On March 2, 2004, the Florida Board of Veterinary Medicine made a decision that the following animal health care services are the practice of veterinary medicine under current law:
* Acupressure - Applying pressure to specific points to promote optimum energy flow * Aromatherapy - Inhalation, ingestion, or topical application of essential aromatic oils from plants to promote good health * Animal communication - Interpreting the thoughts of an animal * Farriery - Trimming and placing shoes on horses' hooves * Flower essence therapy - Ingestion of distilled extracts from flowers to enhance emotional health * Hands on healing - Laying hands on the body to channel energy * Homeopathy - The use of plant, mineral or other substances in minute, diluted amounts to stimulate self-healing * Light therapy - Shining red and infrared light on the body to promote energy flow and circulation * Magnet therapy - Using magnets to create a magnetic field that increases circulation, oxygen utilization and energy flow * Nutritional counseling - Offering advice about nutrition
This decision illustrates the need for changes in Florida law so that these services and others may be provided for animals by people who are not veterinarians. It also illustrates the need for animal owners in Florida to join together to show veterinarians and legislators there is a need for updating the law to reflect modern day business practices. Finally, if there are veterinarians who disagree with the Board's decision, they should advise the Veterinary Board or the Florida Veterinary Medical Association.
Field Testing Begun of New Soring Detection Methodology
Friends of Sound Horses (FOSH) is reporting that the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has begun field testing of a new methodology of detecting illegal soring agents. Soring is the illegal practice of creating pain in a horse's front legs to enhance show ring animation. The new methodology is an electronic chemical sniffer test that processes and analyzes illegal substances that may have been administered or used on the horse to cause soring. FOSH had volunteered for its shows to participate in the establishment of baselines for horses in a live show environment. Samples were collected at the FOSH-sanctioned Gaitway Walking Horse Association Spring Schooling Show, held April 16 & 17 at Lake St. Louis, Missouri. In addition to the sampling, the usual inspection processes were still performed by FOSH designated qualified persons at the show.
Attending veterinary medical officers from the USDA provided explanations of the sniffer testing process to the interested exhibitors and spectators. Exhibitors were pleased that the procedure for obtaining samples took less than a minute per horse.
The USDA will be randomly attending gaited horse shows throughout the 2004 show season to establish show ring guidelines and procedures for the widespread use of chemical sniffers. Until the new test is approved as an inspection methodology, no violations will be issued based on the findings of the test.
FOSH is a national leader in the fight against abuse and soring of Tennessee Walking Horses and in the promotion of the natural, sound gaited horse. For more information about FOSH, please visit www.fosh.info or call 1-800-651-7993.
Source: Florida Alliance for Animal Owners Rights. CONTACT: N. Stephens, [email protected]