--- title: "LGPD at the veterinary clinic: how to handle owner data and medical records securely" slug: lgpd-veterinary-clinic-owner-data-records-security excerpt: The LGPD applies to veterinary clinics too. Here is a practical guide to the data you collect, the legal bases that apply, owners' rights, and best practices to protect medical records and personal information — including when you use digital and AI tools. author: Milene Fozza category: Clinic Management published_at: "2026-07-01T09:53:00+00:00" reading_time: 5 canonical_url: "https://api.allears.vet/en/blog/lgpd-veterinary-clinic-owner-data-records-security" locale: en --- # LGPD at the veterinary clinic: how to handle owner data and medical records securely When people talk about the LGPD (Law No. 13.709/2018, Brazil's General Data Protection Law), they usually picture banks, e-commerce sites and big tech companies. But the law applies to **any** organization that processes the personal data of individuals in Brazil — and that includes your veterinary clinic. Every time you register an owner, store a phone number to confirm an appointment, or keep a clinical history, you are processing personal data. The good news: compliance does not require a legal department. It requires organization, common sense, and a few consistent practices. Let's get to the essentials. ## What data your clinic collects It helps to separate two types of information: - **Owner data (an individual):** name, tax ID, phone, email, address, sometimes payment details. All of this is **personal data** and is protected by the LGPD. - **Medical records and animal information:** the animal itself is not a "data subject" under the law, but the record is **linked** to an identifiable owner. Clinical history, exams, observed clinical signs, prescriptions — in practice, this set is part of processing the owner's personal data. In other words: the patient's record is not "neutral" data. It connects to a person, and so it deserves the same care. ## Legal bases: why you may process this data The LGPD requires a **legal basis** for each processing activity. You don't need consent for everything — the law sets out other grounds that usually fit clinical routine: - **Performance of a contract:** treating the animal, issuing prescriptions and keeping the history are part of the service the owner hired. - **Compliance with a legal/regulatory obligation:** records that veterinary practice requires you to keep. - **Legitimate interest:** for example, contacting an owner about a follow-up or a vaccine reminder — always proportionate and transparent. - **Consent:** required for uses that fall outside the original purpose, such as marketing communications. Here consent must be free, informed, specific — and revocable. The practical point: identify **why** you keep each piece of information. Marketing requires consent; clinical care usually does not. ## Principles that guide everything Three principles capture the spirit of the law and are easy to apply day to day: 1. **Purpose:** collect data for a clear, legitimate reason. Don't keep it "because it might be useful someday." 2. **Minimization:** ask only for what you need. A tax ID to issue a prescription makes sense; detailed financial data from someone who only booked a consultation does not. 3. **Security:** protect what you keep against unauthorized access, loss or leaks. ## The owner's rights (the data subject) The owner has rights you must be able to honor, including: - **Confirmation and access:** knowing what data you hold about them. - **Correction** of incomplete or outdated data. - **Deletion** of data, where appropriate and respecting legal retention obligations. - **Portability** and information about who you share the data with. In practice, this means having a simple way to locate, correct and, where applicable, delete an owner's records. ## Best practices that fit your routine Compliance becomes a habit when you adopt simple, constant measures: - **Clear communication:** explain, in plain language, what data you collect and why. A short privacy notice already helps a lot. - **Consent for marketing:** only send campaigns to those who opted in, and offer an easy way to opt out. - **Access control:** each team member accesses only what they need. Avoid shared passwords and generic logins. - **Backup and continuity:** loose paper records or a spreadsheet with no copy are a risk. Keep a reliable backup. - **Choice of vendors and software:** when using systems that store owner data and medical records, prefer tools that handle this information securely — protected storage, access control, and clarity about how data is kept. ## Extra care with digital and AI tools Consultation transcription, structured records and digital prescriptions save time — but they process sensitive data. When adopting these tools, watch for: - **Where the data is stored** and whether there is adequate protection. - **Who has access** and how that is controlled. - **Vendor transparency** about how information is used. - **Purpose:** data should serve the care you provide, not parallel uses without authorization. Using AI is not incompatible with the LGPD — as long as the tool is chosen carefully and keeps data protected.
Centralize os dados da sua clínica com segurança
## Conclusion The LGPD is not an obstacle to good veterinary medicine — it formalizes what responsible clinics already do: caring for information with the same diligence they care for patients. Start with the basics: know what data you collect, why you keep it, who accesses it, and how you protect it. Add tools that store data securely, and compliance stops being a burden and becomes a natural part of the routine — and a sign of respect for every owner who trusts you with their animal.