Veterinary artificial intelligence adoption has surged to 83.7%, yet practices that implement the technology with formal strategies report six times the business outcomes of those without. That’s according to a new industry study from practice management software company Digitail and the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA).
The 2026 Veterinary AI Study surveyed 1,730 veterinary professionals across the U.S. and Canada. Key takeaways include:
- AI use in veterinary practices has more than doubled, increasing from 39.2% in 2024 to 83.7% in 2026.
- Clinical documentation, like AI scribes, is the primary use case for nearly 63% of users.
- More than 65% of clinics integrated AI without adjusting their workflows.
- Nearly half of respondents lack an overarching AI strategy or designated project owner.
Bill Voegeli, president of Association Insights, the company that led the study in collaboration with AAHA, stated that the data highlights “the clear role of strategy, governance, and workflow design in the value practices report from AI.”
For clinics that do establish formal AI governance, the financial and operational returns scale significantly. Digitail CEO Sebastian Gabor noted that highly mature practices “report more time with patients, stronger client retention, and more revenue.”