Ohio vets could authorize technicians to treat shelter dogs and cats

A veterinarian may authorize a registered veterinary technician to examine a shelter dog or cat and dispense or give vaccines or parasite medicine under a care coordination agreement. This applies only to shelter dogs and cats. The parasite medicine must control apparent or expected internal or external parasites. The veterinarian must set out the technician's duties, training, and safety protocols in the agreement, and both must sign and date the authorization. The technician may dispense and give, but not prescribe, the vaccines or medicine. A veterinarian must be available by phone during treatment and able to respond in person to an emergency. The client must be told the technician is acting for a veterinarian and given the veterinarian's name and license number. The client must give permission before the examination or treatment. The authorization lasts until the veterinarian ends it. The veterinarian must keep records about the authorization and client permission for at least three years.