Ohio

Animal chiropractic practitioners must register with the Board and advise of their current certification.  To be added to the Board’s animal chiropractic registry, please email the Board with the effective and expiration dates of your current AVCA,  IVCA or CoAC certification, as well as a copy of your certification.

In general, an animal chiropractor must

1. Register with the state
2. Provide animal chiropractic to those animals on which the chiropractor has received training
3. Does not need supervision by a licensed veterinarian if certified
4. Complete an application with the Ohio licensing board
5. Maintain at least 3 years of medical records
6. Have the owner sign an application for care form

A chiropractor who is not an animal chiropractic practitioner may practice animal chiropractic only under the direct supervision of a licensed veterinarian in accordance with ORC Section 4741.19 (F).

(2) “Animal chiropractic” means the evaluation and treatment of an animal’s vertebral or extremity joint dysfunction through spinal, joint, or musculo-skeletal manipulative therapy or soft tissue therapy.

Animal chiropractic does not include administering, selling, distributing, recommending, or providing advice regarding any of the following to restore or maintain the health of an animal: vitamins, minerals, phytonutrients, antioxidants, enzymes, glandular extracts, botanical substances, herbal therapies, homeopathic remedies, drugs that are available without a prescription, or durable and nondurable medical goods and devices.

The most recent laws can be found under Section 4734.151 | Animal chiropractic.

Link to all statutes, laws and policies

Email the Board at:  contact@chr.ohio.gov

ORC 4734.151 Animal chiropractic

OAC 4734-12-01 Animal chiropractic

Link to the Ohio State Chiropractic Board

“Animal chiropractic practitioner” means a chiropractor licensed under the Ohio Chiropractic chapter who holds a current, valid certification from any of the following:

• American Veterinarian Chiropractic Association (AVCA)
• International Veterinarian Chiropractic Association (IVCA)
• College of Animal Chiropractic (CoAC)
• Other approved course by the Ohio Chiropractic Board

Animal chiropractic may only be performed on the types of animals on which the chiropractor has received training. Animal chiropractic practitioners must require completion of an “Application for Care Form.” The form must contain at least the following:

• A statement that the chiropractor is not a licensed veterinarian and cannot maintain primary responsibility for the animal’s care.
• A statement that animal chiropractic is not intended to replace traditional veterinary care and is considered an alternative therapy to be used concurrently and in conjunction with traditional veterinary care by a licensed veterinarian.
• A question as to whether the animal has been seen by a licensed veterinarian within the past twelve months.
• A question as to whether a licensed veterinarian has provided a diagnosis of the medical condition of the animal for which animal chiropractic is sought, and if so, a request to specify the diagnosis.
• A statement authorizing the chiropractor to provide animal chiropractic to the animal.

Animal chiropractic practitioners must maintain a medical record, including the Application for Care Form, for each animal evaluated or treated for at least three years and must provide their medical record to the animal’s veterinarian upon request in a timely fashion.

A chiropractor who is not an animal chiropractic practitioner may practice animal chiropractic only under the direct supervision of a licensed veterinarian in accordance with ORC Section 4741.19 (F).

An animal chiropractor is required to maintain their certification from the AVCA, IVCA, College of Animal Chiropractors or other. The animal chiropractor must comply with the CE requirements for their certification program in order to keep that certification active.