View from the Board: Can AI help us improve us veterinarians?

Artificial intelligence has entered the conversation in veterinary medicine, and the reaction has been predictable. Many veterinarians are skeptical, and for good reason. None of us want a machine replacing medical judgment or a nuanced decision that comes from years of clinical experience.

But that concern often distracts from a more useful question.

What if AI is not a replacement for veterinarians, but a tool that makes us better at what we already do?

Veterinary medicine asks an extraordinary amount of each practitioner. In a single day we may function as a diagnostician, surgeon, radiologist, anesthesiologist, communicator, business leader, mentor, and sometimes even a grief counselor. That level of cognitive load is one of the most under-recognized stressors in our profession.

This is where AI becomes interesting.

Used correctly, AI does not replace clinical thinking. It supports it. I use AI as a thinking partner and an operational assistant across many aspects of my work.

In clinical practice, it helps me organize complex cases, review differential diagnoses, summarize new literature, and explore ideas when I want to pressure test my thinking. It does not make the diagnosis. I do. But it helps me see patterns and grab information faster.

Outside the exam room, the applications become even more powerful.

I use AI to draft clinical protocols, write client education materials, and help translate complicated medical information into language that pet owners can understand. Communication is one of the biggest failure points in veterinary medicine, and tools that improve clarity are incredibly valuable.

AI also helps with operational work that many veterinarians struggle to find time for. Developing hospital policies, building training materials for new doctors, summarizing meeting notes, or structuring leadership ideas can take hours. AI dramatically accelerates that process.

Another important use is understanding client perspectives. AI tools can analyze patterns in client feedback, questions, and online behavior to help practices better understand what pet owners actually need. That kind of insight can guide everything from appointment scheduling to educational outreach.

None of this replaces veterinary expertise. In fact, it requires more of it. AI outputs are only as good as the questions we ask and the judgment we apply when interpreting the results. The veterinarian remains responsible for critical thinking, medical decision making, and ethical care.

The real opportunity is this: AI can reduce the administrative and cognitive burden that pulls veterinarians away from the parts of the job that matter most. Patient care, client relationships, and team leadership.

Every major technological shift initially creates skepticism. Electronic medical records did. Digital radiography did. Telemedicine did. AI will likely follow the same trajectory.

The practices that learn to use these tools thoughtfully will not replace veterinarians with technology. They will empower veterinarians to practice at a higher level.

And in a profession that already asks us to be many things at once, that kind of support may be exactly what we need.

Melissa Magnuson, DVM, is a Director on the AAHA Board. She is owner of Canobie Lake Veterinary Hospital in Windham, New Hampshire. 

Photo credit: © American Animal Hospital Association

Disclaimer: Trends content is meant to inform, educate, and inspire by providing an array of diverse viewpoints. Any content published should not be viewed as an official stance, position, or endorsement by the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) or its Board of Directors.