From Search to Smart Assistants: How AI Is Rewriting the Veterinary Client Journey

The way pet owners discover and choose veterinary practices is changing quickly.

Instead of browsing multiple websites and comparing clinics one by one, many consumers are now asking Google's AI features, ChatGPT, Perplexity, and other smart assistants to recommend the right veterinary practice for their needs.

This creates an important question for veterinary practice owners:

Will AI recommend your practice—or overlook it in favor of a competitor?

In this episode of the Veterinary Business Podcast, host Don Adeesha is joined by Naren Arulrajah, CEO of Ekwa Marketing and Founder of the Veterinary Business Institute.

Naren explains how AI is reshaping the veterinary client journey and what practices need to strengthen to remain visible, credible, and competitive in an AI-driven search environment.

The conversation explores the shift from traditional search results and website clicks to direct answers, recommendation engines, and zero-click experiences. Naren also discusses the factors that may influence whether a veterinary practice appears in AI-generated recommendations.

In this episode, you'll discover:

• How AI is changing the way pet owners search for veterinary care
• Why clients increasingly expect immediate and precise answers
• How zero-click searches are affecting veterinary marketing
• What may determine whether AI recommends or overlooks a practice
• Why consistent business information across online platforms matters
• The importance of accurate name, address, and phone-number information
• How detailed client reviews can strengthen visibility and trust
• Why veterinary websites need useful, original, expert-led content
• How professional credentials can reinforce online authority
• Why practices should focus on client intent rather than isolated keywords
• The importance of mobile performance, website speed, and easy appointment access
• Where AI can improve internal efficiency
• Why human oversight remains essential when using AI
• The first practical step practice owners can take to prepare for the future

Naren also explains why veterinary practices must use AI thoughtfully. Technology can assist with reminders, content drafts, internal organization, and repetitive tasks—but meaningful client communication should still feel personal, accurate, and human.

For practice owners wondering where to begin, this episode provides a practical framework for evaluating online visibility, website performance, content, reviews, and the overall digital client experience.

Complimentary Veterinary Marketing Strategy Meeting

Learn how your practice currently performs online, how your competitors compare, and where your strongest growth opportunities may be.

The Ekwa Marketing team will evaluate areas including:

• Search and AI visibility
• Website performance
• Local business information
• Online reviews
• Content strategy
• Competitive positioning
• Client-conversion opportunities

[Book your complimentary Marketing Strategy Meeting]