The Impact of AI on Pet Care and Ownership

AI, also known as Artificial Intelligence, is rapidly growing in popularity and can be used for all kinds of tasks, like creating custom images, making grocery lists, and answering questions. You can ask AI services like ChatGPT to do just about anything, but there are certain things that AI will never be able to replace - such as comprehensive veterinary care!

Disclaimer: If your pet is exhibiting any new or concerning symptoms or behaviors, please contact your veterinarian to schedule an appointment. Using Google or AI applications like ChatGPT to look up symptoms can be scary and upsetting. Very rarely does a set of symptoms point to one possible cause, and a comprehensive exam is required to try and locate the issue. A diagnosis for a medical condition cannot be given without a physical exam and diagnostic testing performed by a veterinarian. AI applications should never be used in lieu of your pet’s veterinary team.

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Concerns Regarding the use of AI for Pets

Replacing Veterinary Diagnosis or Treatment

Using AI to try and diagnose a sick pet or treat a condition without consulting a vet can lead to delays in care or unfavorable outcomes. AI can't perform physical exams, diagnostic testing, or observe subtle signs that professionals are trained to catch.

Emergency Situations

In the event of an emergency, please call your veterinarian or local pet ER for guidance. AI advice during a true emergency (such as poisoning, trauma, or breathing issues) can be very dangerous. Time can be critical in these types of situations and you don’t want to spend time trying to look things up yourself.

Missing History and Context

While AI can offer general advice for things like training or behavioral problems, it can’t account for more nuanced factors such as a pet’s health history, temperament, or unique physiology like a vet can. All pets are unique and their medical history is essential to understanding their overall health. If you are dealing with significant training or behavioral issues, it’s best to consult your veterinarian or a professional trainer or animal behaviorist for a more personal assessment and plan of action.

Relying on Outdated or Misinformed Content

While platforms like ChatGPT strives to provide accurate info, it doesn’t replace peer-reviewed medical knowledge or continuously updated clinical guidelines. While AI might seem unbiased and impartial, there are also instances where AI will provide answers with affirmative language, meaning it attempts to gauge the type of response you are looking for and tailor results to align best with your question. Naturally, this can affect the results and may provide you with outdated or inaccurate information.

Dangerous Dosing

Please avoid searching online for things like “what is the dosage of ______ for a dog that is ____ lbs?” and avoid giving any prescription or over-the-counter medications without consulting your veterinarian and confirming the dosing instructions. There are mixed sources online regarding over-the-counter products like aspirin and Benadryl, and ingestion of certain products regardless of the dose can have severe and/or lasting consequences on your pet’s health.

Positive Uses of AI for Pets

Creating Pet Checklists

AI is a great tool for creating lists and calendars. Owners can utilize AI to create checklists for emergency situations, provide an overview of helpful things to keep in a pet first aid kit, and even set up reminders for your pet’s annual care like vaccines and heartworm prevention. This can be especially helpful if you have multiple pets on different schedules for these types of things!

Understand Veterinary Terminology

One of the coolest features of AI is that it allows users to request simplified descriptions or overviews of just about anything! AI can provide information in an easily-digestible way, which is great for quick searches like “what is kennel cough?” or “what does the lepto vaccine do?”

New Pet Preparation

Do you plan on bringing home a new family member soon? ChatGPT can offer great suggestions for how to puppy or kitten-proof your house, an overview of the general cost of care involved with a new pet, or even suggest names for your new pet!

Food and Environment Safety

Do you want to share a snack with your pet, but are not 100% sure if certain fruits or vegetables are toxic to pets? AI can quickly identify foods that are considered safe for pets, and suggest alternatives if the food you have isn’t considered non-toxic to pets. Similarly, if you receive a bouquet of flowers but aren’t sure if it contains plants that are toxic to pets, AI can be a helpful tool - either by searching up the names of the different flowers, or uploading a photo of the bouquet and asking if any of the flowers pictured are toxic to pets!

Image Search

While we don’t consider AI to be a reliable diagnostic tool for pets, it can be a great resource for identifying things that may pose danger. In addition to identifying food and flower concerns, you can use AI to image search things like insects that may have stung your pet, different types of snakes or toads (which can be poisonous to pets), or even things pets may pick up off the ground, such as plants, berries, acorns, etc. This information can be helpful for your veterinarian in the event of an emergency, such as a snake or insect bite.

In summary, while we love AI as an educational resource for general pet knowledge, the best possible veterinary treatment will always be found in a physical clinic with your pet’s veterinary team.

Please contact us at 972-347-6100 to schedule your pet’s next appointment in the event of any new symptoms or concerns.

Click here to schedule an appointment. https://connect.allydvm.com/practice/prosper_trail/appointment_request