AI in Veterinary Practice Management: 2025 Data & Trends

The Veterinary Industry's AI Awakening

The veterinary sector is experiencing a technological revolution. Whilst 83.8% of veterinary professionals are now familiar with AI and its applications

, only 39.2% currently use AI tools in their veterinary settings

. This gap represents both a challenge and an enormous opportunity for forward-thinking veterinary clinic owners.

The data is compelling: veterinary hospitals fail to answer 24% of inbound calls on average

, leading to lost appointments and revenue. For many clinics, this translates to over £100,000 in recoverable revenue lost annually

. Meanwhile, 64% of veterinary assistants and technicians report decreased interest in remaining in the field long term, citing inadequate pay, burnout, and insufficient staff

.

As the veterinary AI diagnostics market surges from $761.67 million in 2025 to a projected $3.17 billion by 2034

, early adopters are already reaping significant benefits. Let's examine what the data reveals about AI's impact on veterinary practice management.

The European Veterinary AI Landscape

Europe is emerging as a significant player in veterinary AI adoption, with countries like Sweden and Germany leading the charge. Sweden has seen a 300% increase in AI adoption over the past seven years, whilst Germany has experienced a threefold increase

.

The AI voice agents market is experiencing explosive growth, projected to expand from $2.4 billion in 2024 to $47.5 billion by 2034—a robust CAGR of 34.8%

. Within healthcare applications, veterinary-specific voice agents currently represent 2.2% of deployments

, a small but rapidly growing segment.

European veterinary platforms are at the forefront of innovation. ViggoVet, for instance, was adopted by over 300 veterinary professionals within four months of launching, with users reporting savings of over 10 hours weekly through AI scanning, AI Scribe tools, and automated workflows

.

Primary Applications: Where AI Delivers Value

Administrative Automation

The administrative burden on veterinary staff has doubled in recent years, according to a 2025 survey by the Federation of Veterinarians in Europe, with 65% of vets reporting this increase

. AI is providing relief through several key applications:

Roughly half of surveyed veterinary professionals indicated interest in AI-powered workflow automation to save time creating SOAP notes, discharge instructions, and other clinical information

. The results are impressive: clinic networks have seen a 90% reduction in recordkeeping time per case using AI transcription functionality

.

Phone Call Management

Phone handling represents one of the most impactful areas for AI implementation. The statistics are stark:

• 24% of inbound calls go unanswered at the average veterinary hospital

45% of bookings are made outside clinic hours

One clinic reduced its missed call rate from ~25% down to under 2% using an AI assistant

AI voice agents can handle appointment booking, answer frequently asked questions, and qualify calls 24/7—crucial capabilities when nearly half of pet owners attempt to book outside traditional hours.

Diagnostic Imaging

Veterinarians are incorporating AI tools primarily for diagnostic imaging of radiographs and medical record management

. AI-powered diagnosis assistance is reducing misdiagnoses by up to 30% for certain conditions

, whilst simultaneously speeding up workflow.

The ROI Reality: Numbers That Matter

The financial case for AI in veterinary practice management is becoming increasingly clear:

Time Savings:

• AI can reduce documentation time by 25-40% through automated coding and record analysis

VetSOAP saves veterinarians up to an hour daily

Covetrus AI can save teams six hours or more per week

Revenue Enhancement:

• Intelligent appointment scheduling and reminder systems can increase capacity utilisation by 12-18%

No-shows cost practices approximately £143,750 per vet per year

AI receptionist services costing around £100 per month can save practices £500 in staff time and lost appointments

Staff Retention Impact:

With 30% of veterinary professionals in clinical practice planning to leave their jobs

, and an average of over 15 months required to fill a vacant associate DVM role

, reducing administrative burden through AI automation has become a retention strategy, not just an efficiency play.

Expert Perspectives: What Industry Leaders Are Saying

The sentiment amongst early adopters is overwhelmingly positive. Nearly 30% of veterinarians already incorporate AI into their practices on a daily or weekly basis

, with 47% of surveyed veterinary professionals expressing desire to know more about adding AI tools to their practice in 2025

.

Veterinarians have proven to be quick adopters of new technology, including seasoned practitioners

. Those who have embraced AI tools report significant benefits: improved productivity, reduced administrative burdens, and advancements in diagnosis and treatment processes.

Addressing the Concerns: Data Security and Reliability

Whilst enthusiasm for AI is growing, veterinary professionals maintain healthy scepticism about specific concerns:

• 70.3% cite reliability and accuracy of AI systems as their most prevalent concern

53.9% flag data security and privacy worries

42.9% cite lack of training and knowledge

These concerns are valid and should inform implementation strategies. When evaluating AI solutions for your practice, prioritise:

1. Proven reliability: Look for solutions with demonstrated accuracy rates and real-world veterinary implementations
2. Data security: Ensure GDPR compliance and clear data handling policies
3. Training support: Select vendors offering comprehensive onboarding and ongoing education
4. Integration capability: Choose solutions that work seamlessly with your existing practice management software

The Implementation Roadmap: Starting Small, Scaling Smart

Successful AI adoption in veterinary practice management follows a predictable pattern:

Phase 1: High-Impact, Low-Risk Applications (Months 1-3)

Start with phone call automation. With 24% of calls going unanswered and 45% of bookings attempted outside hours, an AI voice agent addresses an immediate pain point with measurable ROI.

Action steps:

• Implement 24/7 AI phone answering for appointment booking and FAQs
• Configure integration with your practice management system
• Monitor call handling rates and client satisfaction

Phase 2: Administrative Automation (Months 3-6)

Expand into documentation and workflow automation to reclaim staff time.

Action steps:

• Deploy AI transcription for SOAP notes and clinical documentation
• Automate appointment reminders and follow-up communications
• Implement AI-assisted scheduling optimisation

Phase 3: Clinical Support Tools (Months 6-12)

Introduce AI-powered diagnostic assistance and clinical decision support.

Action steps:

• Pilot AI diagnostic imaging analysis for radiographs
• Explore AI-assisted treatment planning tools
• Evaluate AI-powered inventory management and ordering systems

The VoiceFleet Advantage for Veterinary Practices

For veterinary clinics looking to capture the 45% of bookings that occur outside hours whilst reducing the 24% missed call rate, AI voice agents offer an immediate, high-impact solution.

VoiceFleet provides AI voice agents that answer phone calls 24/7, handling:

• Appointment booking with direct calendar integration
• Frequently asked questions about services, hours, and pricing
• Call qualification and routing for urgent cases
• After-hours information capture for follow-up

At 80% lower cost than human receptionists, with pricing starting at €49/month, VoiceFleet delivers the ROI that veterinary practices need in today's challenging staffing environment.

Looking Ahead: The Future of AI in Veterinary Practice

The trajectory is clear: AI adoption in veterinary practice management will accelerate. With 38.7% of respondents eager to incorporate AI into their practices in the coming years

, and the global Voice AI Agents market growing at 34.8% annually

, the question isn't whether to adopt AI, but how quickly and strategically to implement it.

For European veterinary clinic owners, the opportunity is particularly strong. Europe's structured data governance frameworks encourage ethical AI deployment

, whilst platforms like Vetnio have secured Y Combinator endorsement and expanded across the UK, DACH, Benelux, the Nordics, and the USA

.

Conclusion: The Data-Driven Imperative

The statistics paint a compelling picture:

• 83.8% awareness but only 39.2% adoption—a massive opportunity gap
• 24% of calls going unanswered, costing over £100,000 annually
• 90% reduction in recordkeeping time through AI transcription
• 30% reduction in misdiagnoses for certain conditions
• 25-40% reduction in documentation time
• 12-18% increase in capacity utilisation

For veterinary clinic owners facing staff shortages, administrative burden, and increased demand, AI isn't just a technological upgrade—it's a strategic imperative.

The veterinary practices thriving in 2025 and beyond will be those that harness AI to handle routine tasks, freeing veterinary professionals to focus on what they do best: providing exceptional animal care.

Ready to reduce your missed call rate and capture after-hours bookings? Discover how VoiceFleet's AI voice agents can transform your veterinary practice's phone handling. Visit voicefleet.ai to learn more.