Is your pet's veterinary hospital AAHA-Accredited? The American Animal Hospital Association is the only organization to accredit companion animal veterinary hospitals in the US and Canada. Nearly 60% of pet parents believe their pet's hospital is accredited when it is not. In fact, only 12-15% of veterinary hospitals in the US and Canada are accredited by AAHA.
If your pet's hospital is AAHA-accredited, it means that they hold themselves to a higher standard to provide quality care. AAHA sends consultants to AAHA-accredited veterinary hospitals every three years to evaluate hospitals on their adherence to the AAHA Standards of Accreditation. AAHA consultants evaluate hospitals on approximately 900 different standards of veterinary care.
Earlier this Summer, I was fortunate enough to attend the BlogPaws Conference in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina where I listened to Dr. Heather Loenser speak about what it means when a veterinary hospital is AAHA-accredited.
I was already familiar with many of AAHA's standards, because I have worked as a veterinary technician in an AAHA-accredited veterinary hospital in the past. Dr. Loenser did a wonderful job answering questions and explaining why having an AAHA-accredited veterinary hospital for your pet is a good idea. You can read more about AAHA's Standards of Accreditation in our recent blog post here.
AAHA-Accredited Hospital Day is July 22nd
This Saturday, July 22nd is AAHA-Accredited Hospital Day. Is your pet's veterinary hospital AAHA-accredited? You can check with the AAHA-Accredited Hospital Locator. If you know your pet's veterinary hospital is accredited, give them a call to thank them and let them know that you appreciate the extra effort they take to provide awesome care for your pet.
If your pet's hospital is not accredited, be an advocate for your pet and open a discussion with your veterinarian. Become a Champion for Excellent Care!
#AAHADay Swag Giveaway
To celebrate this year's AAHA-Accredited Hospital Day, we are partnering with the American Animal Hospital Association to bring our readers a giveaway! We are giving away lots of AAHA swag and goodies (3 winners) as pictured below.
This giveaway is open to both US and Canadian residents (void where prohibited by law), ages 18+. Giveaway ends July 28, 2017 at midnight CT. To enter, simply fill out the Rafflecopter form below with as many entry options as you like. Good luck!
I wish my vet was AAHA accredited, but its not. The emergency vet we have used is though. I feel they are more careful.
ReplyDeleteIt's good to know that our local emergency pet clinic is accredited.
ReplyDeleteI am thankful that our veterinarian has chosen to be AAHA accredited. It is so important for our companion animals well- being. Thank you for all you do.
ReplyDeleteI wish my vet was AAHA accredited, but its not it's an AVMA veterinarian. I like the AAHA standards of care for animals.
ReplyDeletethe 3 vets that i go to are not on the list. i see several on the list that i would never never go to and one that i would never go to again. i feel that my vets that i go to are wonderful, they have the best training, have great reviews. i did see one on the list that i would go to but it is too far away. i know that being aaha accredited is a good thing, however, my vets went to the best schools in the country and are great. i have been to a few of the aaha vets in the area and would never go back to them. so unfortunately, i dont think being aaha accredited would influence my decision on choosing a vet. i go by the reviews, knowledge, and how my girls are treated as well as the knowledge of the vets i see.
ReplyDeleteWe love the staff at the Bolton Veterinary Hospital here in CT. Everyone is wonderfully kind, compassionate, and friendly. They have our fur babies' best interests at heart.
ReplyDeleteI only recently started taking my furbabies to our current vet. After 30+ years of going to the same vet (which was out of the way but I just loved the vet there and how he was with my dogs and cats), my vet retired and sold the practice. So, I felt it was time to find a vet closer to home and found a great AAHA accredited vet closer to home that has been a godsend for my furbabies, as we've had several medical issues with them since switching to this vet (including my deaf hound girl, Ran, who was diagnosed with autoimmune disorder 2-1/2 years ago - I lost her at only five years of age after the vet and I did everything we could for her). I like knowing that my vet has to meet minimal criteria to be AAHA accredited.
ReplyDeleteWe just moved so I am still shopping for a good vet but I will look for that AAHA accreditation.
ReplyDeleteWe're happy that our vet has AAHA accreditation. :)
ReplyDeleteI was extremely surprised to find that our vet is not accredited when they are supposed to be one of the largest and best in a multiple County area. I expand my search to 50 miles and there were no results which I find very hard to believe in a fairly large city area. Definitely something I have to look into more I wasn't even aware of this so thank you very much. Raine D. buzzyngabe at yahoo dot com
ReplyDeleteMy local veterinary clinic in Homer, Alaska is indeed AAHA accredited.
ReplyDeleteOur vets at Cleveland Road Animal Hospital are AAHA accredited and they treat us, and our animals, like family. I hear stories of people not liking their vets, or not being able to find good ones and I feel so blessed that we have a great team of people who have a vested interest in keeping my dogs healthy. Especially having three senior pups, it's a great comfort knowing they have the best possible care.
ReplyDeleteI really thought the vet clinic I go to would be on the list but it isn't. I appreciate and like that AAHA-accredited pet hospitals have higher care standards and are evaluated every three years.
ReplyDeleteI wish my vet was AAHA accredited. I like the AAHA standards of care for animals.
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