AAHA-Accredited Pet Hospital in Santa Rosa

Lakeside Pet Hospital is accredited by the American Animal Hospital Association, a voluntary standard that only about 15% of veterinary hospitals meet.

What AAHA accreditation means

The American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) is the only organization that accredits nonemergency veterinary hospitals throughout the United States and Canada on a comprehensive list of standards, ranging from pain management and patient care to team training and practice management. Fewer than 5,000 animal hospitals have committed to this voluntary process, and to keep it, practices must continue to learn and improve between their evaluations, which take place every three years.

So, what does that mean for you and your pet? AAHA-accredited practices take an individualized approach to care because every patient is unique and a valued member of your family. Your pet’s wellbeing comes first: we aim to give each animal the diagnostics and treatment they need while considering their comfort and stress at every step. From routine checkups to the hardest moments of pet ownership, we’ll give you the information, options and support you need, so your pet has a good quality of life and you have peace of mind.

What it looks like at Lakeside

Accreditation isn’t a certificate on the wall. It shows up in how we care for your pet every day.

Anesthesia safety

Every anesthetic patient gets a pre-anesthetic safety check, continuous monitoring by a dedicated team member, and a detailed anesthesia record from induction through recovery.
Pain management

We assess pain at every visit and plan pain relief before, during and after procedures, so your pet stays as comfortable as possible.
Surgery and sterile technique

Surgical instruments are steam-sterilized and every sterilization cycle is logged, so we can show exactly how each pack was prepared.
Medication safety

Controlled medications are tracked in a secure log, and our in-house pharmacy follows written dispensing and labeling protocols.
Diagnostics you can trust

Our in-house laboratory and digital x-rays follow quality-control routines, and we send images to board-certified radiologists when a specialist read helps.
A team that keeps learning

Accreditation is not a one-time test. Our doctors and staff train on written protocols and review them as the standards evolve between evaluations.

Watch AAHA’s short video: What makes a practice AAHA-accredited? (opens YouTube in a new tab)

AAHA Accreditation FAQs

What is AAHA accreditation?

The American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) is the only organization that accredits companion-animal hospitals in the United States and Canada. Accredited hospitals are evaluated on a comprehensive set of standards covering everything from anesthesia, surgery and pain management to medical records, cleanliness and team training.

Are all animal hospitals accredited?

No. Unlike human hospitals, accreditation is voluntary for veterinary hospitals. Only about 15% of veterinary hospitals in the US and Canada are AAHA accredited.

How often is Lakeside evaluated?

AAHA re-evaluates accredited hospitals in person every three years, and we keep working to the standards every day in between.

Does accreditation change what I pay?

Our commitment to clear, upfront pricing stays the same. Accreditation is about how we deliver care, not a surcharge. Ask us for an estimate any time.