The American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) has established new standards of accreditation aimed at improving animal welfare and the quality of veterinary care. These new guidelines encourage the practice of microchipping pets and discourage nontherapeutic procedures such as devocalization, ear cropping and declawing unless medically necessary.
Jessica Vogelsang, chief medical officer of Lakewood-based AAHA, noted the association’s commitment to continuous improvement, stating, “We continually assess our Standards to ensure they are aligned with current best practices across the profession.”
The new standard on microchipping recommends that AAHA-accredited practices initiate discussions about microchipping during a pet’s first visit and verify the functionality of the chip annually. Additionally, the updated standards aim to shift the approach to nontherapeutic procedures, emphasizing that such actions should only be taken when there is a clear medical indication.
Vogelsang highlighted the significance of these changes, saying, “For the first time in our history, AAHA will have Standards of Accreditation addressing non-therapeutic ear crops, devocalizations and feline declaws.”
AAHA, established in 1933, is dedicated to accrediting veterinary hospitals across the U.S. and Canada based on standards of high-quality medicine and compassionate care.