It’s critical that you know and understand the veterinary practice acts (VPA) in the states in which you perform your farriery work.
The vast majority of farriers already are limited in what you can and cannot do by state VPAs. In fact, farriery or horseshoeing are exempt from only nine states — Alaska, Arkansas, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania and Vermont.
The American Veterinary Medical Association compiled a chart that summarizes key provisions of state VPAs, as well as accompanying regulations relating to complementary and alternative veterinary medicine (CAVM) treatments. It also lists other exemptions from the definition of veterinary medicine.
| STATE | INCLUDED IN THE PRACTICE OF VETERINARY MEDICINE | EXEMPTIONS |
| Alabama |
Acupuncture Dentistry Animal psychology Animal chiropractic Theriogenology Surgery (including cosmetic) |
Animal massage by a massage therapist under the direction of a licensed veterinarian Removing embryo to cryopreserve, transplant or implant Animal owner or his regular employee |
| Alaska | Dentistry |
Artificial insemination Farrier Animal owner or employee |
| Arizona |
Veterinary surgery Obstetrics Dentistry Acupuncture Manipulation All other branches or specialties of veterinary medicine |
Certified equine dental practitioners under the general supervision of a licensed veterinarian Treating an animal with no compensation Animal owner or employee |
| Arkansas |
Veterinary surgery Theriogenology Dentistry Acupuncture Animal psychology Chiropractic |
Animal chiropractic under the immediate supervision of an Arkansas licensed veterinarian Horseshoeing Training Selling medicines for the treatment of animal diseases Collecting, preparing or freezing semen Nonsurgical artificial insemination Animal owner or employee |
| California | Surgical or dental operations |
Animal Chiropractic by a licensed chiropractor under the direct supervision of a veterinarian
Determination as to status of pregnancy, sterility, infertility of livestock, equine, food animals at time of insemination, if free of charge Any person may utilize cotton swabs, gauze, dental floss, dentifrice, or toothbrushes on an animal's teeth |
| Colorado |
Artificial insemination Dentistry (does not include certain teeth cleaning or preventative dental procedures) Transrectal procedures, embryo transfer, uterine lavages, and reproductive procedures |
Accepted livestock management practices Dentistry - The practice of dentistry may be delegated to veterinary personnel under the direct supervision of a licensed veterinarian |
| Connecticut | Animal dentistry |
Euthanizing of animals in accordance with applicable state and federal drug laws by the Connecticut Humane Society Teeth floating |
| Delaware |
Artificial insemination Dentistry |
Support activities under the direct supervision of a licensed veterinarian Animal owner and employee |
| District of Columbia | Dentistry |
Artificial insemination with approval from DC government Animal owner or employee |
| Florida |
Surgery Acupuncture Obstetrics Dentistry Physical therapy Radiology Theriogenology Other branches or specialties of veterinary medicine |
Out-of-state veterinarians practicing temporarily in the state Part-time or temporary basis hires, or independent contractors hired by an owner to assist with herd management and animal husbandry tasks for herd and flock animals, including castration, dehorning, parasite control, and debeaking, or a person hired on a part-time or temporary basis, or as an independent contractor, by an owner to provide farriery and manual hand floating of teeth on equines Animal owner or employee |
| Georgia |
Acupuncture Dentistry Manual or mechanical adjustment procedures Physical therapy Surgery Diagnostic veterinary pathology |
Teeth cleaning |
| Hawaii | Dentistry |
Farmers assisting each other with husbandry practices Animal owner or employee |
| Idaho |
Surgery Obstetrics Dentistry All other branches or specialties of veterinary medicine Artificial insemination |
Allied health professional participating in procedure within his/her scope of practice and under direct supervision of actively licensed veterinarian Livestock owner Insemination of domestic animals as provided in statute Teeth cleaning |
| Illinois |
Complementary, alternative, or integrative veterinary medical procedures including: Chiropractic Physical therapy Animal acupuncture Animal acutherapy Animal acupressure Veterinary homeopathy Animal psychology Artificial insemination Dental Veterinary nutraceutical therapy Veterinary phytotherapy |
An individual providing equine dentistry services requested by a veterinarian, an owner or an owner's agent Member in good standing of another licensed or regulated profession acting with informed consent from the client and under direct or indirect supervision and control of a veterinarian. |
| Indiana |
Surgical or dental operation Complementary or alternative therapy |
Animal owner or regular employee Equine massage therapy |
| Iowa | Veterinary surgery, veterinary obstetrics, veterinary dentistry, animal physical therapy, veterinary acupuncture and acupressure, animal chiropractic, and all other branches or specialties of veterinary medicine |
Accepted livestock practices Artificial insemination Horseshoeing and trimming feet Animal owner |
| Kansas |
Acupuncture Surgical or dental operations Animal psychology Animal chiropractic Theriogenology Artificial insemination |
Independent contractor under direct or indirect supervision of veterinarian as specified by regulation Animal owner or regular employee |
| Kentucky |
Artificial insemination Dentistry Acupuncture Manipulation All other branches or specialties of veterinary medicine |
Castration and dehorning of farm animals Trainer, agent or herdsman in context of veterinary-patient relationship Embryo transfers as specified in statute/rules Animal owner or regular employee |
| Louisiana |
Veterinary surgery Obstetrics Dentistry All other branches of veterinary medicine |
Accepted livestock management practices Artificial insemination Equine dentistry Animal owner or regular employee Alternative and collaborative therapy with veterinary supervision. Alternative and collaborative therapy includes: ultrasonography, magnetic field therapy, holistic medicine, homeopathy, animal chiropractic treatment, animal acupuncture, animal physical therapy, animal massage therapy, laser therapy, ophthalmology, cardiology, neurology, radiology, and oncology |
| Maine |
Acupuncture Dentistry Homeopathic procedures Chiropractic procedures Physical or massage therapy Artificial insemination |
Artificial insemination Horseshoeing and trimming feet Animal owner or caretaker |
| Maryland |
Dentistry Artificial insemination |
Accepted livestock management practices Acupuncture under the supervision of a veterinarian Teeth floating/cleaning Farrier Manual procedure to diagnose or treat sterility or infertility Trimming and maintaining horse hooves by a farrier or a specified person Animal owner |
| Massachusetts |
Accepted livestock management practices Veterinary or surgical works The giving of advice to a neighbor by a person who does not hold himself out as a veterinarian or receive compensation |
|
| Michigan |
Licensed chiropractor with veterinary supervision Animal owner |
|
| Minnesota | Artificial insemination |
Chiropractic care by registered chiropractors when referred by a veterinarian and using a separate space to treat animals Equine teeth floating Dehorning cattle and goats Castration of cattle, swine, goats and sheep Docking sheep Licenses for farriery are issued by the racing authority pursuant to rule - not mentioned outside of racing Animal owner or regular employee |
| Mississippi |
Dental Complementary, alternative and integrative therapies including: Acupuncture Acutherapy Acupressure Homeopathy Osteopathy Chiropractic Physical therapy Nutraceutical therapy Phytotherapy Diagnosing of pregnancy in cattle and other livestock |
Accepted livestock management practices approved by the Board Docking sheep Horseshoeing Assistance of another licensed professional requested by veterinarian and under his/her direct or indirect supervision A licensed chiropractor may manipulate/adjust animals under the direct supervision of a licensed Mississippi doctor of veterinary medicine Animal owner or regular employee |
| Missouri |
Acupuncture Dentistry Animal Psychology Animal Chiropractic Theriogenology |
Animal owner or employee |
| Montana |
Artificial insemination Dental Acupuncture |
Accepted livestock management practices Pregnancy testing by animal owner/agent or performed gratuitously Embryo transfer under the supervision of veterinarian Owner of farm animals or owner's employee |
| Nebraska |
Veterinary Surgery Obstetrics Dentistry All other branches or specialties of veterinary medicine Artificial insemination |
Animal Therapy- by a licensed animal therapist with a letter of referral from a licensed veterinarian. Owner of livestock or a bona fide farm or ranch employee may perform retrievable embryo transplantation on a bovine including recovering, freezing, and transferring embryos, any act of vaccination, surgery, pregnancy testing, or the administration of drugs in the treatment of domestic animals under his or her custody or ownership Dehorning or castrating livestock, not to include equidae Retrievable transplantation of embryos on bovine, including recovering, freezing, and transferring, if the procedure is performed by a person who holds a doctorate degree in animal science with an emphasis in reproductive physiology, and can show proof of valid professional liability insurance |
| Nevada |
Acupuncture Dentistry Chiropractic procedures |
Animal chiropractor or physical therapist with certification under direction of veterinarian Accepted livestock management practices |
| New Hampshire |
Veterinary Surgery Obstetrics Dentistry All other branches or specialties of veterinary medicine Artificial insemination |
Accepted livestock management practices Animal owner or employee Physical Therapy: The Board of Veterinary Medicine has jurisdiction over physical therapists practicing on animals. A physical therapist may be certified by the Board to perform animal physical therapy. In order to treat an animal, he or she must receive a referral from a licensed veterinarian. An animal physical therapist treating an animal shall provide to the referring veterinarian: (1) a written evaluation within 7 days after initial evaluation; (2) any additional progress notes every 30 days; and (3) notice of discharge or termination of treatment. |
| New Jersey |
Acupuncture Dental Animal Chiropractic Theriogenology Alternative or complementary veterinary medicine Embryo transfer |
Artificial insemination Animal owner |
| New Mexico |
Artificial insemination Dentistry All other branches or specialties of veterinary medicine Chiropractic Physical therapy Acupuncture Acupressure Embryo transfer |
Accepted livestock management Veterinary technicians or persons holding or training for valid permits for artificial insemination or diagnosing pregnancy Chiropractic, physical therapy, acupuncture, acupressure and embryo transfer under the direct supervision of licensed veterinarian |
| New York |
Dental conditions Subcutaneous insertion of a microchip |
Floating of equine teeth Licensed dentist under direct veterinary supervision |
| North Carolina |
Dentistry All other branches or specialties of veterinary medicine |
Dehorn or castrate food animals Providing for or assistance in the practice of artificial insemination Animal owner |
| North Dakota |
Dentistry Chiropractic Acupuncture All other branches or specialties of veterinary medicine |
Livestock owner and employees Embryo transfers on cows Animal owner |
| Ohio |
Complementary alternative and integrative therapies Surgical embryo transfer Dentistry |
Non-surgical embryo transfer by animal owner or owner's designee under direct supervision of a licensed veterinarian. Accepted Livestock Management Practices including: Acts of tagging, ear notching, hoof trimming, deworming, branding, artificial insemination, including semen collection, preparation and freezing. Owner's agent may perform with the advice and consent of a licensed veterinarian who has provided training and oversight consistent with standard herd management practices: castration, tail docking, non-surgical dehorning, intravenous fluid administration, pregnancy detection other than by rectal technique, medication and biological administration, except for those prohibited by law, and phlebotomy. |
| Oklahoma |
Dentistry Complementary and alternative therapies including: Physical therapy Massage therapy Osteopathic therapy Energy therapies Ayurveda Aromatherapy Flower remedy therapy Holistic medicine Homeopathy Nutritional therapy Phytotherapy Animal chiropractic Artificial insemination |
Complementary and alternative medicine may be performed under the direct supervision of a licensed veterinarian Licensed chiropractors certified by the Board of Chiropractic Examiners may engage in animal chiropractic diagnosis and treatment – which includes vertebral subluxation complex and spinal manipulation Non-certified chiropractors may provide chiropractic treatment including vertebral subluxation complex and spinal manipulation to an animal referred by a licensed veterinarian All chiropractic physicians certified by the Board in the practice of animal chiropractic diagnosis and treatment shall be issued a certification card, and must carry the certification card with them at all times. Individuals certified in animal massage therapy who acquire liability insurance may engage in animal massage therapy after referral from a licensed veterinarian Animal husbandry, dehorning, branding, tagging or notching ears, teeth floating, farriery, pregnancy checking, collecting semen, preparing semen, freezing semen, castrating, worming, vaccinating, injecting or artificial insemination of farm animals or the acts or conduct of a person advising with respect to nutrition, feeds or feeding Animal owner or employee Non-veterinary equine dental care (if provider is certified) The State Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners can certify an individual as a nonveterinary reproductive services technician beginning November 1, 2011 |
| Oregon |
Dental Embryo transfer or pregnancy, sterility or fertility evaluation |
Allied health professionals upon referral from a licensed veterinarian Physical therapy with a referral Animal owner or agent or employee may perform veterinary medicine and surgery or dentistry - as well as dehorning and vaccinating cattle |
| Pennsylvania |
Dental Implanting microchips as determined by the Board Embryo transfer |
Chiropractic, dental, dental hygiene and physical therapy procedures performed upon animals by licensed individuals in conjunction with the practice of veterinary medicine and under the direct supervision of a veterinarian Embryo transplantation when performed by an animal owner or his or her employee or when any person independently, with indirect veterinary supervision, implants any embryo into an animal Normal husbandry practices on bovine, porcine, caprine, ovine or equine animals or avis Grooming services Farriery Animal owner or employee or agent |
| Rhode Island | Dentistry | |
| South Carolina | Embryo transplants |
Veterinarians may delegate the performance of procedures, therapeutic options and alternate therapies, under certain conditions, including acupuncture, manipulation and adjustment, magnetic field therapy, holistic medicine, homeopathy, herbology/naturopathy, massage, and physical therapy Artificial insemination Animal owner or regular employee |
| South Dakota | Treatment of an animal of whatever nature |
Poultry services Livestock owner or employee or free service |
| Tennessee |
Dentistry Artificial insemination of non-livestock animals Acupuncture Chiropractic therapy Laser therapy Massage therapy Rehabilitative therapy Ultrasound Complementary, alternative, and integrative therapies Pregnancy testing (but see exemption) Management of sterility or infertility (but see exemption) All other branches or specialties of veterinary medicine |
Accepted livestock management practices as defined by rule Artificial insemination of livestock Embryo transfer from person’s own food animal Castration Dehorning Manual procedure for testing of pregnancy in bovines by farmers not compensated and results are for owner's use only Teeth floating using non-motorized equipment by employee of veterinarian under certain conditions Animal owner or regular employee |
| Texas |
Reproduction and obstetrics Dentistry Ophthalmology Dermatology Cardiology Any other discipline or specialty of veterinary medicine Acupuncture Homeopathy |
Accepted livestock management practices approved by the Board Musculoskeletal manipulation and chiropractic may be practiced under the supervision of a veterinarian Equine dentistry may be performed by a licensed equine dental provider Animal owner or agent |
| Utah |
Dentistry Implanting a microchip Holistic medicine including: Herbal medicine Acupuncture Chiropractic Homeopathy Applied kinesiology |
Vaccination of poultry Pullorum testing Typhoid testing of poultry Related poultry disease control activity Nonsurgical bovine artificial insemination Certified licensed chiropractor with veterinary referral Certified licensed physical therapist with veterinary referral Certified licensed massage therapist with veterinary referral Certified licensed acupuncturist with veterinary referral Animal owner or employee |
| Vermont |
Use of any manual or mechanical procedure for testing for pregnancy or for correcting sterility, or infertility Dental Operations |
Accepted livestock management practices and animal husbandry practices such as artificial insemination, dehorning, clipping and shoeing animals, trimming feet and use of handheld files, rasps or other devices to remove overgrowth from the teeth of horses (floating) but not including power-assisted filing or power-assisted floating, the extraction of teeth or other procedures that invade the soft tissue of the mouth Animal owner or regular employee |
| Virginia |
Dentistry Embryo transfer |
Registered equine dental technicians under regulation of the Board of Veterinary Medicine with veterinary supervision in some circumstances Massage therapy or physical therapy may be delegated by a veterinarian to persons qualified by training and experience by an order from the veterinarian. Persons permitted or authorized by the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries may provide care for wildlife Animal owner or employee |
| Washington | Implementation of microchip |
Owner assisted in practice gratuitously Castrating and dehorning of cattle, castrating and docking of sheep, castrating of swine, caponizing of poultry, or artificial insemination of animals Certified animal massage therapists Animal owner or employee |
| West Virginia | Embryo transfer |
Dental operations by a licensed veterinarian or veterinary assistant under the direct supervision of a licensed veterinarian Accepted livestock management practices Animal owner or employee |
| Wisconsin |
Artificial insemination Pregnancy examinations of animals if engaged in prior to 2/11/1968 Castrating male livestock including bovine animals, sheep, goats, swine, farm-raised deer and equine animals Dehorning or branding |
|
| Wyoming |
Dentistry Cosmetic surgery Physiological examination |
Persons approved by the Board to perform artificial insemination, or embryo transplants, or nonsurgical embryo transfer on animals, excepting dogs and cats Animal owner or employee |
Source: Staff research, AVMA State Legislative and Regulatory Department
Contact: State Policy Analyst, AVMA State Legislative and Regulatory Affairs Department
