AI veterinary advice could harm pets, BVA says
Seventy-seven per cent of vets said that clients were using AI to diagnose their pet's health issues.
The British Veterinary Association (BVA) has warned pet owners against using artificial intelligence (AI) to diagnose or treat their pets.
It comes as newly-released figures raise concern that increasing numbers of pet owners are turning to AI for veterinary advice.
The statistics have come from BVA’s Voice of the Veterinary Profession survey, which surveyed 568 vets last winter. Participants working in clinical practice estimated that one in seven clients were using AI on the care of their animals.
Seventy-seven per cent of vets said that clients were using it to attempt to diagnose their pet’s health issues. They also said clients were using it to research treatment options (64 per cent), check advice from their vet (60 per cent) and decide whether an appointment was needed in the first place (58 per cent).
The BVA has said that, while it is encouraged that pet owners are researching their pets’ health, information from AI tools ‘should not be a substitute for trusted and tailored advice from a vet’.
Rob Williams, senior vice-president at BVA, said: “As we saw with Dr Google many years ago, vets are now seeing some owners turn to AI for advice on their animals’ health and welfare, using AI for diagnoses or treatment suggestions. Even more concerning, some are delaying a trip to the vet as a result of information provided by such tools.
“While AI tools can offer some helpful information on pet health and welfare, they should never be a substitute for a vet’s medical expertise and trusted professional advice. Depending on AI has the potential to delay proper treatment, lead to misunderstandings, and, in the worst cases, cause further harm or distress for the animal.
“We appreciate that cost might be one of the factors in owners choosing to first seek AI advice; however, we’d encourage everyone to have an open discussion with your vet about the information received from online sources, as your vet will be able to correct any misinformation, help you make the safest treatment decisions for your animal, and advice that’s tailored to you and your pet.”
Veterinary practices are being urged to help owners safely dispose of any unused and expired pet medicines - not just antibiotics - during November's Animal Medicines Amnesty. 
