The AAVSB Model Regulations provide that RVTs can, under direct supervision, perform general anesthesia and sedation, maintenance, and recovery. The ASVSB Model Regulations further provide that RVTs can perform dental procedures, including single root extractions not requiring sectioning of the tooth or sectioning of the bone. Additionally, the AAVSB Model Regulations provide that RVTs can perform gingival incision sutures. The AVMA does not provide any additional insight.

However, Indiana law states that the performance of a dental operation constitutes the “practice of veterinary medicine.” Ind. Code § 25-38.1-1-12. The term “dental operation” is not defined, and Indiana courts have not interpreted this term as it applies to veterinary medicine. Further, RVTs are specifically prohibited from performing as a surgeon. Ind. Code

§ 25-38.1-4-2. A person who knowingly engages in the “practice of veterinary medicine” without a license commits a Class A misdemeanor. Ind. Code § 25-381.-4-10.

As noted, RVTs can administer medicine under direct supervision. Therefore, it is likely that an RVT would be allowed to place an animal under general anesthesia for a dental extraction procedure, so long as they have the training, experience, and skills necessary to perform it. This is consistent with the AAVSB Model Regulations.

However, if dental extraction or suturing are deemed to be surgical or dental operations, and because the Board of Veterinary Medicine has not defined “routine procedures,” it is possible that that an Indiana court would find that an RVT is prohibited from performing such acts. If, instead, they are deemed to be “routine procedures,” an RVT would be able to perform such acts under direct supervision. Out of an abundance of caution, we would advise that RVTs not perform dental extraction given Indiana law’s definition of “practice of veterinary medicine” and the lack of any guidance from the Board of Veterinary Medicine.

Under Indiana law, in an emergency and in the absence of a licensed veterinarian, any employee of a licensed veterinarian may perform the duties it is lawful for said employee to perform under the direct supervision of the licensed veterinarian. Ind. Code § 25-38.1-4-6. Similarly, Indiana courts have not spoken on this issue, and the Board of Veterinary Medicine has offered no further guidance. However, it is possible this would be considered the administration of a treatment. Assuming CPR is deemed to be a “routine procedure,” an RVT should be able to perform CPR under indirect supervision in an emergency, so long as they have the training, experience, and skills necessary to perform it. This assessment is consistent with the AAVSB Model Regulations, which provide that veterinary technicians can perform CPR under indirect supervision.

Again, Indiana courts have not spoken on this issue, and the Board of Veterinary Medicine has offered no guidance. However, assuming the euthanasia procedure is a matter of administering a drug (rather than a surgical procedure), an RVT should be able to administer the solution under the direct supervision of a veterinarian – meaning that they are readily available on the premises where the animal is being treated, so long as they have the training, experience, and skills necessary to perform it. This assessment is consistent with the AAVSB Model Regulations, which provide that veterinary technicians can perform euthanasia under direct supervision. 

The AAVSB Model Regulations provide that RVTs can assist a veterinarian with surgical procedures under immediate supervision. Indiana law states that the performance of a surgical operation constitutes the “practice of veterinary medicine”. IC 25-38.1-1-12. Further, RVTs are specifically prohibited from performing as a surgeon. IC 25-38.1-4-2. A person who knowingly engages in the “practice of veterinary medicine” without a license commits a Class A misdemeanor. IC 25-38.1-4-10. We are unaware of any approved, nonsurgical castration procedure. Therefore, we do not believe that an RVT can perform a feline castration under Indiana law.

The AAVSB Model Regulations provide that RVTs can perform suturing, stapling, and gluing of an existing surgical skin incision under direct supervision. Indiana courts have not spoken on this issue, and the Board of Veterinary Medicine has offered no further guidance. Our understanding is that there are several layers of the abdominal wall, including the skin. Based on the AAVSB Model Regulations recommendations, and Indiana’s prohibition of RVTs from acting as a surgeon, we would advise that an RVT can only suture the skin layer of the abdominal wall after an abdominal procedure under direct supervision, so long as they have the training, experience, and skills necessary to perform it.