Veterinary surveys show fast tech adoption amid staffing strain

Veterinary practices are moving more quickly into AI and digital operations than some industry observers may have expected, but the profession's workforce pressures haven't eased in parallel. New survey findings released by Instinct Science on March 11, 2026, show that general practices are rapidly adopting technology, while specialty, emergency, and urgent care teams continue to report intense staffing strain and rising financial pressure from clients. (globenewswire.com)

The new data combines Instinct Science's inaugural general practice report with its third annual survey of specialty, emergency, and urgent care settings. In the general practice survey, based on responses from 763 veterinary professionals, 91% said their practice had adopted or changed at least one technology in the past year. Most already use digital diagnostics and imaging, and 48% said their practice is using AI in some form. Among AI users, nearly three-quarters said the tools made them more efficient. The most common use cases were medical record and SOAP note creation, followed by diagnostic assistance. (instinct.vet)

At the same time, the surveys point to a more complicated operational reality. In specialty, emergency, and urgent care, 85% of respondents cited staffing shortages as the top challenge, up from 78% a year earlier. More than half said they hired more full-time team members in 2025, yet 32% still reported working more hours, suggesting demand and case complexity are still outrunning staffing gains. Client financial limitations were cited by 79% of respondents, making affordability a more prominent operational issue alongside staffing and workflow efficiency. Instinct also reported that stress and compassion fatigue in these settings fell to 70%, down from 83% in 2023, which may indicate some benefit from targeted interventions and workflow changes. (globenewswire.com)

One of the more notable shifts is how quickly flexibility appears to be becoming standard in general practice employment models. According to Instinct, fewer than 10% of general practices still operate on a traditional full-time fixed schedule. Instead, 40% offer part-time roles and 25% have moved to a four-day work week. That aligns with broader retention research from AAHA and AVMA, both of which have highlighted flexibility, break time, benefits use, and healthier work environments as important levers for keeping teams in place. AAHA's retention survey found 30% of respondents planned to leave their current role, while AVMA's 2025 economic report said employers can reduce turnover by promoting flexible work hours and supporting time off. (globenewswire.com)

On the technology side, Instinct's findings suggest practices are favoring tools with immediate operational payoff rather than speculative AI adoption. In specialty and emergency settings, 67% reported improved efficiency after adopting new tools, 57% said patient care improved, and more than half said technology reduced treatment or diagnostic errors. Digital treatment sheets had the greatest reported efficiency impact, followed by cloud-based practice management software and AI scribes, which saw the biggest jump in adoption since 2024. That practical framing matches other recent industry commentary: AAHA has described AI scribes and radiology tools as early entry points for veterinary teams, while recent trade coverage has also shown ongoing concern about AI accuracy and reliability in clinical use. (globenewswire.com)

Industry reaction remains measured rather than exuberant. In Instinct's release, CEO Caleb Frankel said technology is producing "real, measurable impact" on workflow, patient care, and sometimes profitability. Other industry voices are making a similar argument, especially around reducing administrative burden while preserving clinician control. A recent CoVet announcement, for example, framed AI's near-term role around documentation, communication, and workflow support, not replacing veterinary judgment. That distinction matters in a profession where trust, liability, and case nuance remain central. (globenewswire.com)

Why it matters: For veterinary professionals, these surveys reinforce that technology adoption is no longer a side story in practice management. It's becoming part of the operating model, especially in clinics trying to protect clinical time, reduce note-writing burden, and compete for staff. But the findings also caution against treating software as a cure-all. Broader AVMA data show the U.S. veterinary market continues to evolve structurally, with practices getting larger over time, and retention remains a live issue across the profession. In that environment, the clinics most likely to benefit may be the ones that pair digital tools with clearer staffing models, realistic scheduling, training, and policies around appropriate AI use. That's an inference based on the survey pattern and broader workforce data, rather than a direct finding from one study. (ebusiness.avma.org)

What to watch: The next question is whether these early gains in efficiency translate into better retention, lower overtime, and more sustainable caseload management over the rest of 2026. Watch for practices to move from ad hoc AI experimentation to formal policies, vendor consolidation, and tighter scrutiny of which tools actually improve care, compliance, and team wellbeing. (globenewswire.com)