In case you missed it, Rhode Island is considering legislation similar to Lizzie’s Law and Buoy’s Law, and if it passes as currently written (without amendment), the effective date is Jan. 1, 2026.
Introduced on Feb. 7, 2025, House Bill 5334 will require veterinarians to comply with pet medication consultation requirements mandated by the legislation.
Each time a veterinarian initially prescribes, dispenses, or furnishes a drug to a patient in an outpatient setting, the veterinarian will be required to offer a consultation (verbally, in writing, or by client email) that includes:
- The name and description of a drug.
- Route of drug administration, dosage, and duration of drug therapy.
- Common severe adverse effects associated with the use of a short-acting or long-acting drug.
- Any special directions for proper use and storage.
- Actions to be taken in the event of a missed dose.
- Precautions and relevant warnings provided by a drug’s manufacturer, including common severe adverse effects of a drug.
- A veterinarian shall provide a client information sheet, if available.
This is to say, the veterinary requirements under House Bill 5334 are effectively the same as those under Lizzie’s Law and Buoy’s Law.
The Difference with Bill 5334
Unlike Lizzie’s Law and Buoy’s Law, which resulted from pet tragedies linked to pet medications, Bill 5334 came about on its own to align veterinary counseling with pharmacy counseling for humans.
Though there’s not enough evidence to suggest consultation requirements for veterinarians may be a trend, the introduction of Bill 5334 appears to reflect what LifeLearn wrote shortly after Lizzie’s law came into effect:
“Recent changes to California law could have far-reaching effects on veterinary clinics across the U.S.”
Bill 5334 also appears to reflect what LifeLearn wrote in its blog “What Buoy’s Law Means for the Future of Pet Medication Compliance”:
“Both laws are indicators of where the legislative winds are blowing and the possibility that veterinarians in other states may soon see laws similar to Buoy’s Law and Lizzie’s Law,” adding, “the indicators are that the future of pet medication compliance means preparing for it,” and some practices were prepared when Lizzie’s Law and Buoy’s Law came into effect. Yet others were left scrambling until they heard about the pet health education library ClientEd.
Hundreds of Pet Medication Handouts at Your Fingertips
Containing over 475 pet medication handouts (including possible drug side effects and drug interactions), ClientEd—now with the AI-powered assistant Ask Eddie—helps practice teams quickly and easily find the same pet medication handouts that practices in California and New York currently use to meet consultation requirements as mandated by law.
You simply ask for what you need and ClientEd delivers from its premier library of information, updated monthly by LifeLearn’s team of veterinarians, pet health experts, and biomedical communicators, and always growing.
Backed by LifeLearn’s focused experience in pet health education, ClientEd also gives practices instant access to:
- 2,200+ DVM-approved pet health handouts covering a wide range of topics and species to support improved compliance and improved patient outcomes.
- 125+ supplement handouts.
Unlike a lot of pet health handouts that can cause confusion for pet owners with information that’s too long or technical, ClientEd articles are written in plain language, making them easily understood by pet owners.
ClientEd reflects why LifeLearn is trusted by 5,000+ veterinary practices, 10 veterinary associations, and veterinary technology partners across North America, and why LifeLearn has been helping practices thrive for over 30 years.
If Veterinarians Take Away One Message, LifeLearn Hopes It’s This
As part of the Buoy’s Law blog, LifeLearn wrote that ClientEd wasn’t just a resource to help practices in California and New York save time complying with mandated consultation requirements. It was also a resource to help “practices proactively prepare for similar legislation if (or when) it arrives,” and it appears that time may be right around the corner for practices in Rhode Island, so we encourage you.
If you haven’t looked at all that ClientEd offers, including how Ask Eddie supports staff with pet owner interactions and identifying opportunities for proactive care and additional revenue, spend a few moments today so have all the information you need to avoid the chance of scrambling.
Or reach out to our team. Request a consultation or call (800) 375-7994.
We’re here to help.
