Study Shows Significant Increase in AI Adoption Among Veterinary Professionals

Sebastian Gabor, CEO and co-founder of Digitail, commented on the rapid integration of AI in veterinary medicine, stating, "Two years ago, the question was whether veterinary professionals would even try AI. Today it's part of the daily workflow for every role in the practice, so the focus is now on how well it is being utilized and where growth opportunities exist."

The survey garnered 1,730 self-reported responses from professionals across various roles and practice types in the U.S. and Canada between July 27 and August 12, 2026. This year's study builds on a previous survey from 2024, which included 4,031 respondents and was published in the American Journal of Veterinary Research.

One of the key additions this year is the Veterinary AI Maturity Index, which assesses practices on a scale from 1 (ad hoc) to 4 (advanced) across six dimensions: strategy, governance, vendor evaluation, workflow integration, adoption depth, and capability readiness. The average maturity score was 2.67 out of 4, with the highest scores in capability and readiness. Practices at level 1 reported an average of 0.64 positive outcomes, while those at level 4 reported an average of 4.05. Notably, 70.9% of level 1 practices reported no measurable impact from AI compared to about 11% at levels 3 and 4.

Bill Voegeli, president of Association Insights and lead researcher on the study, emphasized the importance of understanding the factors that lead to successful AI implementation, stating, "Digitail wanted to know what separates practices seeing actual results from those seeing none, and what got them there."

In terms of AI applications, clinical documentation was the most common, utilized by 62.8% of users, followed by client communication. Diagnostic uses, such as interpreting radiographs and lab results, were reported less frequently. On average, practices employed AI in 3.33 areas, with reported benefits including increased patient throughput (44.3%), improved client satisfaction (32%), and new digital services (29.2%). However, about 20% reported no measurable impact.

Despite the widespread adoption of AI, 65.2% of practices integrated it without adjusting workflows meaningfully, and nearly half lacked a clear AI strategy or designated leadership. Additionally, around one-third of practices reported no governance frameworks such as usage guidelines or staff training.

Positive sentiment regarding AI among veterinary professionals has also increased; those identifying as optimists rose to 56.3%, while skeptics decreased to 22.7%. Concerns about job displacement fell from 37.2% to 20%, but worries about reliability and accuracy remained high at 67.4%. Data security and privacy issues, alongside training gaps, also emerged as significant concerns.

Looking ahead, 79.8% of respondents anticipate that AI will be a standard part of most clinic workflows within five years. Gabor reiterated the importance of strategic implementation, noting, "Practices that take a strategic approach report more time with patients, stronger client retention and increased revenue. We want this research to provide veterinary teams with a clear path to realizing that value in their clinics."