Guidance: Veterinary care for farm dogs

24 April 2026

The Vet Council has published new guidance for production animal vets who provide veterinary care to their clients’ farm dogs, for example, vaccinations.

Veterinarians may provide an appropriately narrow on-farm service, such as vaccinations, and limit on-farm examinations to farm dogs with minor conditions.

When veterinarians provide services for farm dogs, they inherently assume the role of the General Veterinary Practitioner (GVP), establishing a professional responsibility for the animals’ broader ongoing health needs and emergency care, including after-hours care as outlined in the Code of Professional Conduct. Importantly, the provision of veterinary care for farm dogs is not considered to be a specific or limited veterinary service.