How pet owners are using AI—and why veterinary teams should welcome it

Veterinary clients are increasingly turning to artificial intelligence (AI) to help manage their animals' health, and new research suggests the trend may be strengthening, rather than undermining, their relationships with veterinary teams.

The Artificial Intelligence and Pet Health Study, released November 10, 2026, by the Human Animal Bond Research Institute (HABRI) and Chewy Health, surveyed 2,008 US dog and cat owners aged 18 to 70 years. Among respondents who use AI for pet care and have a veterinarian, 69% said the technology improved their relationship with their veterinarian, and 80% said it helped them take better care of their pets.¹

"Pet parents have always looked for information to help them make the right decisions for their pets, and AI is becoming another part of that journey," said Mita Malhotra, president of Chewy Health, in a news release.¹ "What's encouraging is that pet parents who use AI are highly engaged with their veterinarians, using it to better understand their pet's health and feel more prepared and confident along the way."

Better-prepared clients in the exam room

According to the survey, pet owners use AI at multiple points in the care journey, including managing everyday care, interpreting unfamiliar symptoms, understanding diagnoses or laboratory results, and preparing for veterinary visits. Among AI users with a veterinarian:

• 67% felt more informed before a visit
• 66% said AI improved their understanding of their veterinarian's explanations
• 62% said conversations with their veterinarian had become more productive

Respondents also reported benefits to the human-animal bond; 77% said AI made them better pet parents, and 67% said it strengthened the bond with their pet.¹

Owners who used AI before a nonroutine visit reported more confidence discussing their pet's condition and treatment options than those who did not (81% vs 71%), and 64% of AI users with a veterinarian said they feel more confident talking with their veterinarian.²

Clients still value the veterinary team

Respondents credited AI with 24/7 availability, quick answers, reassurance, and ease of use, but they also acknowledged its shortcomings, including its inability to physically examine an animal or provide the human judgment, empathy, and accountability that pet care requires. Pet owners rated veterinary teams far higher than AI on personalization, trustworthiness, and accuracy of information, suggesting that AI is best positioned to complement veterinary teams rather than replace them.¹

Asked about AI's drawbacks, 82% of owners cited its inability to physically examine a pet, and 73% said it cannot replace advice from a real person. Veterinary teams outscored AI on every attribute measured, with the widest gaps in personalization (78% vs 11%) and trustworthiness (75% vs 10%). AI came closest on speed of information (44% vs 40%).²

For many owners, AI use is driven by a need to gauge the urgency of a situation. Among AI users, 84% said it provided a quick answer, 83% cited reassurance and peace of mind, and 82% said it gave them more confidence in the choices they make for their pets.¹

Adoption is likely to grow

Most respondents (81%) have used AI in some capacity, and 36% have used it for pet care. Pet owners were 3.7 times as likely to anticipate using AI more, rather than less, in the coming year, and 70% said they are open to using AI in relation to pet care. Momentum was strongest among younger, more research-oriented owners.¹

Few owners rely on AI alone; only 1% to 2% use it exclusively, and AI users consult an average of 9 information sources, compared with 5.2 among non-users. Still, 65% of owners are concerned about how AI uses their personal data.²

AI users also appeared more willing to invest in their pets' care, with 34% saying "money is no object," compared with 23% of non-AI users.¹

"AI usage among pet parents is a clear expression of how much they care about their pets," said Steven Feldman, president of HABRI.¹

How practices can respond

To help veterinary teams act on the findings, Chewy Health and HABRI developed The Bond Factor II, a guide that offers strategies for navigating conversations about AI with clients, guidance on where the technology can be most useful, and ways to strengthen communication and trust in the veterinary-client relationship.²

The report encourages practices to engage with clients' AI use rather than dismiss it. Among AI-using owners, 60% said they would have a better relationship with a veterinarian who encourages AI use, and 56% said they would be upset if a veterinarian discouraged it.²

The guide outlines 4 recommendations for veterinary teams²:

• Define roles. AI can help clients prepare questions, organize observations, and translate terminology; the veterinary team examines, diagnoses, prescribes, interprets findings, and evaluates urgent symptoms.
• Make AI part of the conversation. Invite clients to share their AI-generated responses, encourage questions, and make clear that the veterinary team owns clinical judgment.
• Help clients get better AI responses. Offer sample prompts, such as turning discharge instructions into a checklist, and remind clients to fact-check AI against veterinary sources, never change medications based on AI alone, and remove identifying details to protect their privacy.
• Strengthen client communication. Post-visit materials should cover next steps, recovery timelines, symptoms to watch for, when to seek emergency care, and clinic-approved resources.

The 19-minute online survey was fielded in May 2026 among dog and cat owners who are the primary decision-makers for their pet's care. The sample was nationally representative by age and gender.¹

References

1. New HABRI and Chewy Health study finds AI use growing among pet parents, strengthening engagement with veterinary care. News release. Human Animal Bond Research Institute and Chewy Health. November 10, 2026. Accessed November 10, 2026. https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/new-habri-and-chewy-health-study-finds-ai-use-growing-among-pet-parents-strengthening-engagement-with-veterinary-care-302934533.html
2. Human Animal Bond Research Institute, Chewy Health. The Bond Factor II. 2026. Accessed November 10, 2026. https://image.chewy.com/catalog/catalog/content/06ad8d3a-3266-71eb-8000-95eb50b70bd8.pdf