1. A. For animals that a veterinarian treats, the veterinarian shall prepare a legibly written record that accurately and thoroughly reflects the treatment provided. At a minimum, the veterinarian's record shall include the following information, as applicable:

   1. (1) If available, the name, address, and phone number of the animal's owner;
   2. (2) If available, the name and identity of the animal;
   3. (3) If available, the age, sex, and breed of the animal;
   4. (4) The dates (beginning and ending) of custody of the animal;
   5. (5) A short history of the animal's condition as it pertains to the animal's medical status;
   6. (6) The animal's physical condition at the beginning of custody and the initial diagnosis, if any;

   7. (7) The animal's condition, as evidenced through a physical examination, not more than 12 hours before administration of one of the following:

      1. (a) Anesthetic;
      2. (b) Injectable sedative; or
      3. (c) Injectable tranquilizing agent.

   8. (8) The treatment provided the animal and if medication is given, the following shall be provided:

      1. (a) Amount in milligrams or the volume and concentration of substance used;
      2. (b) Frequency; and
      3. (c) Route of administration;
   9. (9) The progress and disposition of the case; and
   10. (10) The surgery log and anesthetic log, if any.
2. B. The veterinarian shall record the information referenced in §A of this regulation in a timely manner, that is, as soon as practicable after the veterinarian has seen the animal.
3. C. If the veterinarian discovers that the record is incomplete or in error, the veterinarian shall amend the record, being sure to date and initial the amendment.

4. D. A veterinarian shall label each radiograph and any other diagnostic image or picture with the hospital, clinic, or veterinarian's name, the patient's name, the owner's name, and the date the image or picture was taken. Diagnostics include, but are not limited to, the following:

   1. (1) Ultrasound;
   2. (2) Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI);
   3. (3) Computed tomography (CT) scans; and
   4. (4) Any other device that is used to generate an image of a patient.
5. E. Patient records shall be kept by a veterinarian for 3 years after a patient's last visit.

6. F. Patient Records.

   1. (1) Patients' records are the property of the veterinary practice for whom the records were made.
   2. (2) If requested by a patient's owner, the veterinarian shall release a copy of an animal's written record to the owner or a subsequent treating veterinarian. The veterinarian may require the owner to pay the reasonable cost of providing the records requested.
   3. (3) If requested by a patient's owner, the veterinarian shall release temporarily to a subsequent treating veterinarian the original nonwritten record of the animal, such as, but not limited to, radiographs, photographs, electrocardiograms, and slides. The subsequent treating veterinarian shall return these original nonwritten records within 30 days of their receipt or such other time as agreed to by the parties.
   4. (4) Upon request and if known, a veterinarian shall inform a boarding facility, including a veterinary hospital offering boarding services, which is boarding a veterinarian's patient, whether the animal's vaccinations are current.
7. G. The requirements of this regulation apply to companion pet animals only.

Authority: Agriculture Article, §§2-103, 2-304, and 2-310, Annotated Code of Maryland

Effective date: May 1, 1974

Regulation .01 amended effective November 2, 1987 (14:22 Md. R. 2340)

Regulation .03 amended effective August 4, 2003 (30:15 Md. R. 992)

Regulation .03B amended effective October 15, 2012 (39:20 Md. R. 1308); February 3, 2014 (41:2 Md. R. 92); March 16, 2015 (42:5 Md. R. 487)

Regulation .04 amended effective January 26, 1987 (14:2 Md. R. 130); August 4, 2003 (30:15 Md. R. 992); September 12, 2005 (32:18 Md. R. 1521); January 1, 2007 (33:26 Md. R. 1997)

Regulation .05 amended effective October 15, 2012 (39:20 Md. R. 1308)

Regulation .06 amended effective October 6, 1978 (5:20 Md. R. 1501); December 12, 2002 (29:24 Md. R. 1919); March 16, 2015 (42:5 Md. R. 487)

Regulation .06A amended as an emergency provision effective August 15, 2006 (33:18 Md. R. 1503); amended permanently effective December 7, 2006 (33:24 Md. R. 1906)

Regulation .06F amended effective October 29, 1975 (2:24 Md. R. 1483)

Regulation .07 amended effective May 7, 1984 (11:9 Md. R. 796); January 26, 1987 (14:2 Md. R. 130); December 25, 1989 (16:25 Md. R. 2714); September 8, 1997 (24:18 Md. R. 1296)

Regulation .09 amended effective January 26, 1987 (14:2 Md. R. 130)

Regulation .10 amended effective January 30, 1984 (11:2 Md. R. 114); April 6, 1998 (25:7 Md. R. 529); September 12, 2005 (32:18 Md. R. 1521); January 1, 2007 (33:26 Md. R. 1997)

Regulation .10A amended effective June 29, 2009 (36:13 Md. R. 900); October 15, 2012 (39:20 Md. R. 1308)

Regulation .10D amended effective June 8, 1992 (19:11 Md. R. 1016)

Regulation .10D amended as an emergency provision effective May 26, 2010 (37:13 Md. R. 850); adopted permanently effective October 18, 2010 (37:21 Md. R. 1437)

Regulation .10F amended effective June 14, 1999 (26:12 Md. R. 926)

Regulation .10-1 adopted effective February 3, 2014 (41:2 Md. R. 92)

Regulation .11 amended effective October 7, 1985 (12:20 Md. R. 1930); March 29, 1993 (20:6 Md. R. 584); March 16, 2015 (42:5 Md. R. 487)

Regulation .11A amended as an emergency provision effective March 14, 1996 (23:7 Md. R. 549); amended permanently effective July 15, 1996 (23:14 Md. R. 1011)

Regulation .11A amended effective March 24, 1997 (24:6 Md. R. 488); June 14, 1999 (26:12 Md. R. 926)

Regulation .11A amended as an emergency provision effective May 24, 2004 (31:12 Md. R. 908); amended permanently effective September 13, 2004 (31:18 Md. R. 1351)

Regulation .11A amended effective January 1, 2007 (33:26 Md. R. 1997)

Regulation .12 repealed effective January 26, 1987 (14:2 Md. R. 130)

Regulation .12 adopted effective June 8, 1992 (19:11 Md. R. 1016)

Regulation .12 recodified to be Regulation .12-3 and new Regulation .12 adopted effective August 4, 2003 (30:15 Md. R. 992)

Regulation .12-1 adopted effective August 4, 2003 (30:15 Md. R. 992)

Regulation .12-1G adopted effective July 16, 2018 (45:14 Md. R. 698)

Regulation .12-2 adopted effective August 4, 2003 (30:15 Md. R. 992)

Regulation .15 adopted effective August 30, 1993 (20:17 Md. R. 1351)

Regulation .15C adopted effective June 19, 1995 (22:12 Md. R. 902)

Regulation .16 adopted effective June 19, 1995 (22:12 Md. R. 902)

Regulation .16 amended effective August 4, 2003 (30:15 Md. R. 992); January 1, 2007 (33:26 Md. R. 1997)

Regulation .16A amended effective June 29, 2009 (36:13 Md. R. 900)

Regulation .17 adopted effective July 15, 1996 (23:14 Md. R. 1011)

Regulation .17A amended effective June 29, 2009 (36:13 Md. R. 900)

Regulation .17A, B, D amended effective July 27, 1998 (25:15 Md. R. 1194)

Regulation .18 adopted effective March 9, 1998 (25:5 Md. R. 370)

Regulation .18 amended effective July 27, 1998 (25:15 Md. R. 1194)

Regulation .18 repealed and Regulation .19 recodified to Regulation .18 effective September 12, 2005 (32:18 Md. R. 1521)

Regulation .19 adopted effective March 18, 2002 (29:5 Md. R. 504)