Equine Therassage

Equine Sports Massage Therapy

 

Becky Bailey - ITEC Dip Equine, ITEC Dip Human, MESMA, MCThA

 

Areas covered include—Warwickshire, Worcestershire, Gloucestershire, West Midlands

 

Telephone: 07739 018476                email

The Veterinary Act 1966

 

The Veterinary Act is a Parliamentary Act passed in order to safeguard the welfare of sick or injured animals.

 

It is an offence for any person, other than the owner of the animal, to treat an animal unless the permission  of the vet in charge of the case or to whom the animal would be referred is sought and obtained.

 

Section 19

 

Subject to the following provisions of this section, no individual shall practise or hold himself out as practising or as being prepared to practise veterinary surgery unless he is registered in the register of veterinary surgeons or the supplementary veterinary register.

 

There are certain exceptions to this rule in the Act itself

 

¨ The performance by a registered medical practitioner of an operation on an animal for the purpose of removing an organ or tissue for use in the treatment of human beings

¨ The carrying out or performance of any treatment, test or operation by a registered medical practitioner or a registered dentist at the request of a person registered in the register of veterinary surgeons or the supplementary veterinary register;

¨ Any medical treatment or any minor surgery (not involving entry into a body cavity) to any animal by a veterinary nurse (“veterinary nurse” means a nurse whose name is entered in the list of veterinary nurses maintained by the College.)

¨ Any minor medical treatment given to an animal by its owner, by another member of the household of which the owner is a member or by a person in the employment of the owner.

¨ Any medical treatment or any minor surgery, (not involving entry into a body cavity) given, otherwise than for reward, to an animal used in agriculture, as defined in the Agriculture Act 1947, by the owner of the animal or by a person engaged or employed in caring for animals so used.

 

Section 27

 

“veterinary surgery” means the art and science of veterinary surgery and medicine and, without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing, shall be taken to include—

 

(a) the diagnosis of diseases in, and injuries to, animals including tests performed on animals for diagnostic purposes;

(b) the giving of advice based upon such diagnosis;

(c) the medical or surgical treatment of animals; and

(d) (the performance of surgical operations on animals.

 

 

The Veterinary Surgery (Exemptions) Order 1962 (made under the Veterinary Surgeons Act 1948 but kept alive by the 1966 Act) permits:

 

“The treatment of an animal by physiotherapy if carried out under the direction of a registered veterinarian who has examined the animal and prescribed such a treatment”.