Responsible Ownership

A veterinarian is a medical doctor who has attended four years of veterinary school after college to obtain a doctorate. 

Along with veterinarians, Oregon's livestock producers, livestock market owners, and feedlot operators are the front line defense for spotting and reporting possible signs of disease.

Anyone with assets, family, children or horses should evaluate an estate plan. If you have children, a will is necessary to ensure that if you die, you (and not a judge) have chosen a guardian for them. For those of us with horses, remember that with proper care and a little luck, horses can live for 25 to 30 years, sometimes even outliving their owners.

There are many reasons why horse owners are unable to keep their horses, including illness, injury, age, and expense. If you are a horse owner who is facing a difficult decision, please know that there are options.

The OVMA office receives calls from owners asking for clarification as to why their veterinarian requires their animal to have a health exam prior to a prescription being filled, a vaccine being administered, or other health services being performed. By Oregon law, a licensed veterinarian must have a valid Veterinary-Client-Patient Relationship with you and your animal in order to provide veterinary services.