A Beginner’s Guide to AI in Veterinary Practice Management
Insights from Dr. Adam Christman, DVM, MBA and Chief Veterinary Officer of dvm360® Network
Artificial intelligence has quickly become one of the biggest topics in veterinary medicine, but for many practices, it’s still surrounded by uncertainty. Is AI replacing veterinary professionals? Is it secure? Where do you even begin?
During Otto’s recent live CE webinar, A Beginner’s Guide to AI in Veterinary Practice Management, Dr. Adam Christman, Chief Veterinary Officer at DVM360 and Fetch Conferences, helped answer those questions by breaking down what AI is, what it isn’t, and how veterinary teams can start using it today.
Rather than focusing on complex technology, Dr. Christman emphasized a practical approach: start small, stay curious, and use AI to support—not replace—the people who make veterinary medicine so special.
“We’re going to demystify some of it, show where it already helps in practice today. You probably have been using a piece of it already.”
AI isn’t replacing veterinary teams—it’s giving them time back
One of the biggest concerns surrounding AI is the fear that technology will eventually replace human expertise. Dr. Christman addressed that concern head-on.
Throughout the webinar, he reminded attendees that the real opportunity isn’t replacing veterinarians or support staff—it’s removing repetitive administrative work that keeps them from focusing on patient care.
“AI is not replacing us… but it is already changing what a veterinarian spends time doing.”
Today’s AI tools excel at tasks like:
- Drafting SOAP notes
- Summarizing medical records
- Creating client communication
- Organizing information
- Helping answer routine questions
- Automating repetitive administrative work
These are all activities that consume valuable time throughout the day but don’t require the same clinical judgment, empathy, or relationship-building that veterinary professionals provide.
As Dr. Christman explained, the goal isn’t to replace expertise—it’s to allow teams to spend more time using it.
AI is already creating better clinical insights
One of the most fascinating examples from the webinar wasn’t about ChatGPT or note-taking—it was about how AI is helping identify health issues earlier.
Dr. Christman shared research involving wearable sensors and neural networks that can detect orthopedic and neurologic changes in dogs before a limp is even visible.
“The value isn’t the sensor. It’s the objectivity. The model flags orthopedic and neurologic changes before a limp is visible to the naked eye.”
That example illustrates one of AI’s greatest strengths: identifying patterns within data that humans might overlook.
Whether it’s detecting changes in gait, analyzing medical records, or identifying workflow inefficiencies, AI can surface insights faster so veterinary professionals can make informed decisions sooner.
Start with one small workflow
One of the biggest misconceptions about AI adoption is that practices need to completely overhaul how they work.
Instead, Dr. Christman encouraged attendees to focus on a single workflow where AI could eliminate friction.
For many practices, that might mean:
- Creating first drafts of client education materials
- Summarizing appointment notes
- Writing follow-up emails
- Organizing meeting notes
- Brainstorming social media ideas
- Drafting internal SOPs
Small wins build confidence, and confidence makes it much easier for teams to identify additional opportunities over time.
Address concerns with transparency
When attendees shared the words that come to mind when they hear “AI,” many responses reflected concerns that practice leaders are hearing across the industry:
- Accuracy
- Privacy
- Loss of personalization
- Human connection
- Ethical use
Rather than dismissing those concerns, Dr. Christman acknowledged them.
“Useful, but must have boundaries.”
AI should always be viewed as an assistant—not the final decision-maker. Human oversight remains essential, especially when communicating with clients or making medical decisions.
Practices should establish clear guidelines around how AI is used, what information can be entered into AI tools, and when human review is required.
Focus on the work only humans can do
Veterinary medicine has always been built on relationships, compassion, and trust.
Those qualities can’t be automated.
By allowing AI to handle repetitive administrative work, veterinary professionals gain more time for the conversations that matter most: educating pet owners, collaborating with teammates, and delivering exceptional patient care.
As Dr. Christman reminded attendees throughout the session, AI is most valuable when it supports the people behind the medicine—not when it tries to replace them.
Whether you’re experimenting with AI for the first time or looking for practical ways to streamline everyday workflows, the key takeaway from this webinar is simple: start small, stay curious, and keep people at the center of every decision.