Cat and dog owners administer pills to their companion animals all the time.
I believe Tammie may have had to render some first aid if an animal was injured. She was dealing with an emergency and from everything I’ve read the arrest is totally bogus.
The above definition even states preventing animal diseases and treating an animal with any medication constitutes operating without a veterinary license. And don’t dare use Feliway to improve an animals mental state because changing the mental state is considered practicing!
How about those who use holistic proven remedies on their pets? Are they also breaking the law? What about those who foster through shelters and rescues who have to provide emergency treatment such as sub-q fluids or even syringe feedings to an animal to save it’s life if getting the animal to a veterinarian means help wouldn’t be administered in time.
What do you consider veterinary medicine and what do you consider just being a good pet owner? Anyone with first-hand experience on this topic, please enlighten me in the comment section.
I am a nurse. Yes, tramadol (ultram) is a controlled substance. It is my understanding that to get meds through an online pharmacy you have to provide a prescription through a licensed vet (or MD if for a human). I looked into trying to get heartworm meds online but was not successful because I didn’t have a prescription. Just wondering how people are able to get prescription meds online without it.
If animals are in your care and you did not treat for fleas, URI, tend to a wound to alienate the animals suffering you would be guilty of neglect. It was not that long ago the NC veterinary made changes in the laws that forced rescues to have to seek Vet care for everything!
This is also an infringement of the laws against monopolies.
“(6) ‘Practice of veterinary medicine’ means:
a. To diagnose, treat, correct, change, relieve, prevent animal disease, deformity, defect, injury or other physical or mental conditions; including the prescription or administration of any drug, medicine, biologic, apparatus, application, anesthetic, other therapeutic/diagnostic substance or technique on any animal.” NOT TRUE. The practice of veterinary medicine is to offer these services to the public for a remuneration as well as claiming to be a qualified veterinarian. You might as well say that advising a friend to take an aspirin is practicing medicine.
This is a grey area with conflicting regulations. It appears that anyone can purchase amoxicillin and tramadol online, such as at 1-800-PetMeds, which uses the title, “America’s Largest Pet Pharmacy.” Following the above line of thinking from the North Carolina Veterinary Medicine Board, anyone in NC who purchases a substance online (that normally requires a prescription from a veterinarian) to administer to an animal is potentially guilty of this “crime.” Probably most states in the US have similar laws in place. It appears to be legal for an online site to sell these meds. Therefore everyone who makes a purchase of this type is “guilty” of practicing veterinary medicine, as well as the online sites themselves. Obviously a major flaw in communication and regulatory laws…🤔😕😠
You make a very good point: where do you draw the line on cat owners administering meds to their cats? This must be a difficult one for the authorities to prove. I am very surprised at Tammie’s arrest.