The American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA): Putting Pets First

(VETS/PET CARE) As the only institution that accredits small animal hospitals in the U.S. and Canada, the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) sets the standard of veterinary excellence.

Since veterinary medicine is always evolving and improving, the AAHA has over 990 guidelines for accreditation of care–ranging from pain management and anesthesia, to medical records and surgery–that are closely adhered by over 3,500 practices.

There’s no doubt, AAHA accreditation is a big deal as 85 percent of pet parents prefer AAHA-accredited hospitals over institutions that are non-accredited.

Read on to learn more about the country’s most esteemed veterinary association, the path to accreditation, as well as the future of the organization. — Global Animal

Established in 1933, the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) is the only accrediting institution for small animal hospitals in the U.S. and Canada. Photo Credit: AAHA

Consumers Advocate, Scott Smith

In 1933, the United States was reeling. It was the fourth year of the Great Depression. Unemployment stood at 25%. A new and untested president had recently moved into the White House. It was a turbulent and uncertain time.

But amazingly, during America’s darkest hours, seven leaders of the veterinary profession came together to form one of the country’s greatest organizations: the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA). It was and remains the only institution that accredits companion veterinary hospitals in the U.S. and Canada. It was built on the premise that pets deserve nothing less than the very best veterinary care.

Fast-forward to 2018. In 85 years, the country has changed in ways that were unimaginable in 1933. But AAHA has endured. Thrived. And today it is the most esteemed veterinary association in the country.

An estimated 85 percent of pet parents would choose an AAHA-accredited hospital over a non-accredited one. Photo Credit: AAHA

As Dr. Heather Loenser, AAHA’s Senior Veterinary Officer, put it recently, “Veterinary medicine is always evolving and improving. And AAHA has to remain flexible, ready to challenge previous protocols and upgrade them to the latest recommendations.”

It is that flexibility that has maintained AAHA as the standard of veterinary excellence in a rapidly-changing world.

“The best doctor in the world is the veterinarian. He can’t ask his patients what is the matter–he’s got to just know.” — Will Rogers

Read the full Consumers Advocate article, here: https://www.consumersadvocate.org/features/aaha-the-league-of-champions