The Animal Industry Division (AID) in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Veterinary Services in Michigan have created the Michigan Accredited Veterinarian Handbook, an informational guide for Accredited Veterinarians in Michigan.

The Michigan Accredited Veterinarian Handbook covers many important topics for Michigan veterinarians and their staff. It contains useful contacts, links to informative websites, how-to guides, and disease information. 

In Michigan, veterinarians must be accredited to offer their clients vital services like rabies vaccinations for dogs; certificates of veterinary inspection (health certificates); or official disease tests, such as equine infectious anemia (Coggins test) and TB testing of livestock.

To obtain, renew, or update your USDA Accreditation information, please contact Valencia Watts at 517-337-4701 or Valencia.T.Watts@aphis.usda.gov. The next opportunity for accreditation training will take place on March 13.

The NEW Michigan Accredited Veterinarian Handbook
can be found at www.michigan.gov/dvmresources.

In Michigan, dogs must be currently vaccinated against rabies by an accredited veterinarian to obtain an individual dog license, which is required by law.

The Animal Industry Division does have a policy that allows a Michigan accredited and licensed veterinarian to direct a Michigan licensed veterinary technician to vaccinate a dog, after it has been examined, if the veterinarian is close enough to observe and monitor the veterinary technician. Dogs vaccinated by a non-accredited veterinarian or otherwise not vaccinated in accordance with the policy are considered unvaccinated.

Additionally, the accredited veterinarian must issue and sign the rabies certificate; the local village, township, city, or county has jurisdiction over the licensing of dogs and the issuance of tags; and titers may not be used as an alternative to vaccinating.

The Michigan Reportable Animal Disease List has been updated and modified to help clarify how the State Veterinarian and AID respond to different diseases.

Most significantly, diseases like strangles in equine and leptospirosis in canine, have been moved to the "Monitored" category, because they are diseases where AID doesn't take regulatory action. The numbers collected when monitored disease are reported are tracked and primarily used for outreach to veterinarians and animal owners. 

Additionally, diseases that are on the list solely for international reporting have been moved to the end of the list into a new "Lab Report Only" section. These diseases do not require a Reporting a Reportable Animal Disease (RRAD) form.