Under the care of a veterinarian

Changes to the Veterinary Council's Code of Professional Conduct relating to “Under the Care of a Veterinarian” and “Specific and Limited Veterinary Services” came into effect on 1 April 2026. The changes clarify the veterinarian-client relationship, outline veterinarians' responsibilities, and address areas of confusion, particularly in relation to emergency and after-hours care. This page provides information and guidance to support understanding and implementation of these changes.

We realise these changes may have an impact on how your practice operates, we are here to help with any questions and issues, please email [email protected] and we will be in touch.

Where to find more information about these changes:  Visit the Hub

We have also prepared several pieces of guidance for the profession to understand how the changes apply to daily practice:  Guidance