Artificial intelligence use among veterinary professionals has more than doubled over the past two years, according to survey findings reported by DVM 360.

That growth rate stands out in a profession that has historically lagged behind human medicine in digital tool adoption. A doubling within a 24-month window means artificial intelligence has moved from an experimental technology discussed at conferences to a tool that a substantial share of practicing veterinarians, technicians, and specialists now touch in some form during routine work.

The DVM 360 report did not specify which AI applications drove the increase, but the categories most commonly discussed in the profession include:

• Radiology and imaging interpretation support
• Documentation assistance, including visit notes and medical records
• Client communication tools, such as discharge instructions and follow-up messaging
• Administrative workflows, including scheduling and record management

What does the doubling mean for practices?

For practice owners, the headline number signals that AI is no longer a differentiator. As adoption crosses from early adopters into the mainstream of the profession, clinics that have not evaluated AI tools face a widening gap in efficiency rather than a novelty decision.

For clinicians, the shift raises practical questions that the survey trend will intensify:

• Which tasks should remain fully human-reviewed, particularly diagnostic interpretation?
• How should practices document AI involvement in clinical records?
• What training do team members need before tools enter the workflow?

These questions matter at the exam table. A clinician using AI-assisted imaging review still carries full diagnostic responsibility, and current regulatory frameworks for veterinary AI tools remain less mature than those governing drugs or vaccines. No veterinary-specific federal approval pathway comparable to FDA CVM oversight of animal drugs currently defines how these software products enter clinical use.

How fast is the profession moving?

The two-year doubling timeframe is the concrete anchor of the report. Growth at that pace suggests adoption is compounding — as more colleagues use AI tools and share results, the perceived risk of trying them drops, and uptake accelerates.

DVM 360, a leading veterinary industry publication, has tracked the profession's technology attitudes over multiple years, making this trend line part of a sustained observation rather than a single-point snapshot.

What should practices watch next?

If the current trajectory holds, AI use could double again within a similar window, pushing these tools toward standard-of-care expectations in areas like record-keeping and imaging support. Practices that establish clear internal policies on AI use now — covering oversight, documentation, and client communication — will be better positioned as adoption continues to climb.