Download United States Animal Massage: Laws by State: While every effort

United States Animal Massage: Laws by State:
While every effort has been made to make sure these are correct, these versions may not be the current
law. Court decisions amend them, and a host of other factors come into play when interpreting them. If
you read most any practice act, unless it specifically allows massage, most can be interpreted in either
direction depending on who is arguing the case.
Thankfully, only a few states follow the American Veterinary Medical Association’s (AVMA) Model
Veterinary Practice Act which include complementary and alternative veterinary medicine (CAVM) in the
definition of veterinary medicine. This model defines massage as the practice of veterinary medicine.
Not so fair for residents of those particular states where veterinarians are not trained in massage
limiting their access to care for their animals. Some states allow massage and certain types of bodywork
but have outlined criteria for education hours and acceptable providers; fair enough. Others have
allowed but have specified exemptions and requirements such as direct or indirect veterinary
supervision. In those backward states that follow the AVMA Model, the layperson would be practicing
veterinary medicine without a license leaving them open to cease and desist letters, fines, etc.
Here is the link to the AVMA chart: https://www.avma.org/Advocacy/StateAndLocal/Pages/sr-cavmexemptions.aspx
Again please understand that state laws constantly change and are often left up to interpretation of the
current board. Equinology INC, IEBWA, Caninology, its owners and employees will not be held
accountable for any information listed in this summary. These summaries are merely here as a
collection of information and summaries that we have run across in our searches. If you need a
thorough review and analysis of your state's practice act wording and exemptions, we advise you to
evaluate the full text of the statute and regulations which can be found on most state government sites,
and consult a knowledgeable attorney.
STATE
Alabama
ALLOWED OR NOT
ALLOWED
Allowed/Vet supervision
Alaska
Allowed
Arizona
Allowed
Arkansas
Allowed
§17-101-315 –EQUINE TEETH FLOATING AND MASSAGE (ACT
1031 OF 2011)
(a)The Veterinary Medical Examining Board is prohibited from
enforcing Board policy regarding...equine massage therapy by
either investigating or prosecuting ... an individual practitioner
practicing equine massage therapy until July 1, 2013.
(b)(1) Prior to engaging in the practice of ... equine massage
therapy in the State, an individual practitioner shall present to
the board signed letters of recommendation from two (2) clients
who have previously employed the individual practitioner...
California
Allowed
Colorado
Allowed
Proposed wording update: Animal Physical Rehabilitation does
not include relaxation, recreational or wellness modalities,
including but not limited to, massage, athletic training or
exercise.
Must have a degree or certificate from an approved school
NOTES, EXEMPTIONS and WORDING IN STATE PRATICE ACTS
Animal massage by a massage therapist under the direction of a
licensed veterinarian
No specific wording in state board vet practice act; no specific
wording in practice act.
Licensure is no longer a requirement to practice animal massage.
Connecticut
Allowed
Delaware
Florida
Allowed/Vet supervision
Allowed
Georgia
Allowed
Hawaii
Allowed/Vet supervision
Idaho
Allowed
Illinois
Gray Area; need to confirm
Indiana
Allowed
Iowa
Gray Area; need to confirm
Kansas
Allowed/vet supervision
Gray Area; need to confirm
Kentucky
Sec. 20-197. “the performance of myofascial trigger point
therapy by persons experienced in that practice shall not be
deemed to be the practice of veterinary medicine...For the
purposes of this section, “myofascial trigger point therapy”
means the use of specific palpation, compression, stretching and
corrective exercise for promoting optimum athleticism, and
“persons experienced in that practice” 200 hours required
Supports activities under the direct supervision of a licensed
veterinarian
H641: Animal Service Providers; provides that chapter 474, F.S.,
re veterinary medical practice, does not apply to part-time
worker or independent contractor who is hired by owner to
provide certain services; provides for retroactive effect.
§ 43-50-44. Exemptions from article. This article shall not be
construed to prohibit: (17) A person performing soft tissue
animal massage or other forms of soft tissue animal
manipulation
No specific wording in state board vet practice act; however
board offered: "the veterinary licensing regulation allows for
those under the supervision of a licensed veterinarian to be able
to provide limited services on animals including massage
therapy.”
“Massage is not a licensed profession in the state of Idaho;
therefore, equine massage is allowed as long as the individual
does not diagnose, prescribe, manipulate or adjust
Exemptions to the Practice of Veterinary Medicine:
§115/4 (7): “Members or other licensed professions or any other
individuals when called for consultation and assistance by a
veterinarian licensed in the State of Illinois and who act under
the supervision, direction and control of the veterinarian, as
further defined by rule of the Department.”
Specific wording allows equine massage: IC 25-38.1-1-12
"Practice of veterinary medicine" Sec. 12. (a) "Practice of
veterinary medicine" means: (b) The term does not include: (2)
equine massage therapy
Broad wording in state vet practice now includes: “animal
physical therapy, veterinary acupuncture and acupressure,
animal chiropractic, and all other branches or specialties of
veterinary medicine” as the practice of veterinary medicine
No specific wording in state vet practice act in regards to
massage however this particular wording is included in the act:
“Independent contractor under direct or indirect supervision of
veterinarian as specified by regulation”
Broad wording in state vet practice now includes: “All other
branches or specialties of veterinary medicine”
Louisiana
Allowed/vet supervision
Maine
Maryland
Not allowed
Allowed
Massachusetts Not allowed
Exception included in practice act: Alternative and collaborative
therapy with veterinary supervision from qualified practitioner.
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
Specifically lists massage as the practice of veterinary medicine
EEBW Mercedes Clemens won her suit against the Maryland
State Board of Chiropractics who tried to pull her human license
for working on animals. There is no specific wording in the state
vet practice act limiting animal massage
No specific wording in state vet practice act however the state
boards’ interpretation disallowed in an E-mail response from Jodi
B. Bornstein, April 28, 2003: “Currently, no one is able to practice
animal massage unless they are licensed as a veterinarian.”
No specific wording currently in state vet practice act: need to
confirm
Michigan
Gray Area; need to confirm
Minnesota
Allowed
Mississippi
Gray Area; need to confirm
Missouri
Gray Area; need to confirm
Montana
Allowed
Nebraska
Allowed/vet referral
Specific Wording: Animal Therapy- by a licensed animal therapist
with a letter of referral from a licensed veterinarian.
Nevada
Gray Area; need to confirm
No specific wording other than to say the board can adopt
measures to regulate alternative therapies
Broad definition in practice act. Email response from Vet Board
by e-mail attachment, July 30, 2003 from Dr. John King, Exec.
Director: “As long as the individual is not diagnosing, prescribing
or offering treatment plans and providing treatment not
prescribed by a veterinarian that individual will not be in
violation of the Minnesota Practice Act.”
Broad wording in state vet practice act however guidelines were
Provided by the state board: On November 24, 2003, Debranne
Pattillo called and had a conversation with Dr. McCrory of the Vet
Board who was filling in for Ms, Springer. Dr McCrory said there
was no problem for EBWs to provide massage for horses but it
had to be under direct supervision of a vet or vet only.
Currently the pratice act wording considers any complementary
and/or alternative therapies the practice of veterinary medicine.
However, an email vet board response from April 21, 2003
stated, “A person must either be under the direct supervision of
a vet or licensed as a vet to provide animal massage.” This will
need to be reconfirmed.
No specific wording in state vet practice act
Response from vet board dated September 16, 2003: “Massage
for relaxation and general toning is not prohibited by the board.
The board does not restrict animal massage to licensed
veterinarians.”
New
Hampshire
Allowed
Specific wording in state vet practice act allowing massage. Vet
Board Response: Email response from vet board member, Ms.
Patricia Duncklee dated May 8, 2003, she writes: “Our
administrative rule Vet 101.02 (b) states: The following shall be
deemed by the board, pursuant to RSA 332-B:2, to be accepted
livestock management practices and not the practice of
veterinary medicine: (3) Equine massage
New Jersey
Gray Area; need to confirm
New Mexico
Allowed/Vet supervision
New York
North Carolina
Not allowed
Not allowed
North Dakota
Gray Area; need to
reconfirm
Ohio
Allowed/Vet supervision
Broad wording in state vet practice act includes the following
terms included as the practice of veterinary medicine:
“Complementary alternative and integrative therapies”
State Law: Effective Oct. 9, 2006, veterinarians in Ohio must
provide direct supervision or be present when a pet receives
complementary procedures like massage therapy or chiropractic
care. The state practice act, which was modified in May, also
stipulates which providers can be used as referrals, said Jack
Advent, executive director of the Ohio VMA (OVMA), who said
there has been no push back from complementary providers.
Oklahoma
Allowed/vet referral
Specific wording in the state practice act: “Individuals certified in
animal massage therapy who acquire liability insurance may
engage in animal massage therapy after referral from a licensed
veterinarian”
Broad wording in state vet practice act includes the following
terms: “Alternative or complementary veterinary medicine” At
one point SB310 allowed provisions regarding animal massage in
2004. Since it is unavailable in the current practice act, this will
need to be revisited.
16.25.9.20 DIRECT SUPERVISION OF NON-VETERINARIANS: Nonlicensed individuals are prohibited from practicing veterinary
medicine which includes but is not limited to chiropractic,
physical therapy, acupuncture, acupressure, homeopathy,
therapeutic massage, dentistry, embryo transfer or any other
related services on animals as defined in NMSA 1978, Section 6114-2(B)(1), except under the direct supervision of a New Mexicolicensed veterinarian.
Must be a veterinarian or vet tech under direct supervision
Broad wording in state vet practice act includes the following
terms included as the practice of veterinary medicine: “All other
branches or specialties of veterinary medicine”
Broad wording in state vet practice act includes the following
terms included as the practice of veterinary medicine: “All other
branches or specialties of veterinary medicine”
Response from Vet Board: E-mail response from John R. Boyce,
April 22, 2003: My interpretation is that massage done only to
maintain an animal's health and well being probably would not
be covered by the veterinary medical practice act and, therefore,
would not be considered the practice of veterinary medicine.
Massage done to correct, treat, or relieve a medical condition
would be considered the practice of veterinary medicine, and
could be done only by a licensed veterinarian or an employee of
a licensed veterinarian.”
Oregon
Allowed/vet referral
Pennsylvania
Not allowed
Rhode Island
Not allowed
Specific wording in the state practice act: “Allied health
professionals upon referral from a licensed veterinarian”
Specific wording in the state practice act: “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”
“The position of the Board has not changed from the last
correspondence. The definition of "the practice of veterinary
medicine" still refers to anyone who diagnoses prognoses, treats
manipulates any disease, pain, deformity of any animal . The
licensing Board continues to interpret this phrasing to include the
practice of massage for remedial purposes and would consider
such practice to fall within the scope of veterinary medicine
South Carolina
Gray Area/need to confirm
South Dakota
Allowed
Tennessee
Allowed
Texas
Utah
Allowed/vet referral
Allowed/vet referral
Vermont
Not allowed
Virginia
Allowed/vet referral
Washington
Allowed
West Virginia
Gray Area/need to confirm
Specific wording in the state practice act: “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”
No specific wording in state vet practice act. Response from Vet
Board: E-mail response from Dr. Holland, April 22, 2003: “No new
laws considered as of now, no pending legislation. The Board's
policy is that equine massage is not the practice of Veterinary
medicine unless advertised or purported to be therapy or
treatment.”
SB0849 / HB0537 has been passed spring of 2017 removing
animal massage from definition of veterinarian
medicine. However, there is a sunset clause that this bill will
expire on July 2018 pending approval by the vet board for
certification/licensure requirements.
Session must be cleared with the primary veterinarian
Specific wording in the state practice act: “Certified massage
therapist with veterinary referral”. Qualification must be from a
minimum, of a 60 hour animal massage program.
Specific wording limiting work to veterinarians other than by a
licensed individual under direct supervision.
Massage therapy or physical therapy may be delegated by a
veterinarian to persons qualified by training and experience by
an order from the veterinarian.
Specific wording. Must be from a state licensed school. Exam
required
No specific wording. No response from the board
Wisconsin
Allowed/Vet supervision
Gray Area/need to confirm
Wyoming
No specific wording in state vet practice act however, state board
Interpretation offers these guidelines:
Response from Veterinary Board: In a letter dated November 17,
2003 from Wayne Austin; counsel to the Veterinary Board he
wrote: “In Wisconsin animal massage would be considered the
practice of veterinary medicine if provided for the purpose of
treating animal disease or pathological condition. This does not
mean, however that an unlicensed person may not provide
massage services to animals. Under the board’s administrative
rules, a veterinarian may delegate such services to an unlicensed
person under the direct on-premises supervision of the
veterinarian, the board has recently discussed the possibility of
liberalizing its position o the ability of unlicensed persons to
provide complementary services, but it appears that a statutory
change would be necessary, and no such change is currently
contemplated.”
No specific wording in the state vet practice act. No response
from the vet board after several requests.