Section 811.8.5. Supervision.

All veterinary assistants, including veterinary technicians, shall be employed by and receive compensation from and be under the direct supervision of a licensed or license exempt veterinarian, and shall function at the same place of business as the veterinarian. Such supervision shall include, but not be limited to, the availability of the veterinarian on the premises.

       8.5(1) Veterinarian’s responsibility :

        a.           To personally examine the animal within 12 hours before the assistant carries out any procedures.

        b.           To direct, control and supervise the conduct of the assistant in the assistant’s work.

       8.5(2) Veterinary assistant’s responsibility :

        a.           The veterinary assistant, including registered veterinarian technicians, shall not perform surgery; shall not make a diagnosis and prognosis of animal diseases; shall not prescribe drugs, medicine and appliances, and shall not administer rabies vaccine.

        b.           Under conditions of an emergency, a veterinary assistant including a registered veterinary technician may render without supervision such lifesaving aid and treatment as follows: administration of oxygen; maintenance of airways including the nonsurgical insertion of an endotracheal tube; and control of hemorrhage. Under conditions of emergency, a registered veterinary technician but not an unregistered veterinary assistant may render such additional lifesaving aid and treatment as follows: placement of an IV catheter and the administration of fluids; external cardiac massage; and the administration of corticosteroids. Emergency aid and treatment, if rendered to an animal not in the presence of a licensed veterinarian, shall only be continued under the direction of a licensed veterinarian, which in the case of emergency may include telephone or radio contact by a veterinarian en route to the site, until the veterinarian arrives in a timely manner. “Emergency” for the purpose of this rule means that the animal has been placed in a life-threatening condition where immediate treatment is necessary to sustain life.