The American Animal Hospital Association released the "2026 AAHA One Health Guidelines: Emerging Concerns in Canine and Feline Parasitology" to help veterinary teams "recognize, diagnose, treat, and communicate" about emerging parasites in dogs and cats, according to AAHA. The guidelines include sections on "adopting a One Health approach, identifying the most concerning parasites, using antiparasitic drugs responsibly, and recognizing which parasites are reportable," AAHA said. They also provide tips on "communicating parasite prevention options and zoonotic risk to clients."
What the guidelines cover
The guidelines say emergence is driven by "antiparasitic use and resistance, environmental and host changes, increased animal movement and interaction, and improved detection and awareness." The document specifically addresses parasites that have recently increased in prevalence or incidence, plus "nine additional emerging parasites of potential concern," according to AAHA.
The One Health approach the guidelines adopt connects parasite control to broader public health concerns. The guidelines address client communication on zoonotic risk and include material on reportable diseases. The sections on environmental factors and animal movement address what is driving parasite emergence.
The responsible-use section and what it does not say
The guidelines address antiparasitic resistance while covering efficacy protocols. The responsible-use section provides principles for antiparasitic drug use but leaves specific product and protocol decisions to the practice.
The reportable-disease protocols and the staff-training gap
The guidelines identify which parasites are reportable. Practices will need to ensure staff know which findings require reporting and to whom. The guidelines provide tips on communicating zoonotic risk to clients, which may require updating how your team discusses parasite prevention.
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The inventory question the guidelines do not answer
The guidelines frame emerging threats and resistance concerns but do not specify which products or testing protocols to use. The clinical framework is in the guidelines; the formulary decisions remain with the practice.
Practice managers should watch whether the guidelines' framing and protocols affect client compliance or shift which products move.
Our read
The guidelines arrive as the factors they name continue to drive parasite emergence. The One Health framing is the most useful piece, because it connects parasite prevention to public health rather than positioning it as a product decision alone.
The reportable-disease section is the operational piece most practices will need to act on. The guidelines spell out which parasites are reportable, and practices will need to ensure staff protocols match.
The guidelines are available on AAHA's website.