The Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) has warned against the growing reliance of some pet owners in the Yorkshire and Humber region of England on artificial intelligence tools for medical advice instead of consulting veterinarians, describing the trend as "a real cause for concern" for animal health.
According to the latest data from the Animal Kindness Index, around 7% of pet owners in the region regularly use applications such as ChatGPT and Grok to obtain advice related to animal care. The findings also showed that 56% of users turn to these tools to understand animal behaviour and body language, while 33% rely on them to check disease symptoms.
The RSPCA warns that this trend could lead to delays in veterinary treatment or the neglect of medical conditions, potentially worsening health risks for animals, according to the Erm website.
Gemma Hope, Assistant Director of Policy at the Society, said that AI may be a useful aid in understanding general animal behaviour or offering care ideas, but that it cannot replace a direct veterinary examination. She added that any sudden change in an animal's health requires an immediate visit to a vet, regardless of how reassuring any digital recommendations may be.