- Instinct Science released two surveys examining trends across general practice, specialty, emergency, and urgent care veterinary clinics.
- Nearly half of general practices report using artificial intelligence tools, primarily for medical record documentation and diagnostic support.
- Workplace flexibility is expanding, with many clinics offering part-time roles and four-day work weeks.
- Staffing shortages remain the top challenge in specialty and emergency practices, cited by 85 percent of respondents.
- Technology adoption is improving efficiency, patient care, and in some cases clinic revenue.
- Client financial limitations are emerging as a growing concern for veterinary practices.
Two new surveys from Instinct Science provide a snapshot of how veterinary practices are evolving in 2026, highlighting shifts in staffing models, technology use, and workplace expectations across the profession.
The surveys examined trends in both general practice and specialty, emergency, and urgent care veterinary settings.
Workplace flexibility and staffing trends
Instinct Science’s inaugural State of General Practice Veterinary Care survey found that staff turnover remains manageable in most clinics, though practices are increasingly focused on retention.
Flexible work arrangements are becoming more common. Fewer than 10 percent of practices still operate on traditional full-time fixed schedules. Instead, about 40 percent offer part-time roles and 25 percent have adopted four-day work weeks.
Despite these changes, staffing challenges remain significant in other areas of veterinary medicine.
Instinct Science’s third annual Specialty, Emergency and Urgent Care Survey found that staffing shortages continue to be the industry’s most widely cited challenge, reported by 85 percent of respondents, up from 78 percent last year.
More than half of those practices hired additional full-time staff in 2025, yet 32 percent reported working longer hours, suggesting hiring efforts are not fully keeping pace with patient demand.
Client financial constraints also emerged as a growing concern, cited by 79 percent of respondents.
At the same time, reported stress and compassion fatigue declined to 70 percent from 83 percent in 2023, indicating that recent efforts to address workplace wellbeing may be having an impact.
AI and technology adoption growing rapidly
The surveys also show rapid adoption of artificial intelligence and digital technology across veterinary practices.
Among general practice clinics, 48 percent reported using AI tools in some capacity. The most common uses include medical record documentation and SOAP note creation, cited by 63 percent of AI users, and diagnostic support, cited by 38 percent.
Nearly three-quarters of those using AI tools reported improved efficiency in their daily work.
Cloud-based veterinary software is also gaining traction. Twenty-six percent of respondents said cloud-based systems had the most positive impact on daily workflows, compared with 13 percent who cited server-based software.
Technology also appears to be improving operations in specialty and emergency clinics.
Among those practices, 67 percent reported improved efficiency and 57 percent reported improved patient care after adopting new technologies. More than half said technology helped reduce treatment or diagnostic errors, while 25 percent said it helped increase revenue.
Digital treatment sheets were identified as the technology with the greatest efficiency impact, cited by 55 percent of respondents. Cloud-based practice management software followed at 32 percent, while AI-powered documentation tools saw the largest increase in adoption compared with 2024.
Caleb Frankel, VMD, chief executive officer of Instinct Science, said the findings demonstrate how technology is reshaping veterinary practice operations.
“Technology is delivering real, measurable impact in terms of better workflow efficiency, better patient care, and in many cases, better profitability,” Frankel said.
Information sourced from the company’s press release.
