Technical advice is our interpretation of how professional standards apply in a particular situation. It is designed to help veterinarians deal with common issues in practice, using their professional judgement to apply the advice to their own situation. It represents our best efforts at the time of publication but standards and expectations change over time and particular care should be used when reading old advice.

The Government has announced that greyhound racing will end in New Zealand. Racing will be wound down over a 20 month period to allow for rehoming of dogs and a transition for the industry. Legislation has been passed to prevent the destruction of specified greyhounds unless it is done by a veterinarian in accordance with Greyhound Racing NZ’s 

 makes it unlawful for a person who isn’t a veterinarian (or veterinary student under direct supervision) to destroy or participate in the destruction of a greyhound. It does not apply to euthanasia conducted by a veterinarian for a reason specified in clauses 2 and 3 of the Greyhound Euthanasia Policy.

Specified greyhounds include any greyhound that is or was registered with Greyhound Racing NZ and includes the offspring of a breeding female (regardless of when they were born).

Veterinarians are excluded from liability under the new section, meaning that it is not an offence for a veterinarian to euthanise a greyhound (even if it is healthy). However, if a veterinarian euthanises a greyhound at the request of a client and doesn’t follow the Greyhound Euthanasia Policy, the client would be “procuring” the destruction of a specified greyhound and would be committing an offence under the new section. As such, veterinarians should follow the policy. The flowchart below serves as a guide to doing so.

This does not apply where a veterinarian needs to lawfully euthanise a greyhound on animal welfare grounds, following 

Updates

Emergency services and travel times

Greyhound Euthanasia Guidance

Cattle pregnancy termination considerations

The Hub

Policy on Registration

Policy on Limited Registration

Policy on Provisional Registration

Policy on Specialist Registration

Policy on registration under the Trans Tasman Mutual Recognition Act

Policy on qualifications and post nominal titles for inclusion on the Register of Veterinarians

Registration policies

Policy on Competence and Competence Assessment

Policy on the management of health impaired veterinarians

Regulatory functions

Policy on the collection and handling of personal information

Information Security Policy

Policy on the management of conflicts of interest

Governance Policies

Policies

Policy on English Competence and English Tests

Policy on Recency of Practice

Policy on the use of titles

Registration standards

Competency Standards and Performance Indicators for Veterinarians

Introduction

Summary: The 7 principles

1. Animal welfare

2. Client relationships

3. Professional relationships

4. Professional integrity

5. Veterinary services

6. Veterinary medicines

7. Legislative requirements

Glossary

Code of Professional Conduct

Prohibiting the use of Highest Priority Critically Important Antimicrobials

Authorisation During Major Disruptive Events and Emergencies

Health Practitioners Undertaking Surgical Procedures on Animals

Compounding Veterinary Medicines

Discretionary Use of Human and Veterinary Medicines by Veterinarians

Cattle Disbudding and Dehorning by Non-Veterinarians

Authorisation of Dry Cow Therapy

Manufacturing Veterinary Medicines

Certification of fitness for transport of livestock

Induction of Calving in Cattle

Authorisation of adult cat and dog vaccinations for administration by veterinary nurses during the current veterinary workforce shortage

Statements

Health practitioners undertaking non-surgical procedures on animals

Reclassification of fentanyl, tramadol, zopiclone and zolpidem

Veterinary supervision

Flystrike table

Dry Cow Antibiotic Therapy

Recent changes to penicillin withholding periods

Remote Veterinary Care (Telehealth and Telemedicine)

Anaesthetic Monitoring

Dealing with cases of suspected or actual animal abuse and family violence

Social media

Veterinarians' role in Maintaining New Zealand's Biosecurity

Non-consented human medicines used by veterinarians

Mentoring Guidelines

Meat Processing in New Zealand

Guidance

Untitled

Client relationships

Animal welfare & ethics

Technical advice

Communicating emergency care, after hours services to clients

Pregnancy in the Veterinary Workplace

Emergency services advice for new practices

Handling complaints

Accredited employer work visa

Opening vet clinics on Easter Sunday

Practice guidance

Guidance on completing your Annual Practising Certificate (APC) application

Process guidance

Professional standards and guidance

Case study: Diagnostic pathways

Case study: Navigating emergency care, after hours

Case study: Health process

Case study: Ownership

Case study: Navigating suspected animal welfare issues

Case study: Informed consent

Case study: Surgical swab left in patient

Case study: Informed consent in practice

Case study: Falling short of professional standards

Case study: Outside of scope

Case study: Client communication & informed consent

Case study: Dispensing error

Case summaries

Consumer guidance