Vet surveys show AI gains, but staffing pressure still bites

Veterinary practices are adopting digital tools faster than many expected, but the workforce picture is more mixed. New 2026 surveys from Instinct Science found that 91% of general practices adopted or changed at least one technology in the past year, 48% are now using AI in some capacity, and fewer than 10% still operate on a traditional fixed full-time schedule. In specialty, emergency, and urgent care settings, staffing shortages remained the top challenge, cited by 85% of respondents, even as more than half said they hired additional full-time team members in 2025. Client financial limitations also emerged as a major new pressure point. (globenewswire.com)

Why it matters: For veterinary professionals, the headline isn't simply that AI is arriving, it's where it's landing first: documentation, SOAP note creation, diagnostics support, digital treatment sheets, and cloud-based systems that reduce administrative drag. That tracks with broader industry data showing clinics are still in an active digital transition, with practice management software already widely used and most practice owners saying the pace of change feels about right. At the same time, Instinct's findings suggest technology alone isn't solving retention, scheduling pressure, or support-staff strain, especially as flexibility becomes a baseline expectation rather than a perk. (globenewswire.com)

What to watch: Expect more scrutiny of whether AI and workflow tools can meaningfully ease staffing pressure without adding new training, trust, or integration burdens in 2026. (globenewswire.com)