The American Animal Hospital Association

About AAHA

The American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) is an international association of more than 32,000 veterinary care providers who treat companion animals. Established in 1933, AAHA is well known among veterinarians and pet owners for its standards for hospitals and pet health care. Over 3,000 veterinary hospitals voluntarily participate in the AAHA hospital evaluation program. Trained consultants regularly visit these hospitals to ensure compliance with AAHA's standards for services and facilities. Individual veterinarians can also be members of AAHA.

AAHA reminds pet owners that they can help pets live healthier and longer lives by taking their pets to the veterinarian for annual physical exams, vaccinations, and dental care as well as providing pets with fresh water, a balanced diet, and exercise.

The American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) is the world leader in establishing high practice standards for animal hospitals. All of the teaching hospitals at colleges of veterinary medicine in Canada (and most in the U.S.) as well as many specialty referral practices maintain AAHA accreditation. Our facilities, and practice methods are inspected by te AAHA on a timely basis. Adherence to these standards by a pet hospital is voluntary, and is an indicator to you, the pet owner, that quality work is being done "behind the scenes" and we do not compromise the surgical standards in order to cut costs.

An example of the standards for major surgery (including spays) done at the Sardis Animal Hospital

Why you should have your pet spayed or neutered in an AAHA facility

Veterinary licensure alone does not include any legal requirement for a facility to adhere to the above standards for surgery. We voluntarily adhere to them in order to do all we can to maximize patient safety, give quality assurance and because we take great pride in our work. Some facilities have adopted different methods in order to cut costs and/or use spays and neuters as a "loss leader" in order to attract business. One should not assume all spays are done the same way by all facilities. Consider carefully what assurance you have that patient safety is maximized when your pet needs surgery. AAHA accreditation ensures a standard of practice that you can have confidence in.



Proudly accredited by the AAHA for 25 years!





For more information on the AAHA and general health information for your pet visit the AAHA site for pet owners:

Healthypet.com!