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Find the most up-to-date news and information from the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) here.
AAHA is the only organization that accredits small-animal hospitals in the United States and Canada. Unlike human hospitals, veterinary hospitals are not required to be accredited. Accredited hospitals are the only hospitals that choose to be evaluated on approximately 900 standards that go above and beyond basic state and provincial regulations. Accredited hospitals are recognized as being amongst the finest in the industry and are consistently at the forefront of veterinary medicine.
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In the News
Latest press releases
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July 14, 2022American Animal Hospital Association Expands Care Standards to Japan
“We are committed to partnering with veterinary organizations worldwide to raise the global standard of veterinary care,” says Garth Jordan, CEO of AAHA. “AAHA standards are readily adopted locally with appropriate adaptations, providing a common language and ‘North Star’ for all veterinary practices regardless of their location.” -
July 5, 2022
2022 AAHA Award for Proficiency in Primary Care awarded to 27 Exemplary Students
AAHA presents the award each year in collaboration with the Association of American Veterinary Medical College’s Primary Care Veterinary Educators to recognize a fourth-year AAHA student member who shows outstanding clinical proficiency in veterinary primary care. All fourth-year students attending a veterinary college with an AAHA-accredited teaching hospital are eligible. -
March 24, 2022
Pain Management Should Involve Entire Team:
Effective pain management is an essential component of compassionate care in canine and feline veterinary medicine. As our understanding of different treatment modalities continues to evolve, the American Animal Hospital Association has updated its recommendations to reflect the most current research and best practices relating to pain management. -
September 23, 2021
American Animal Hospital Association names 2021 AAHA-Accredited Practice of the Year
ZimmVet of Zimmerman, Minnesota, has been named the 2021 AAHA-Accredited Practice of the Year by the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) -
September 14, 2019
New AAHA Board of Directors takes the helm during Connexity 2019
With the successful close of the second Connexity conference, the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) welcomed three new officers and two new directors to the AAHA Board of Directors. -
April 30, 2019
AAHA, VetBloom to launch exclusive AAHA member learning platform
In a move that brings a veterinary industry leader in online CE together with the only association to accredit companion-animal hospitals in North America, VetBloom and the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) are excited to announce the upcoming launch of the AAHA | Learning platform.
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July 7, 2022
Veterinarians and their Teams Serve as Critical Line of Defense Against Antimicrobial Resistance
Antimicrobial resistance due to antibiotic overuse and misuse is a growing threat to human and animal health. Recognizing the important role veterinary teams play in helping keep this danger at bay, the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) and the American Association of Feline Practitioners (AAFP) have published their joint recommendations for safeguarding our antibiotics and preventing antimicrobial resistance. -
November 1, 2021
Caring for the dogs who care for us:
AAHA releases first veterinary guidelines for working, assistance, and therapy dogs Lakewood, CO — November 1, 2021 —Dogs play critical roles in keeping our communities safe and running smoothly. They serve on the frontlines in the military and in emergency response situations, and they help us sniff out everything from explosives to narcotics and contraband to medical conditions with their sense of smell that is capable of detecting odor at 1 to 2 parts per trillion—between 10,000 to 100,000 times better than humans. -
August 20, 2021
Dr. Janice Trumpeter receives American Animal Hospital Association Lifetime Achievement Award
The American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) Board of Directors is proud to award its prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award to Dr. Janice Trumpeter , AAHA’s d eputy CEO , who will retir e in August 2021 after 23 years at the association . -
September 12, 2019
AAHA names 2019 AAHA-Accredited Practices of the Year
Saint Francis Veterinary Center has been named the 2019 AAHA-Accredited Practice of the Year, and Pet Specialists of Monterey has been named the 2019 AAHA-Accredited Referral Practice of the year, by the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA). -
February 27, 2019
Highly anticipated 2019 AAHA Dental Care Guidelines for Dogs and Cats released
By three years of age, most dogs and cats have some level of periodontal disease. Not always apparent to pet owners, periodontal disease can cause oral pain, infection, inflammation, and other health problems, decreasing the quality of life for these pets. After a thorough and proper dental procedure, many pet owners report the emergence of a “whole new pet”—one who is happier, healthier, and more active.
Who is AAHA?
The American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) is the only exclusive companion-animal veterinary association, serving nearly 50,000 individual veterinary providers, including veterinarians, technicians, managers, client service specialists, and others. We are also the only organization that accredits veterinary practices in the US and Canada. During the association’s 80 years, its mission has remained the same: provide veterinary professionals with resources to effectively manage their businesses and deliver the best in companion-animal care. AAHA is the leader in developing benchmarks of excellence, business practice standards, informative publications, and educational programs designed to help companion-animal practices thrive.
“Accreditation is a way to force yourself to be the best you can be. Owners and employees of accredited hospitals constantly look to make things better.”
— Bo Williamson, DVM, Tennessee Avenue Hospital
Quick facts about AAHA
- Founded by seven leaders of the veterinary profession in 1933, AAHA has been recognized for years as a leader for the veterinary industry and profession.
- AAHA accredits small-animal hospitals throughout both the United States and Canada.
- Unlike human hospitals, accreditation is not required for veterinary hospitals.
- Nearly 60% of pet owners believe that their pet’s veterinary hospital is accredited when it is not.
- Requirements for accreditation often surpass those required by states. State regulations for veterinary hospitals vary widely—some state examiners will never inspect a veterinary practice unless a complaint is filed.
- Veterinary practices that choose to be AAHA accredited are evaluated regularly on approximately 900 standards of care.
- There are more than 4,500 AAHA-accredited hospitals in the United States and Canada.
- End-of-Life Care accreditation provides an opportunity to elevate the emotional and supportive care patients and clients receive.
- AAHA also accredits veterinary practices within animal shelters and humane societies. As of 2015, there were 18 accredited humane societies.
- In addition to accrediting companion-animal hospitals, AAHA also develops veterinary guidelines and position statements, publishes educational resources, and offers world-class continuing education for veterinary professionals.
- AAHA is committed to helping lost pets get back to their owners. The AAHA Universal Pet Microchip Lookup tool helps pet owners and shelters determine which microchip company a chip is registered with.
- Pet owners can find an accredited veterinary practice by looking for the red AAHA logo, and by searching AAHA’s hospital search tool online.