Veterinary surveys show fast tech adoption amid staffing strain

Veterinary practices are adopting new technology faster than many expected, even as workforce strain remains stubbornly hard to fix. In March 2026, Instinct Science released findings from two surveys covering general practice, as well as specialty, emergency, and urgent care. Among 763 general practice respondents, 91% said their clinic had changed or adopted at least one new technology in the past year, 48% reported using AI in some capacity, and nearly three-quarters of AI users said it improved efficiency. At the same time, staffing shortages remained the top challenge in specialty, emergency, and urgent care, cited by 85% of respondents, while client financial limitations emerged as another major pressure point. Flexible scheduling also appears to be moving into the mainstream: fewer than 10% of general practices still use a traditional full-time fixed schedule, while 40% offer part-time roles and 25% have adopted a four-day work week. (globenewswire.com)

Why it matters: For veterinary professionals, the takeaway isn't simply that AI is arriving, but that practices are using digital tools as a practical response to burnout, documentation load, and retention pressure. Instinct reported that cloud-based software, digital treatment sheets, and AI scribes were associated with efficiency gains, and in specialty and emergency settings, 57% of respondents said new tools improved patient care. But the surveys also suggest technology isn't solving the underlying labor problem on its own: even with hiring, 32% of specialty, emergency, and urgent care practices said they were still working more hours. That fits with broader industry signals from AAHA and AVMA, which have continued to emphasize retention, flexibility, and sustainable staffing as central business issues for practices. (globenewswire.com)

What to watch: Expect more clinics to formalize AI use, documentation workflows, and flexible scheduling policies in 2026, while the real test will be whether those changes measurably improve retention and workload. (globenewswire.com)