Pet owners across Wales are being warned not to rely on AI chatbots for health advice instead of taking their animals to the vet.
The RSPCA says a growing number of owners are turning to tools like ChatGPT to check symptoms and ask about their pets’ behaviour — a trend its welfare experts have branded a possible “ticking time bomb” for animal welfare.
The warning comes from the charity’s annual Animal Kindness Index, which found that 8% of pet owners in Wales now routinely use artificial intelligence for advice and support in looking after their animals.
Of those across the country turning to AI, the most common reasons were checking the symptoms of an unwell pet and asking for advice on behaviour and body language.
The RSPCA’s concern is that leaning on a chatbot could lead to complacency, untreated illnesses, and owners unwittingly breaking the law if a suffering pet goes without treatment.
Gemma Hope, the RSPCA’s assistant director of policy, advocacy and evidence, said AI was “a game changer” that could be a helpful tool for responsible owners — for tips on enrichment or playtime ideas, for example.
“But we’re worried that, with so many pet owners now using large language models to check the symptoms of poorly pets, or query behavioural challenges, this could be an inadvertent ticking time bomb for animal welfare,” she said.
“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.”
She said that however clever AI might seem, owners in doubt about their pet’s health should reach out to a vet immediately.
The charity believes the cost of living is part of what is driving the trend, with some owners looking for a “quick fix” to avoid potentially costly vet bills.
According to the index, 62% of pet owners in Wales are worried about being able to afford vet bills, while more than one in ten say they have cut back on vet spending because of financial pressure.
Those concerns are not new — earlier this year a competition watchdog found the veterinary market was not working well for pet owners, citing high prices and a lack of transparency.
But the RSPCA says the figures are starker still, with almost a third of pet owners in Wales now skipping their animal’s annual check-up, and 6% not registered with a vet at all.
The warning has been backed by the television vet Rory Cowlam, known to younger viewers as a CBBC presenter.
He said vets themselves used AI tools, but drew a sharp line between a professional using them to support an examination and an owner using a chatbot to skip one entirely.
“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,” he said.
“AI can be a great tool for brainstorming general pet tips, like how to keep your pet entertained, or enrichment ideas. But when your animal is genuinely sick, a chatbot is not where you should be looking for advice. If in doubt, log out from AI and reach out to a professional.”
The RSPCA says owners should call a vet immediately if they notice rapid changes in a pet’s health or behaviour, or if they are in any doubt.
Urgent veterinary care is needed for severe problems such as breathing difficulties, sudden collapse, major trauma, suspected poisoning, continuous bleeding, seizures or heatstroke.
The charity has launched an online pet cost calculator to help people understand the costs of ownership before taking on an animal, and points owners struggling with costs towards its cost of living advice.
The Animal Kindness Index, now in its fifth year, is run by the RSPCA alongside the Scottish SPCA and Ulster SPCA, and surveyed almost 7,000 people across the UK.
