Digitail and the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) have released their 2026 Veterinary AI Study, finding that AI use among veterinary professionals has more than doubled since 2024, while many clinics have yet to establish the strategies and safeguards needed to realize its potential. The survey gathered 1,730 self-reported responses from veterinary professionals in the United States and Canada. It found that 83.7 percent use AI in 2026, compared with 39.2 percent in 2024; 88.3 percent of users engage with AI daily or weekly. Clinical documentation, including AI scribes and SOAP notes, is the leading application, used by 62.8 percent of AI users. Nearly four in five respondents expect AI to become part of most clinic workflows within five years. However, adoption has often outpaced planning. More than 65 percent of practices added AI without meaningfully changing workflows. Nearly half lack an AI strategy or designated lead, and almost one-third have no AI governance. The average AI maturity score was 2.67 on a four-point scale, with three-quarters of AI-using practices classified as emerging or established rather than mature. The study links maturity with stronger reported business results: the most mature practices cited six times the outcomes of the least mature, while the proportion reporting no measurable impact fell as maturity increased. Digitail CEO and co-founder Sebastian Gabor said a strategic approach can support more patient time, client retention, and revenue. Professional concerns are evolving. Fear of job displacement declined from 37.2 perecent in 2024 to 20 percent in 2026, while concerns about data security and insufficient training rose. Some 38.9 percent of AI users have tried building an AI agent, and another 29.9 percent are considering it. Fielded July 27 to August 12, 2026, the study uses a maturity index assessing strategy, governance, vendor evaluation, workflow integration, adoption and readiness. The full white paper and clinic recommendations are available online at the Digital website.
