The RSPCA has issued a warning over a growing trend of pet owners using artificial intelligence chatbots for veterinary advice instead of consulting trained professionals. According to the charity's new animal kindness index, approximately 10% of pet owners across the UK now rely on AI sources such as ChatGPT, Gemini, and Grok for pet care guidance, with the figure reaching 9% in the South East of England.
Rising Concern Over AI Diagnosis
The most common queries to these tools involve checking symptoms for unwell pets, followed by questions about behaviour and body language. While chatbots can be useful for general tips, the RSPCA fears they could become a 'ticking time bomb' for animal welfare. The charity warns that pet owners may be seeking quick fixes due to costly vet visits, with around 55% of owners concerned about affording veterinary bills.
Potential Legal and Health Risks
Reliance on AI answers could lead to complacency and even unknowingly breaking the law if owners fail to seek treatment for a sick or suffering pet. TV vet Rory Cowlam, known for his CBBC series, acknowledged using AI tools in his clinic to support investigations or lab work but stressed a crucial difference. 'There is a massive difference between a vet using clinical AI to support an examination, and a pet owner using a text chatbot to skip one entirely,' he said.
'Animals are hardwired to hide their pain, and AI on our smartphone screens can't feel a bloated stomach, test failing kidneys, or spot the subtle signs of suffering,' Cowlam added. He noted that AI can be great for brainstorming general pet tips, such as enrichment ideas, but when an animal is genuinely sick, a chatbot is not the right source for advice.
RSPCA's Official Position
Gemma Hope, RSPCA assistant director of policy, commented: 'Whether we like it or not, AI is a game changer – including for animal welfare. And it can be one of many helpful tools responsible pet owners use to understand their animals, or to get tips on things like enrichment, play time ideas and more.' However, she expressed concern that many pet owners now use large language models to check symptoms of poorly pets or query behavioural challenges, calling this an 'inadvertent ticking time bomb for animal welfare.'
'AI chat bots cannot physically examine an animal, check their bloods, or understand the fast-moving changes that occur when a pet is in pain,' Hope emphasised.
Broader AI and Animal Welfare Issues
The RSPCA also linked AI use to animal cruelty content, noting that of the 27% of people who saw animal abuse material online in the past year, 13% suspected it was AI-generated. The charity urges pet owners to log out from AI and reach out to a professional if they have any doubts about their pet's health.
