AI has appeared in many aspects of our lives and across different industries, and it is no surprise it has integrated into veterinary medicine. This is an opportunity we, as veterinarians, need to take to decide how we want the technology incorporated into our workplace, as well as who is creating and shaping it. If veterinarians are not involved in developing AI tools and client resources, consumer technology companies could end up defining that experience instead. Using AI in the practice I was initially very skeptical of AI and how it would change things, but I learned to keep an open mind and to explore it further. I have been fortunate to have good advisors educate me on how AI can assist our profession, as well as what we still need to be cautious about. One of the biggest changes I have seen is clients wanting to learn more and be more involved in their pet’s health. I know some veterinarians are daunted by that, but I welcome owners becoming better informed and more proactive. The challenge is ensuring pet owners use a trusted source. Pet owners are turning to ChatGPT and “Dr. Google” to look up symptoms and medications, and the information they find is often incorrect or misguided. Veterinarians need to educate clients about resources that work with veterinarians to develop guardrails and monitor the information provided. I often find the pet owner becomes scared after an online search and anxiously reaches out to me. I would like to reduce these encounters and offer valuable resources. Photo courtesy Dr. Echeverria Getting vets involved From transcription tools, to scribes and radiographic readings, we have seen AI innovations in the veterinary workplace. We need to do our homework and ensure these tools are developed correctly, ideally with input from veterinarians. I think it is very much an individual decision on what AI tools we are comfortable using in the workplace. Many of our veterinary organizations, such as the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) and the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (ACVIM), have AI task forces that are investigating and helping us become more educated about the use of AI tools in practice. The September 2026 edition of Veterinary Clinics of North America: Small Animal Practice focuses on Artificial Intelligence in Small Animal Veterinary Medicine, with articles covering how veterinary professionals can evaluate, adopt, and contribute to AI-based tools in practice. I think the keyword there is “contribute.” We need veterinarians involved in developing these tools so we can trust they are being set up efficiently and used appropriately. The issue focuses primarily on veterinarians’ use of AI, but the client aspect of AI in pet health care is also an area where we need to contribute, as pet owners are looking to become more empowered in their pet’s health through more information. I had an incident recently where we started a horse on two medications not normally administered together, but because of the horse’s two different diagnoses, it needed both. I spoke at length with the owner about administering the medications together, what side effects to monitor for, and reassured her I have used these medications together in other horses with no adverse effects. I also discussed the treatment plan with the regular veterinarian, and she agreed. I answered the owner’s questions and was good to start the mare on the medication. The morning the mare received both medications, both the regular veterinarian and I got panicked messages from the owner that she had given both medications and then “Googled it,” and Google told her the horse could have serious adverse reactions and potential long-term consequences being on both medications. This was an instance when Dr. Google was not correct, contained misinformation, did not keep the vet in the loop, and the answer was not necessarily grounded in that horse’s health. After talking to the owner, she agreed Google was incorrect and that my guidance was sound. I was also able to recommend a veterinarian-informed pet health resource I felt confident she could turn to if she had questions like this again, a resource designed to provide information with veterinary guidance and appropriate guardrails. Charting assistance An area in veterinary medicine I can see AI helping is with pet medical records. There is no “My Chart” for pets, where all the veterinary records for one pet can be easily accessed by the veterinarian examining the pet. Owners are often not good at remembering pertinent information about their pets’ health. There are pet technology tools that let owners or veterinarians organize health records, lab results, vaccine records, and more, then share that information with any veterinarians examining their pet. I see this as extremely helpful when a client needs to take their pet to urgent care or the emergency hospital, so the veterinarian can see a snapshot of the pet’s health. I also see it useful for competition horses that are traveling and competing and possibly being seen by a new veterinarian or care team, and that veterinarian can easily access the horse’s health record in some of these new AI offerings. With some of these tools, AI can help to organize the information, so it is easy to view and access, and the veterinarian does not have to read through years of medical records. Many of these pet AI apps also allow owners to document observations and changes in their pets over time, which can be very useful information for veterinarians. I feel these tools are helping pet owners become better informed and know what to ask and discuss at their vet appointment. The goal should be not to replace veterinarians, but to empower pet owners to be more proactive and to create a stronger connection between what happens at home and in the veterinary clinic. Those owners may also be more willing to pursue bloodwork and further testing because they understand the value of the information. Photo courtesy Dr. Echeverria As veterinarians, we need to take a proactive role in educating our clients on what AI resources to turn to and which are not veterinarian-backed or recommended. We can decide our own comfort level with the AI tools being introduced to help our daily workflow, but we should also be willing to help shape these tools as they evolve and provide feedback. Veterinary medicine should help establish best practices for AI tools used by veterinarians and pet owners, as many of our organizations, like AVMA, are doing, and we need to stay involved. At the end of the day, I believe veterinarians and pet owners want happy, healthy pet companions. I encourage my fellow veterinary colleagues to embrace this opportunity by learning about the available AI tools and resources, helping establish guardrails, and identifying those that align with good veterinary practice. Most importantly, help educate your clients about which resources they can use and trust. I believe in a future where veterinarians, clients, and AI can work efficiently and cohesively to provide pets with the best possible health care. Kate Echeverria, DVM, MS, DACVIM-LAIM, is a board-certified equine internal medicine specialist who provides comprehensive diagnostics and treatment for horses across New England through her ambulatory practice, KE Equine, based in Norton, Mass. Dr. Echeverria is also the equine medical director at CompanAIn, a pet wellness platform powered by trusted, human-centered AI. She is president-elect for RIVMA, as well as the large animal representative (and past chair) on the ACVIM Certification Council, and is a member of the AAEP Scientific Review and Editorial Committee.
