UK Veterinary Profession Warns Against Over-Reliance on AI for Pet Care

As AI gets more mainstream in Animal Health – warnings over excessive reliance on AI have started appearing from Vet Associations. A recent advisory by RSPCA cautions that AI should support—not replace—professional veterinary diagnosis.

LONDON, UK — The rapid adoption of artificial intelligence by pet owners is prompting growing concern within the UK’s veterinary profession, with animal welfare organisations warning that increasing reliance on AI chatbots for pet healthcare advice could delay treatment of serious illnesses and compromise animal welfare.

The warning follows the publication of the latest RSPCA Animal Kindness Index, which reveals that a growing number of pet owners are using large language models such as ChatGPT, Gemini and Grok to seek guidance on their animals’ health and behaviour before consulting a veterinarian. According to the survey, 10% of UK pet owners now routinely use AI tools for pet-related advice, while financial concerns over veterinary costs are emerging as one of the principal drivers behind the trend.

The Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) has described the development as a potential “ticking time bomb” for animal welfare, warning that confidence in AI-generated responses could encourage owners to postpone professional veterinary examinations when animals display signs of illness.

Gemma Hope, the RSPCA’s Assistant Director of Policy, Advocacy and Evidence, acknowledged that artificial intelligence has an increasingly important role to play across society, including animal welfare. However, she stressed that AI cannot replace clinical examination or veterinary judgement.

“However good or clever AI may seem, if someone is in doubt about their pet’s health or notices rapid changes, it’s vital to reach out to a vet immediately,” Hope said.

Financial Pressures Driving AI Adoption

The survey suggests that rising veterinary costs are influencing how some owners seek health information. More than half of respondents (56%) reported concerns about their ability to afford veterinary treatment, while a proportion admitted they had reduced spending on pet healthcare because of financial pressures. Among owners using AI, common applications included symptom checking for unwell pets, interpreting animal behaviour and seeking general care advice.

Veterinary professionals acknowledge that these tools can provide educational information and help owners better understand general health topics. However, they caution that text-based AI systems cannot physically examine an animal, assess pain, detect subtle clinical signs or interpret diagnostic findings—capabilities that remain fundamental to veterinary medicine.

AI Has a Role—But Within Clinical Practice

The veterinary profession is not opposing artificial intelligence itself. In fact, AI is increasingly being incorporated into veterinary workflows, supporting areas such as medical documentation, diagnostic imaging, laboratory interpretation and clinical decision support.

Veterinarian and Vidivet co-founder Rory Cowlam emphasized the distinction between AI used by trained clinicians and AI relied upon directly by pet owners without veterinary oversight.

According to Cowlam, AI can help veterinarians analyse clinical information more efficiently, but it should never replace a physical examination when an animal is genuinely ill. His advice to owners was straightforward: “If in doubt, log out from AI and reach out to a professional.“

Wider Concerns About Online Health Advice

The latest warning follows similar campaigns by other veterinary organizations highlighting the risks associated with unverified online advice. Earlier this month, the PDSA cautioned pet owners against following viral veterinary “hacks” circulating on social media, noting that some online recommendations—including the use of human medicines in animals—can be dangerous or even life-threatening.

A Balanced Future for Veterinary AI

Industry experts believe artificial intelligence will continue to play an increasingly important role in veterinary medicine, particularly in areas such as diagnostics, workflow automation, telemedicine and clinical decision support. However, the consensus emerging from veterinary organizations is that AI should function as an adjunct to professional care rather than a substitute for it.

As digital health technologies become more sophisticated, veterinary leaders are encouraging pet owners to view AI as a source of general information—not as a replacement for timely veterinary consultation. For conditions involving sudden illness, persistent symptoms or behavioural changes, they maintain that early clinical assessment remains the safest and most effective course of action.