Requirements for Prescriptions and Services
The College of Veterinarians of British Columbia (CVBC) mandates that a valid Veterinarian-Client-Patient Relationship (VCPR) must be established before a veterinary clinic can provide prescription medications or medical recommendations for any animal.
To maintain a valid VCPR, veterinarians must have recent and sufficient knowledge of an animal or group of animals before continuing treatment, prescribing medications, or providing medical recommendations.
The determination of "recent and sufficient knowledge" is based on professional judgment and varies by case. Factors veterinarians may consider when assessing recent and sufficient knowledge include:
Animal-specific considerations: Age, species, health status, medical history, nutrition, hygiene, and environment.
Medical factors: Current conditions, immunization history, and the type of treatment or medications being prescribed.
Industry guidelines: Best practices for the frequency of veterinary assessments based on species and medical needs.
Veterinarians must document their clinical reasoning when assessing whether they have sufficient and recent knowledge to proceed with treatment or if an updated examination is required.
