California Business and Professions Code

§ 4826.6

BPC § 4826.6 Effective Jan 1, 2026Div. 2 · Ch. 11 · Art. 2

Statute text

(a)A veterinarian shall not prescribe, dispense, or administer a drug, medicine, application, or treatment of whatever nature for the prevention, cure, or relief of a wound, fracture, bodily injury, or disease of animals unless a veterinarian-client-patient relationship exists or as otherwise permitted by law, except when the animal patient is a wild animal or the owner of the animal patient is unknown. A veterinarian-client-patient relationship exists if all of the following conditions are met:

(1)The client has authorized the veterinarian to assume responsibility for medical judgments regarding the health of the animal patient.

(2)The veterinarian possesses sufficient knowledge of the animal patient to initiate at least a general or preliminary diagnosis of the animal patient’s medical condition.

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Legislative history

Amended by Stats. 2025, Ch. 195, Sec. 6. (AB 1502) Effective January 1, 2026.