What procedure can a licensed veterinary technician (LVT) perform under direct supervision?

The correct answer is that a licensed veterinary technician (LVT) can close surgical skin incisions under direct supervision. In the Texas veterinary practice standards, procedures that involve significant surgical skill or interventions may require a veterinarian’s oversight. Closing surgical skin incisions qualifies as a technical skill that, while within the training of a veterinary technician, still requires the guidance and confirmation of a veterinarian to ensure that it is done properly and safely.

This procedure combines knowledge of surgical techniques with the need for sterile technique, anatomical knowledge, and an understanding of potential complications that can arise. The oversight by a veterinarian ensures that the patient is receiving the best standard of care and that any immediate post-operative concerns can be fully addressed.

In contrast, inducing anesthesia generally falls under procedures that require a licensed veterinarian's authority and expertise, making it unsuitable for a technician to perform even under supervision. Extracting loose teeth can also be classified as an advanced procedure that necessitates veterinary skills beyond those typically granted to an LVT without the presence of a veterinarian. While administering vaccination injections is a common task for veterinary technicians, it is not classified as a procedure needing direct supervision and can usually be performed independently under regulatory guidelines.