Vet surveys show AI gains, staffing strain, and new schedule norms

Instinct Science says two new 2026 surveys point to a veterinary profession that’s adopting technology faster than many expected, even as staffing strain remains entrenched. In general practice, 91% of respondents said their clinic adopted or changed at least one technology in the past year, 48% said they’re already using AI in some form, and fewer than 10% still work in a traditional fixed full-time schedule. In specialty, emergency, and urgent care settings, staffing shortages remained the top challenge for 85% of respondents, up from 78% a year earlier, while client financial limitations emerged as a major new pressure point. (globenewswire.com)

Why it matters: For veterinary professionals, the surveys suggest technology is moving from optional to operational. Instinct found nearly three-quarters of AI-using general practices reported efficiency gains, while specialty and ER teams said digital treatment sheets, cloud-based software, and AI scribes improved workflow, patient care, and, in some cases, revenue capture. That direction lines up with broader industry data: the AVMA’s 2025 economic report found 76.5% of practices already had practice management software in place in 2024, and AAHA highlighted in 2024 that nearly 40% of veterinary professionals were already using AI tools. The bigger message for clinics isn’t just adoption, but governance: how to choose tools, train teams, protect clinical judgment, and use flexibility to retain staff. (globenewswire.com)

What to watch: Expect more scrutiny on whether AI and cloud tools can meaningfully ease burnout, hiring friction, and affordability pressures, not just documentation burden. (globenewswire.com)