By the Government and Industry Relations Committee (GIRCom)

A Veterinary-Client-Patient-Relationship (VCPR) describes the partnership between producers and veterinarians required for routine and emergency care of your animals. Established by an initial in-person visit to your farm, a VCPR signifies that your veterinarian has agreed to take responsibility for your animals' care, and in return, you have agreed to follow the directions and recommendations from your veterinarian. A VCPR forms the foundation for safe, effective veterinary care. It is also legally required before a veterinarian can diagnose or treat your animal, including prescribing medication.

Since 2023, all medically important antibiotics—medications considered essential in human medicine that are also used to treat animals—require veterinary oversight. Antibiotics that were once available over the counter, including injectable penicillin and oxytetracycline, now require a prescription from a veterinarian.

To obtain a prescription, you must first establish a VCPR. Once that relationship is in place, your veterinarian may allow you to purchase medications through their office, provide prescriptions for certain treatments, or keep specific prescription medications on hand for use under their direction. This means your veterinarian may not need to visit the farm to diagnose and treat every individual issue.

Your veterinarian can support your herd in many ways beyond treating illness. Through an established VCPR, your veterinarian can recommend vaccination protocols based on your region and help develop a fecal testing and deworming schedule tailored to your herd. While most vaccines, dewormers, nutritional supplements, probiotics, and topical non-antibiotic treatments do not require a prescription, your veterinarian can still guide you on their proper use and teach you how to administer injections and oral medications safely.

Your veterinarian can also help you learn essential herd health skills, including how to take a temperature, body condition score your alpacas, and properly trim toenails. In addition, they can evaluate whether dental work is needed, such as trimming front or fighting teeth, floating molars, or removing retained baby teeth. If dental procedures are necessary, your veterinarian can perform them safely. While some shearers may offer dental work, owners should be aware that certain states classify tooth trimming as a veterinary procedure and must be performed by a licensed veterinarian or a veterinary assistant under veterinary supervision.

A healthy herd starts with a strong veterinary partnership. Don’t wait until an alpaca becomes sick to establish a VCPR. Building that professional relationship in the early hours helps ensure timely care, informed guidance, and long-term support for both your animals and your operation.