Portugal’s Veterinary Medical Association has warned of a growing number of unlicensed 'veterinarians' posing as professionals despite lacking the necessary qualifications or documentation to treat animals in Portugal.
The association says that anyone practicing as a vet while unlicensed to do so, can seriously endanger the health of animals as well as public health through diseases transmitted from animals to humans.
There also is the possibility that fake vets, or unlicensed vets from other countries, could issue the wrong prescription.
According to the association, "this is a growing concern in the worldwide veterinarian community. The association has had several complaints from individuals and from veterinarians who have come across this situation."
The association says that some animal breeders and those involved in this trade are groups that may be practicing veterinary medicine without the proper qualifications.
"With these false veterinarians, respect for animal life, the pursuit of animal health and the defence of public health, principles that guide the activity of true veterinarians, are under question."
Our old friend Jorge Cid, a member of the association and never one to miss an opportunity to speak to the media, stated that "the situations that have been reported, of people posing as veterinarians without any qualification, are inadmissible. They are endangering the health of animals as well as their owners. The association strongly repudiates this usurpation of functions and will act accordingly to prevent these illegalities from perpetuating."
To practice as a vet in Portugal, you need a degree or masters in Veterinary Medicine, you must be enrolled in the Order and possess your professional certificate. Medical veterinary receipts, animal vaccination books, veterinary certificates and declarations must contain the veterinarian's vignette - never just a simple stamp. The public should ask to see certificates and a membership number if at all suspicious that a vet is a dodgy one.
Exceptions are municipal vets and the Ministry of Agriculture who use impressive-looking official documents for this purpose.
