Stronger pet bonds are accelerating tech adoption in vet care

A new HABRI-Chewy Health survey suggests the human-animal bond is doing more than shaping how pet parents feel about their animals. It’s also influencing how they seek care, communicate with clinics, and adopt technology. In findings highlighted by dvm360 and Veterinary Practice News, the Pet Health Challenges Study surveyed more than 2,000 U.S. dog and cat parents and found the average human-animal bond score reached 60 out of 70, which HABRI says is the highest average it has recorded. The study also found 97% of respondents see their pet as family, 82% say they struggle to understand their pet’s health needs, and pet parents with the strongest bonds are markedly more likely to use tools such as telehealth, apps, wearables, and other digital supports. That broader “digital support” category matters because it increasingly includes practical, clinic-facing services beyond classic telemedicine, from teletriage and telementorship to remote anesthesia consults and virtual administrative help. (dvm360.com)

Why it matters: For veterinary professionals, the takeaway isn’t simply that clients want more tech. It’s that emotionally invested pet parents appear more willing to use technology when it helps them stay connected, understand care recommendations, or manage costs and logistics. The study found satisfaction with veterinary care rises when practices add communication options such as texting, apps, and telehealth alongside phone and in-person care, while younger pet parents, especially Gen Z, report higher stress and heavier use of digital tools. That creates an opening for clinics to use technology less as a novelty and more as a practical extension of client education, follow-up, and relationship-building. It also aligns with a wider shift in the profession: dvm360 podcasts have recently highlighted teletriage and telementorship models that help general practices extend expertise, anesthesia teleconsulting services that let teams get real-time specialist support with only a camera and Wi‑Fi, and virtual assistants or scribes that can offload front-desk and documentation work. (veterinarypracticenews.com)

What to watch: Expect more veterinary groups and vendors to frame digital tools around communication, reassurance, and access, especially as practices weigh demand against still-variable telehealth adoption and state-by-state rules. Just as important, the next wave of adoption may be less about standalone apps and more about embedded support tools inside everyday workflows, including AI-enabled practice management systems, remote specialist backup, and staffing support that makes clinics easier to reach and easier to navigate. (ebusiness.avma.org)