Veterinary medicine 2025

Every December, I pause to take stock of what has been happening across veterinary medicine. I am not talking about the polished conference headlines or marketing reels, but rather the pulse of our profession. And in 2025, it felt like this was the year the industry started asking itself the difficult questions. What are we building toward? Who’s being left behind? How do we protect the soul of this work while technology, client expectations, and clinical science accelerate faster than we can catch our breath?

As we step into 2026, I don’t think the story is about burnout, workforce shortages, or “vetflation”—the rising cost of veterinary goods and services. The story is about reinvention. Here are the shifts I see defining where we, as a profession, go next:

The rise (and reckoning) of the midlevel practitioner

This year, the proposed creation of a midlevel practitioner role in veterinary medicine ignited more debate than any topic since telemedicine. The concept—a credentialed clinician working between a veterinary technician and a veterinarian—is gaining traction in some states, with pilot programs proposed to help address workforce shortages and access to care gaps.

On paper, the concept makes sense. It could help address access-to-care challenges, reduce burnout, and offer technicians new professional pathways. In practice, though, it asks us to pause and consider what we truly value about the doctor of veterinary medicine and veterinary medical doctor degrees, as well as the structure of veterinary care itself. After chatting with many colleagues and listening to various discussions, it is clear this is not a black-and-white issue. Veterinarians are understandably concerned about maintaining medical oversight and accountability; some technicians, meanwhile, see this as a long-overdue opportunity to expand their impact and earn recognition commensurate with their skills and education. Both perspectives come from a place of deep care for the profession. The real challenge lies in finding a model that elevates everyone involved in patient care, rather than creating new divisions between us.

The bottom line is that we must own this conversation before policy does it for us. Medicine evolves, and roles evolve. Our job as leaders is to shape the conversation ethically and intelligently, not reactively.

Hormone-sparing spay/ neuter: The new frontier in reproductive medicine

For years, the traditional spay/neuter model was untouchable dogma. Now, with new insights emerging on long-term health implications of gonadectomy timing, veterinary schools and specialists are introducing hormone-sparing sterilization (such as ovary-sparing spays and vasectomies) into the mainstream.

This shift is about how we teach critical thinking. It is time for future veterinarians to learn that there isn’t always one right answer, one gold-standard surgery, or a one-size-fits-all preventive approach. Our clients expect us to individualize care, which starts in the classroom or at a veterinary conference. Teaching flexibility and evidence-based medicine is our professional responsibility.

Technology grows up, as does artificial intelligence

Artificial intelligence (AI) tools went from experimental platforms to actual clinical allies in 2025. From radiology triage to medical record summarization, AI is being integrated into real-world clinical workflows. Now it’s forcing every veterinarian to rethink their relationship with diagnostics, documentation, and even empathy.

AI doesn’t replace our judgment, but rather reveals it. When technology takes care of the redundant, we are left with what only humans can do: connect, explain, comfort, and decide. 2026 will be the year we learn to balance those tools without losing ourselves in them. We are one of the most compassion-led professions, which requires using empathy and emotional intelligence.

Mental health and boundaries become non-negotiable

In 2025, we finally started moving beyond awareness and into implementation. Boundaries became a form of medicine. Clinics adopted “no after-hours text” policies, built wellness check-ins into staff meetings, and enforced paid time off.

This wasn’t performative self-care, but rather survival through structure. The next step? Making those systems sustainable when the urgency fades. Culture only changes when consistency does.

Closing thoughts: The year ahead

With 2026 on the horizon, my mantra is this: The profession isn’t broken. It’s shedding its old skin like a snake. The discomfort we’re feeling isn’t collapse. It’s recalibration. Between midlevel debates, hormone-sparing education, AI integration, and shifting expectations, we’re finally confronting what veterinary medicine means in this new era.

We can choose to resist or lead. I vote for leading together. On behalf of dvm360 and Fetch veterinary conferences, thank you for making us one of your top educational platforms. We continue to innovate and adapt to provide world-class education and immersive experiences for your personal growth and professional career. Thank you for being in the best profession on the planet. We wish you, your team, and your families a happy and healthy 2026!