{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/54.1-3800.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/54.1-3800.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/54.1-3800.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/54.1-3800.html"}],"law_id":86600,"edition_id":1,"section_id":86600,"structure_id":14647,"section_number":"54.1-3800","catch_line":"Practice of veterinary medicine","history":"Code 1950, \u00a7 54-786; c. 574; 1978, c. 539; 1988, c. 765; 2014, c. 626; 2020, c. 958.","full_text":"Any person shall be regarded as practicing veterinary medicine within the meaning of this chapter who represents himself, directly or indirectly, publicly or privately, as a veterinary doctor or uses any title, words, abbreviation or letters in a manner or under circumstances which may reasonably induce the belief that the person using them is qualified to practice veterinary medicine.\n\t\tAny person shall be deemed to be practicing veterinary medicine who performs the diagnosis, treatment, correction, change, relief or prevention of animal disease, deformity, defect, injury, or other physical or mental conditions; including the performance of surgery or dentistry, the prescription or administration of any drug, medicine, biologic, apparatus, application, anesthetic, or other therapeutic or diagnostic substance or technique, and the use of any manual or mechanical procedure for embryo transfer, for testing for pregnancy, or for correcting sterility or infertility, or to render advice or recommendation with regard to any of the above.\n\t\tNothing in this chapter shall prohibit persons permitted or authorized by the Department of Wildlife Resources to do so from providing care for wildlife as defined in \u00a7 29.1-100, provided that the Department determines that such persons are in compliance with its regulations and permit conditions.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":310164,"text":"Any person shall be regarded as practicing veterinary medicine within the meaning of this chapter who represents himself, directly or indirectly, publicly or privately, as a veterinary doctor or uses any title, words, abbreviation or letters in a manner or under circumstances which may reasonably induce the belief that the person using them is qualified to practice veterinary medicine.\n\t\tAny person shall be deemed to be practicing veterinary medicine who performs the diagnosis, treatment, correction, change, relief or prevention of animal disease, deformity, defect, injury, or other physical or mental conditions; including the performance of surgery or dentistry, the prescription or administration of any drug, medicine, biologic, apparatus, application, anesthetic, or other therapeutic or diagnostic substance or technique, and the use of any manual or mechanical procedure for embryo transfer, for testing for pregnancy, or for correcting sterility or infertility, or to render advice or recommendation with regard to any of the above.\n\t\tNothing in this chapter shall prohibit persons permitted or authorized by the Department of Wildlife Resources to do so from providing care for wildlife as defined in \u00a7 29.1-100, provided that the Department determines that such persons are in compliance with its regulations and permit conditions.","type":"section","prefixes":[""],"prefix":"","entire_prefix":"","prefix_anchor":"","level":1}},"ancestry":[{"id":14647,"edition_id":1,"name":"Veterinary Medicine","identifier":"38","label":"chapter","depth":3,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12758,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:49:08","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:49:08","permalink":{"id":244139,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":14647,"identifier":"38","token":"54.1\/III\/38","url":"\/54.1\/III\/38\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12758,"edition_id":1,"name":"Professions and Occupations Regulated by Boards Within the Department of Health Professions","identifier":"III","label":"subtitle","depth":2,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12754,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:43:51","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:43:51","permalink":{"id":241105,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12758,"identifier":"III","token":"54.1\/III","url":"\/54.1\/III\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12754,"edition_id":1,"name":"Professions and Occupations","identifier":"54.1","label":"title","depth":1,"order_by":1,"parent_id":null,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:43:51","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:43:51","permalink":{"id":239313,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12754,"identifier":"54.1","token":"54.1","url":"\/54.1\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}}],"structure_contents":[{"id":86600,"structure_id":14647,"section_number":"54.1-3800","catch_line":"Practice of veterinary medicine","url":"\/54.1-3800\/","token":"54.1\/III\/38\/54.1-3800","metadata":false},{"id":62527,"structure_id":14647,"section_number":"54.1-3801","catch_line":"Exceptions","url":"\/54.1-3801\/","token":"54.1\/III\/38\/54.1-3801","metadata":false},{"id":59574,"structure_id":14647,"section_number":"54.1-3802","catch_line":"Board of Veterinary Medicine; appointment; officers; etc","url":"\/54.1-3802\/","token":"54.1\/III\/38\/54.1-3802","metadata":false},{"id":56223,"structure_id":14647,"section_number":"54.1-3803","catch_line":"Nominations","url":"\/54.1-3803\/","token":"54.1\/III\/38\/54.1-3803","metadata":false},{"id":61824,"structure_id":14647,"section_number":"54.1-3804","catch_line":"Specific powers of Board","url":"\/54.1-3804\/","token":"54.1\/III\/38\/54.1-3804","metadata":false},{"id":76352,"structure_id":14647,"section_number":"54.1-3804.1","catch_line":"Expired","url":"\/54.1-3804.1\/","token":"54.1\/III\/38\/54.1-3804.1","metadata":false},{"id":68519,"structure_id":14647,"section_number":"54.1-3805","catch_line":"License required","url":"\/54.1-3805\/","token":"54.1\/III\/38\/54.1-3805","metadata":false},{"id":68948,"structure_id":14647,"section_number":"54.1-3805.1","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/54.1-3805.1\/","token":"54.1\/III\/38\/54.1-3805.1","metadata":false},{"id":73261,"structure_id":14647,"section_number":"54.1-3805.2","catch_line":"Continuing education","url":"\/54.1-3805.2\/","token":"54.1\/III\/38\/54.1-3805.2","metadata":false},{"id":68436,"structure_id":14647,"section_number":"54.1-3805.3","catch_line":"Traineeships","url":"\/54.1-3805.3\/","token":"54.1\/III\/38\/54.1-3805.3","metadata":false},{"id":61100,"structure_id":14647,"section_number":"54.1-3806","catch_line":"Licensed veterinary technicians","url":"\/54.1-3806\/","token":"54.1\/III\/38\/54.1-3806","metadata":false},{"id":71910,"structure_id":14647,"section_number":"54.1-3806.1","catch_line":"Disclosure forms required","url":"\/54.1-3806.1\/","token":"54.1\/III\/38\/54.1-3806.1","metadata":false},{"id":71328,"structure_id":14647,"section_number":"54.1-3807","catch_line":"Refusal to grant and to renew; revocation and suspension of licenses and registrations","url":"\/54.1-3807\/","token":"54.1\/III\/38\/54.1-3807","metadata":false},{"id":86734,"structure_id":14647,"section_number":"54.1-3808","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/54.1-3808\/","token":"54.1\/III\/38\/54.1-3808","metadata":false},{"id":67713,"structure_id":14647,"section_number":"54.1-3809","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/54.1-3809\/","token":"54.1\/III\/38\/54.1-3809","metadata":false},{"id":86705,"structure_id":14647,"section_number":"54.1-3810","catch_line":"Report of conviction or injunction to Board","url":"\/54.1-3810\/","token":"54.1\/III\/38\/54.1-3810","metadata":false},{"id":57463,"structure_id":14647,"section_number":"54.1-3811","catch_line":"Veterinary professionals rendering services without charge exempt from liability","url":"\/54.1-3811\/","token":"54.1\/III\/38\/54.1-3811","metadata":false},{"id":65614,"structure_id":14647,"section_number":"54.1-3812","catch_line":"Release of records","url":"\/54.1-3812\/","token":"54.1\/III\/38\/54.1-3812","metadata":false},{"id":56784,"structure_id":14647,"section_number":"54.1-3812.1","catch_line":"Reporting of animal cruelty","url":"\/54.1-3812.1\/","token":"54.1\/III\/38\/54.1-3812.1","metadata":false},{"id":57588,"structure_id":14647,"section_number":"54.1-3813","catch_line":"Registration of equine dental technicians","url":"\/54.1-3813\/","token":"54.1\/III\/38\/54.1-3813","metadata":false},{"id":78406,"structure_id":14647,"section_number":"54.1-3814","catch_line":"Declawing cats; prohibition","url":"\/54.1-3814\/","token":"54.1\/III\/38\/54.1-3814","metadata":false}],"next_section":{"id":62527,"structure_id":14647,"section_number":"54.1-3801","catch_line":"Exceptions","url":"\/54.1-3801\/","token":"54.1\/III\/38\/54.1-3801","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/54.1-3800\/","history_text":"

The record of this law\u2019s original creation isn\u2019t available online. It has been modified 4 times. Those modifications are cataloged by \u201cThe Acts of Assembly,\u201d a state publication, by year and chapter. Those modifications that can be read on the General Assembly\u2019s website will be linked accordingly. Those modifications are as follows: in 1978, chapter 539; in 1988, chapter 765; in 2014, chapter 626<\/a>; in 2020, chapter 958<\/a>.<\/p>","references":[{"id":67070,"section_number":"3.2-5901.2","catch_line":"State Veterinarian; large animal veterinary grant program","order_by":null,"url":"\/3.2-5901.2\/"},{"id":72970,"section_number":"54.1-2400.01:1","catch_line":"Surgery defined; who may perform surgery","order_by":null,"url":"\/54.1-2400.01_1\/"},{"id":62527,"section_number":"54.1-3801","catch_line":"Exceptions","order_by":null,"url":"\/54.1-3801\/"},{"id":61824,"section_number":"54.1-3804","catch_line":"Specific powers of Board","order_by":null,"url":"\/54.1-3804\/"}],"refers_to":[{"id":60369,"section_number":"29.1-100","catch_line":"Definitions","order_by":null,"url":"\/29.1-100\/"}],"permalink":{"id":244141,"object_type":"law","relational_id":86600,"identifier":"54.1-3800","token":"54.1\/III\/38\/54.1-3800","url":"\/54.1-3800\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/54.1-3800\/","token":"54.1\/III\/38\/54.1-3800","dublin_core":{"Title":"Practice of veterinary medicine","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 54.1-3800","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

Any person shall be regarded as practicing veterinary medicine within the meaning of this chapter who represents himself, directly or indirectly, publicly or privately, as a veterinary doctor or uses any title, words, abbreviation or letters in a manner or under circumstances which may reasonably induce the belief that the person using them is qualified to practice veterinary medicine.\n\t\tAny person shall be deemed to be practicing veterinary medicine who performs the diagnosis, treatment, correction, change, relief or prevention of animal disease, deformity, defect, injury, or other physical or mental conditions; including the performance of surgery or dentistry, the prescription or administration of any drug, medicine, biologic, apparatus, application, anesthetic, or other therapeutic or diagnostic substance or technique, and the use of any manual or mechanical procedure for embryo transfer, for testing for pregnancy, or for correcting sterility or infertility, or to render advice or recommendation with regard to any of the above.\n\t\tNothing in this chapter shall prohibit persons permitted or authorized by the Department of Wildlife Resources to do so from providing care for wildlife as defined in \u00a7 29.1-100<\/a>, provided that the Department determines that such persons are in compliance with its regulations and permit conditions.<\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nPRACTICE OF VETERINARY MEDICINE (\u00a7 54.1-3800)\n\nAny person shall be regarded as practicing veterinary medicine within the\nmeaning of this chapter who represents himself, directly or indirectly, publicly\nor privately, as a veterinary doctor or uses any title, words, abbreviation or\nletters in a manner or under circumstances which may reasonably induce the\nbelief that the person using them is qualified to practice veterinary medicine.\n\t\tAny person shall be deemed to be practicing veterinary medicine who performs\nthe diagnosis, treatment, correction, change, relief or prevention of animal\ndisease, deformity, defect, injury, or other physical or mental conditions;\nincluding the performance of surgery or dentistry, the prescription or\nadministration of any drug, medicine, biologic, apparatus, application,\nanesthetic, or other therapeutic or diagnostic substance or technique, and the\nuse of any manual or mechanical procedure for embryo transfer, for testing for\npregnancy, or for correcting sterility or infertility, or to render advice or\nrecommendation with regard to any of the above.\n\t\tNothing in this chapter shall prohibit persons permitted or authorized by the\nDepartment of Wildlife Resources to do so from providing care for wildlife as\ndefined in \u00a7 29.1-100, provided that the Department determines that such\npersons are in compliance with its regulations and permit conditions.\n\nHISTORY: Code 1950, \u00a7 54-786; c. 574; 1978, c. 539; 1988, c. 765; 2014, c. 626;\n2020, c. 958.","edition":{"id":1,"name":"2025","slug":"2025","date_created":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","date_modified":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","current":1,"order_by":1,"last_import":null}}