Veterinary surveys show fast tech uptake, stubborn staffing strain

Veterinary practices are adopting AI and other digital tools faster than many expected, but the workforce picture is still strained. New 2026 survey findings from Instinct Science, highlighted by Today’s Veterinary Business, show 91% of general practices implemented new technology in the past year, and nearly half reported using AI in some form, especially for medical records, SOAP notes, and diagnostic support. At the same time, fewer than 10% of general practices still rely on traditional fixed full-time schedules, with more clinics offering part-time roles and four-day workweeks as they try to recruit and retain staff. In emergency and specialty settings, staffing shortages remain the top operational challenge, even as practices report gains in morale and efficiency from technology adoption. Broader industry commentary suggests the next gap is less about access to tools than about ownership: AAHA and Digitail survey data show 83% of veterinary professionals are familiar with AI and 39% are already using it, but 70% have reliability concerns and 43% report inadequate training, prompting some consultants and vendors to argue clinics may need a designated AI lead or “champion” rather than a deploy-and-forget approach. (mychesco.com)

Why it matters: For veterinary professionals, the surveys suggest the industry’s center of gravity is shifting from whether to adopt new tools to how to use them responsibly and sustainably. Instinct’s general practice report frames AI, staffing models, and team wellness as linked leadership issues, while outside survey data from AAHA and Digitail show AI use is already widespread but still accompanied by concern about reliability, accuracy, privacy, and training. A 2026 JAVMA-published survey likewise found most veterinary workers had little formal AI training, even though many expected AI to change the profession. Other industry voices are pushing the same point from different angles: some see AI as a way to turn documentation and workflow data into operational insight, not just faster note-taking, while others warn it is already influencing hiring workflows and career paths behind the scenes. That means practices may need clearer governance, staff education, and workflow redesign, not just more software. (instinct.vet)

What to watch: Expect more focus on AI training, workflow standards, flexible staffing models, and practical governance roles as practices test whether technology can ease burnout without creating new clinical, hiring, or operational risks. (pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)