Guidelines Contributors

Mike Greenberg, DVM^†
The Veterinary Care Accessibility Project, New Orleans, Louisiana

Donita McCants, DVM^†
Veterinary Concierge Services, Bradenton, Florida

Elizabeth Alvarez, DVM, DABVP (Canine and Feline), DFNAP
University of Wisconsin – Madison, School of Veterinary Medicine, WisCARES Access to Care Veterinary Clinic, Madison, Wisconsin

Elizabeth Berliner, DVM, DABVP (Shelter Medicine/Canine and Feline)
American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, New York, New York

Michael Blackwell, DVM, MPH
University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee

Emily McCobb, DVM, MS, DACVAA
Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine, Tufts University, North Grafton, Massachusetts

Tierra Price, DVM, MPH
Unleashed Veterinary Care, BlackDVM Network, Louisville, Kentucky

Jyothi Robertson, DVM, DABVP (Shelter Medicine)
JVR Shelter Strategies, Belmont, California

Melina Stambolis, RVT
Humane Society of Sonoma County, Santa Rose, California

Contributing Reviewers

Jennifer Bolser, DVM
Association of Shelter Veterinarians, Boulder, Colorado

Jon Geller, DVM, DABVP emeritus, MPH
The Street Dog Coalition, Colorado School of Public Health, Fort Collins, Colorado

Pamela Nichols, DVM
Colorado State University, Scottsdale, Arizona

Sara Taylor, BA, AS, RVT
San Francisco, California

^† Mike Greenberg and Donita McCants are the co-chairs of the AAHA Community Care Guidelines Task Force.

Correspondence: [email protected]

These guidelines were prepared by a task force of experts convened by the American Animal Hospital Association. This document is intended as a guideline only, not an AAHA standard of care. These guidelines and recommendations should not be construed as dictating an exclusive protocol, course of treatment, or procedure. Variations in practice may be warranted based on the needs of the individual patient, resources, and limitations unique to each individual practice setting. Evidence-guided support for specific recommendations has been cited whenever possible and appropriate. Other recommendations are based on practical clinical experience and a consensus of expert opinion. Further research is needed to document some of these recommendations. Drug approvals and labeling are current at the time of writing but may change over time. Because each case is different, veterinarians must base their decisions on the best available scientific evidence in conjunction with their own knowledge and experience.

Conflict of interest statement: The authors declare no conflict of interest.

AAHA gratefully acknowledges the following individuals: Mia Cary, DVM (she/her), task force facilitator; Roxanne Hawn, developmental editor; and Terrian Barnes, strategic DEI advisor.

ASV, Association of Shelter Veterinarians; BIPOC, Black, Indigenous, and People of Color; DEIB, diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging; LGBTQIA+, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transexual and Trans, Queer and Questioning, Intersex, Asexual and Agender, plus additional identity terms; SDOH, social determinants of health; SOC, spectrum of care; VCPR, veterinarian-client-patient relationship; VMA, veterinary medical association

The 2024 AAHA Community Care Guidelines for Small Animal Practice are generously supported by CareCredit, Hill’s Pet Nutrition, IDEXX,  Merck Animal Health, and Pawlicy Advisor.