The LBVM was originally created within the Department of Health and Hospitals to promote the public health, safety and welfare by safeguarding the peoples of the state of Louisiana from incompetent and dishonest practices of veterinary medicine; to encourage more effective utilization of the skills of licensed veterinarians for the health and welfare of animal patients in the delegating of certain veterinary health care tasks to qualified Registered Veterinary Technicians; and to provide the most humane restraint, capture and death possible for unwanted, diseased, dangerous, and discarded animals with the training of Certified Animal Euthanasia Technicians for animal control. The right to practice veterinary medicine is a privilege as set forth by the Legislature and enforced by the Board.

Effective August 1, 2018, the Louisiana Board of Veterinary Medicine was moved to the Department of Agriculture and Forestry.

The Louisiana Veterinary Practice Act, the Board Rules, and complimentary legal authority are provided below; however, they are continuously under review and potentially subject to adoption, amendment or repeal at any time based on circumstances presented. It would be prudent to follow the appropriate procedure when submitting queries, when applicable, by reviewing Rule 1423 regarding Declaratory Statements.

Current rulemaking activity as it relates to the LA Veterinary Practice Act can be found at www.lsbvm.org/rulemaking.

LA Veterinary Practice Act, Rules & Standards, Complimentary Laws, & Code of Ethics