Warning issued after pet owners turn to AI for advice instead of vets

The RSPCA has issued a warning after evidence that pet owners are increasingly using AI chatbots instead of trained vets for advice. The charity says concern is growing in the UK, where about 10% of pet owners now use AI sources for pet care guidance, with roughly 9% in South East England, according to its Animal Kindness Index. RSPCA cites chatbot queries—such as on symptom checking, and questions about behavior and body language—as top uses of tools like Gemini and Grok. It links the trend to rising vet costs, noting around 55% of owners are worried about affording bills. RSPCA warns AI can create complacency and may discourage seeking treatment, and it highlights that chatbots cannot physically examine animals. It also notes 13% of people who saw animal abuse material online suspected it was AI-generated.