What if an imaging study detected cancer before a dog showed any clinical signs? What if it could also show us when to intervene and when not to? Every new technology promises better medicine, but the hardest question is not what a new test can detect; it’s knowing whether the answer will actually help the patient in front of us. Approximately one in four dogs will develop cancer during their lifetime, making earlier, more precise diagnosis especially important.¹ Over the past two decades, veterinary medicine has evolved rapidly. Advanced diagnostics, AI, and minimally invasive technologies promise earlier disease detection and more personalized treatment planning. Yet, while technology is expanding what veterinarians can do, compassionate relationships, clinical judgment, and collaboration remain the profession’s greatest strengths. When more information changes the plan Today, advanced laboratory testing and imaging modalities can show a more detailed picture of anatomy, biological activity, disease progression, and treatment response than ever before. Earlier detection can allow veterinarians to step in when more treatment options are available. More effective staging can help guide the best treatment options and may also help avoid more invasive procedures. Technology, however, does not eliminate uncertainty. An imaging finding alone will rarely be specific enough to establish a diagnosis without additional testing. Moreover, incidental findings may sometimes lead to unnecessary diagnostic tests. The most important question, therefore, is “Will this information meaningfully change what we do for the patient?” not “What can this technology show us?” What can PET/CT tell us? One advanced imaging modality is positron emission tomography (PET) combined with computed tomography (CT): PET/CT. This provides a specific example of how technology is changing veterinary diagnostics. CT provides detailed anatomical imaging, helping clinicians identify the location, size, and characteristics of an abnormality. PET detects metabolic activity through a radiopharmaceutical tracer. Taken together, veterinarians can examine both the structure of an abnormality and its biological activity. PET/CT is probably best known for its role in oncology, where it may help detect lesions and stage disease. There are also indications in other fields, such as investigating a fever of unknown origin or unexplained lameness. Two recent patients at Red Bank Veterinary Hospital in Tinton Falls, N.J., demonstrated how this technology can positively influence care, albeit in different ways. One dog underwent advanced imaging with PET/CT for an unrelated reason. The imaging identified a small, previously unrecognized subcutaneous lesion. An excisional biopsy showed the lesion to be a mast cell tumor. Detecting it before it has progressed or caused clinical signs allowed veterinary team to provide timely, likely curative treatment. Another dog with an atypical cystic liver lesion underwent PET/CT to help characterize the mass. The absence of radiopharmaceutical uptake suggested a low likelihood of an aggressive disease, allowing the patient to avoid a high-risk liver biopsy and surgery. The lesion has remained stable on subsequent ultrasound examinations, supporting this. In one case, technology prompted us to intervene. In the other, it helped support our decision not to. Photo courtesy Red Bank Veterinary Hospital How better diagnostics improve client conversations Every patient is different, and every family has unique goals and circumstances regarding their pets. Two pets may have the same diagnosis, yet the plan for each may differ because of factors such as age, temperament, anticipated quality of life, and treatment burden. Better diagnostics enable more informed treatment plans, and veterinary teams can help clients understand which option is best for them. Before recommending an advanced diagnostic test, veterinary teams should consider the following questions: Will the results meaningfully alter the treatment plan? Could the test clarify the patient’s prognosis or quality of life? Does the anticipated benefit justify the financial cost, anesthesia, travel, or other burden? How will the results and their limitations be explained to the client? Answering these questions helps veterinarians and clients determine the most appropriate care based on medical, emotional, ethical, and financial considerations. This is an important part of providing a complete spectrum of care. The most technologically advanced option is not always the best one. Technology should support shared decision-making, not dictate it. AI still requires human judgment AI offers another example of how technology can support veterinary professionals without replacing them. It is already being used for diagnostic support, medical documentation, client communication, and administrative tasks. When these tools reduce the time clinicians spend organizing information or completing records, they can create more time for patients and their owners. Like advanced imaging, however, AI provides information and assistance, not final answers. Its outputs may be incomplete, biased, or incorrect, and veterinary professionals must evaluate them within the complete clinical picture. Practices also need clear policies for data privacy, appropriate use, human oversight, and verification. Veterinary teams will need training to use these tools responsibly. A 2026 study of 673 veterinary workers found that although 72.3 percent believed AI would change the profession, 90.5 percent reported receiving little or no formal AI training.² Technology may change how veterinarians work, but clinical judgment, accountability, and communication must remain firmly in human hands. New technology requires an investment in people New equipment will eventually be replaced, and software will be updated periodically. What lasts is the knowledge people acquire and the impact it has on their colleagues, patients, and clients. That is why mentorship, internships, residency programs, and continuing education matter. Veterinary professionals need opportunities to understand new technologies, question their limitations, and learn how to use them responsibly. Investing in people strengthens relationships outside the hospital, too. Referring veterinarians need to know their patients will receive collaborative care, and clients need clear explanations from professionals they trust. Even the best technology has limited value if people do not understand how or why it is being used. The human touch remains essential As new tools progress veterinary practice, the question should not be whether a hospital has access to the latest technology. It should be whether that technology helps the veterinary team make a more informed decision, communicate it more clearly, and provide care that reflects the needs of the individual patient and family. Even the best technology requires human judgment. Its value lies in giving veterinary professionals better information with which to exercise that judgment, collaborate with colleagues, and guide clients through complex decisions. The next breakthrough in veterinary medicine may be a new diagnostic tool or AI platform. The greater challenge will be knowing when to use it, when not to, and how to help the client with that decision. Peter S. Chapman, BVetMed, DECVIM-CA, DACVIM, MRCVS, earned his veterinary degree from the Royal Veterinary College (RVC), University of London, in 1998. He completed a small animal rotating internship and a Small Animal Internal Medicine residency at the Royal Veterinary College. From 2003 to 2009, Dr. Chapman served as staff and faculty at the University of Pennsylvania. He then joined BluePearl in Levittown, Pa., where he practiced as a Small Animal Internal Medicine specialist from 2009 to 2025, served as residency program director, and held the role of medical director. He is currently the medical director at Red Bank Veterinary Hospital in Tinton Falls, N.J., an emergency and specialty hospital within National Veterinary Associates (NVA). References American Veterinary Medical Association. Cancer in pets. Available from: https://www.avma.org/resources/pet-owners/petcare/cancer-pets Ofer O, Pearl DL, Singh A, Appleby R. Veterinary workers report low knowledge of artificial intelligence but positive attitudes toward its adoption in diagnostic imaging and the workplace as a whole. Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association. 2026 Jun 1;264(6):1-7. Available from: https://avmajournals.avma.org/view/journals/javma/264/6/javma.25.08.0545.xml
