2020 Colorado Revised Statutes
Title 12 - Professions And Occupations
Article 215. Chiropractors
Section 12-215-127. Animal chiropractic - registration - qualifications - continuing education - collaboration with veterinarian - discipline - title restriction - rules.

(1) (a) A licensed chiropractor who is registered under this section is authorized to perform animal chiropractic when the chiropractic diagnosis and treatment is consistent with the scope of practice for chiropractors and the licensed chiropractor performs animal chiropractic in accordance with all state and local requirements regarding animal licensing and vaccinations, including compliance with part 6 of article 4 of title 25 and section 30-15-101. A chiropractor must have the knowledge, skill, ability, and documented competency to perform an act that is within the scope of practice for chiropractors.

2. In recognition of the special authority granted by this section, the performance ofanimal chiropractic in accordance with this section shall not be deemed a violation of section 12315-105.

3. A licensed chiropractor who is not registered under this section may perform animalchiropractic if performed under the direct, on-premises supervision of a licensed veterinarian.

4. An individual who is not licensed as a chiropractor or a veterinarian may not performanimal chiropractic.

2. The state board of chiropractic examiners shall regulate animal chiropractic and diagnosis, including, without limitation, educational and clinical requirements for the performance of animal chiropractic and the procedure for referring complaints to the department regarding animal chiropractic diagnosis and therapy.

3. Registry. (a) The state board of chiropractic examiners shall maintain a database of all licensed chiropractors who are registered pursuant to this section and rules promulgated pursuant to this article 215 to practice animal chiropractic in this state. Information in the database shall be open to public inspection at all times and shall be easily accessible in electronic form.

(b) A licensed chiropractor who chooses to practice animal chiropractic and who seeks registration in animal chiropractic shall provide the state board of chiropractic examiners with registration information as required by the board, which shall include the chiropractor's name, current address, education and training in the field of animal chiropractic, active Colorado chiropractic license, and qualifications to perform animal chiropractic and treatment. Forms for chiropractors to provide this information shall be provided by the board.

(4) Educational qualifications. A licensed chiropractor who seeks registration in animal chiropractic must obtain education in the field of animal chiropractic from an accredited college of veterinary medicine, an accredited college of chiropractic, or an educational program deemed equivalent by mutual agreement of the state board of chiropractic examiners and the state board of veterinary medicine. The educational program must consist of no fewer than two hundred ten hours, include both classroom instruction and clinical experience, and culminate with a proficiency evaluation. The educational program must include the following subjects:

(a) Chiropractic topics, including:

1. History and systems review;

2. Subluxation and vertebral subluxation; and

3. Adjustment techniques for dogs and equids;

(b) Veterinary topics specific to dogs and equids, including:

1. Anatomy, including sacropelvic, thoracolumbar, cervical, and extremity, includingnormal hoof anatomy and care;

2. Physiology;

3. Behavior;

4. Knowledge of breed anomalies;

5. Restraint;

6. Biomechanics, gait, and lameness;

7. Neurology, neuroanatomy, and neurological conditions;

8. Differential diagnosis of neuromusculoskeletal conditions;

9. Motion palpation;

10. Pathology; and

11. Radiographic interpretation;

3. Recognition of dog and equid zoonotic and contagious diseases;

4. Animal-specific case management, outcome assessment, and documentation; and(e) Animal-specific professional ethics and legalities.

(5) One-time education requirements. (a) A licensed chiropractor who is registered to perform animal chiropractic or who applies to be registered to perform animal chiropractic shall successfully complete the following one-time courses:

1. A one-hour jurisprudence course that includes information about statutes, rules, andprocedures concerning notification requirements governing the identification of contagious, infectious, and zoonotic diseases; and

2. An eight-hour course on contagious, infectious, and zoonotic diseases that coversrecognition of early indicators and clinical signs of the following diseases:

1. In dog patients: Rabies virus; West Nile virus; canine brucellosis, also known asbrucella canis; plague, also known as yersinia pestis; and tularemia, also known as francisella tularensis; and

2. In equid patients: Rabies virus; West Nile virus; and equine herpesvirus myeloencephalopathy.

(b) For each of the diseases listed in subsection (5)(a)(II) of this section, the course must address:

1. Pathology;

2. Clinical presentation;

3. Biosecurity issues;

4. Public health concerns in Colorado; and(V) Herd health concerns in Colorado.

3. After a licensed chiropractor has successfully completed the jurisprudence and contagious, infectious, and zoonotic diseases courses required under this subsection (5), he or she need not take the courses again as a condition of registration renewal or reinstatement.

4. Until a licensed chiropractor successfully completes the courses required under thissubsection (5), the licensed chiropractor must obtain veterinary medical clearance from a licensed veterinarian to perform animal chiropractic.

(6) Continuing education. (a) A licensed chiropractor who is registered to perform animal chiropractic shall complete twenty hours of continuing education per licensing period that is specific to the diagnosis and treatment of animals. All continuing education courses must be in the fields of study listed in subsections (4) and (5) of this section.

(b) On and after November 1, 2019, the twenty hours of continuing education required under this subsection (6) must include a two-hour course on contagious, infectious, and zoonotic diseases, including current information about the incidence rates of rabies virus, West Nile virus, equine herpesvirus myeloencephalopathy, canine brucellosis, plague, and tularemia in Colorado and in other locations that might affect a licensed chiropractor's animal patients.

(7) Initiation of treatment notification and reporting requirements. (a) Within seven business days after initiating treatment of an animal patient, a licensed chiropractor registered to perform animal chiropractic must notify the animal patient's veterinarian of the initiation of treatment if a licensed veterinarian is treating the animal patient. If the animal patient is not being treated by a licensed veterinarian, the licensed chiropractor may satisfy this subsection (7)(a) by providing the individual who brought in the animal patient with a written summary of the treatment performed or anticipated to be performed, which written summary may be kept with any health documents maintained for the animal patient.

(b) If, before, during, or after performing animal chiropractic on an animal patient, a licensed chiropractor suspects that the animal patient:

1. Has a reportable disease, as defined in section 35-50-103, the licensed chiropractorshall immediately report the disease to the state veterinarian and, if the animal patient is being treated by a licensed veterinarian, to the animal patient's licensed veterinarian; or

2. Has potentially had contact with a rabies reservoir species; has indicators of caninebrucellosis, plague, tularemia, or other indicators of a contagious, infectious, or zoonotic disease; or exhibits ataxia, paralysis, proprioceptive deficit, or incontinence that might be a result of a contagious, infectious, or zoonotic disease, the licensed chiropractor shall:

1. Immediately decline or stop performing chiropractic adjustment on the animal patient;

2. Immediately notify the state veterinarian and the animal patient's licensed veterinarian or, if the animal patient is not being treated by a licensed veterinarian, notify only the state veterinarian, of the suspected contact, indicators, or exhibited condition; and

3. Delay any further chiropractic adjustment until disease can be ruled out or the chiropractor, in collaboration with the animal patient's licensed veterinarian or the state veterinarian, determines appropriate actions to prevent the spread of the contagious, infectious, or zoonotic disease.

(c) Any licensed chiropractor who, in good faith and in the normal course of business, reports his or her suspicion of disease pursuant to subsection (7)(b) of this section is immune from liability in any civil or criminal action brought against the licensed chiropractor for reporting.

(8) Records and professional collaboration. (a) A licensed veterinarian who provides veterinary medical clearance for animal chiropractic may require a veterinarian's presence at any chiropractic treatment rendered pursuant to the veterinary medical clearance.

2. The chiropractor and the veterinarian shall continue professional collaboration asnecessary for the well-being of the animal patient. The veterinarian shall provide the animal patient's medical record to the chiropractor upon request.

3. The chiropractor shall maintain an animal patient record that includes the writtenveterinary medical clearance, if clearance was required, including the name of the licensed veterinarian, date, and time the clearance was received. The chiropractor shall furnish a copy of the medical record to the licensed veterinarian upon the licensed veterinarian's request.

4. A licensed chiropractor registered to perform animal chiropractic shall maintain complete and accurate records or patient files in the chiropractor's office for a minimum of three years.

9. Discipline. Complaints received in the office of the state board of chiropractic examiners that include allegations of a violation related to animal chiropractic shall be forwarded to the state board of veterinary medicine for its review and advisory recommendation to the state board of chiropractic examiners. The state board of chiropractic examiners retains the final authority for decisions related to the discipline of a chiropractor.

10. Separate treatment room. A licensed chiropractor who provides animal chiropractic diagnosis and treatment in the same facility where human patients are treated shall maintain a separate, noncarpeted room for the purpose of adjusting animals. The table and equipment used for animals shall not be used for human patients.

11. Use of title. Only a licensed chiropractor qualified and registered in Colorado to perform animal chiropractic may use the titles "animal chiropractor", "animal adjuster", "equine chiropractor", or "equine adjuster". No chiropractor shall use the titles "veterinary chiropractor" or "veterinary adjuster" unless the chiropractor is also licensed to practice veterinary medicine in Colorado. Nothing in this section shall prohibit a licensed veterinarian from using the titles "animal adjuster" or "equine adjuster".

12. Rules. The state board of chiropractic examiners, in consultation with the state board of veterinary medicine, may establish by rule any additional requirements to be met by a chiropractor regarding required documentation and any other rules necessary for the implementation of this section.

13. Nothing in this section shall be construed to prohibit, limit, or alter the privileges orpractices of any other licensed profession, including veterinarians, from performing spinal, extremity, or other aspects of adjustment, manipulation, or mobilization on animals as allowed for in the scope of their respective practice acts.

Source: L. 2019: Entire title R&RE with relocations, (HB 19-1172), ch. 136, p. 1079, § 1, effective October 1.

Editor's note: This section is similar to former § 12-33-127 as it existed prior to 2019.