Records Retention
Last updated May 2019
The following is a compilation of state laws that AVMA research has identified governing the retention of veterinary records. Typically states require veterinarians to keep records anywhere from 3-5 years after the last patient exam or treatment. Connecticut, Michigan, and Vermont both require the veterinarian to retain the records for 7 years from the date of the last treatment, or, in Connecticut, 3 years following the death of the patient.
While most states do have laws governing records retention, in deciding how long to keep patient records, consideration must also be given to the statute of limitations upon which the veterinarian may be sued for malpractice.
Note that state veterinary medical boards have the authority to interpret and enforce provisions of veterinary practice acts. If you have a question about how a particular state law provision applies to individual circumstances in that state, please contact the state's veterinary medical board.
| State | Number of years veterinary records must be kept |
| Alabama | 3 years after the last visit |
| Alaska | 5 years |
| Arizona | 3 years following the last treatment |
| Arkansas | 3 years following the last office visit |
| California | 3 years following the last visit |
| Colorado | 3 years since the last patient exam or treatment |
| Connecticut | 7 years from the date of the last treatment or 3 years following the death of a patient |
Delaware | 3 years from the last entry in the medical record |
| District of Columbia (D.C.) | 3 years from the date of the last office visit or discharge of such animal from the animal facility |
| Florida | 3 years after date of last entry |
| Georgia | 3 years after last visit |
| Idaho | 3 years following the last treatment or examination |
| Illinois | 5 years from date of last known contact |
| Indiana | 3 years since the last encounter with the animal |
| Iowa | 5 years |
| Kansas | 3 years from the date of the last visit |
| Kentucky | 5 years after the last examination of the patient |
| Louisiana | 5 years |
| Maryland | 3 years after the last visit |
| Massachusetts | 4 years from the last contact with the animal |
| Michigan | 3 years from the date of the last veterinary service/7 years from the date of the last veterinary service (for records created on or after the effective date of the legislation) |
| Minnesota | 3 years after last visit |
| Missouri | 5 years after the last visit for veterinary records; radiographs must be kept for 5 years from the date taken |
| Montana | 3 years after last visit |
| Nebraska | 3 years after the veterinarian;s most recent contact with the client and/or patient |
| Nevada | 4 years |
| New Hampshire | 5 years from the last treatment or examination |
| New Jersey | 5 years from the last visit |
| New Mexico | 4 years after last visit |
| New York | New York regulations state that it is unprofessional conduct to fail to maintain records for a period of at least 3 years |
| North Carolina | 3 years since the last office visit or discharge of such animal from a veterinary facility |
| North Dakota | 3 years from last visit |
| Ohio | 3 years from the last examination |
| Oklahoma | 3 years from last visit |
| Oregon | 3 years following the last treatment or examination |
| Pennsylvania | 3 years from the date that the patient was last treated by the veterinarian |
| Rhode Island | 5 years from last visit, or, for deceased patients/3 years from the date of death |
| South Carolina | 3 years after the last entry |
| Tennessee | 3 years (minimum) |
| Texas | 5 years from the date of last treatment by the veterinarian |
| Utah | 5 years from the date the animal was last treated by the veterinarian |
| Vermont | 7 years from the date of last contact regarding the animal |
| Virginia | 3 years from the last office visit or discharge of such animal from a veterinary establishment |
| Washington | 3 years from last treatment |
| West Virginia | 3 years |
| Wisconsin | 3 years from date of last entry |
| Wyoming | 3 years from last visit |
Source: Staff research, AVMA Division of State Advocacy
Contact: State Policy Analyst, AVMA Division of State Advocacy