Tell Us What You Think

We're not here to shame you for Googling your pet's symptoms, or researching with AI, at 2 a.m. We've done it too.

This week, Dr. Angie and JoJo get real about AI and pet health advice and what it gets right, where it dangerously misses, and why no algorithm can replace 20 years of hands-on clinical practice. They test two popular AI tools live (ChatGPT and Claude) on the show using a real clinical scenario (a 12-year-old cat not eating and losing weight), compare the responses side-by-side, and break down exactly what was missing from both answers.

The conversation also touches on AI hallucinations in veterinary research, the difference between a search engine and a conversational AI tool, and why the 2 a.m. symptom spiral is completely understandable as long as you know what to do next.

Bottom line: use the tools. Understand their limits. Always follow-up with your vet.

Book a consultation with Dr. Angie at boulderholisticvet.com.

Key Takeaways:

1. AI tools can and do hallucinate including fabricating veterinary research studies with real-sounding citations that don't exist.
2. There is a meaningful difference between using a search engine and using a conversational AI tool. Search returns sources you choose to trust. AI returns a single answer without always disclosing where it came from.
3. When AI was tested live with a real clinical scenario (senior cat, weight loss, not eating), one tool missed inflammatory bowel disease entirely which is one of the most common diagnoses in that presentation.
4. A 3-pound weight loss in a senior cat equals roughly 20 to 30 percent of total body weight. That is not a "wait and see" situation.
5. Googling pet symptoms at 2 a.m. is not something to be ashamed of. It's what people do. The goal is knowing how to use what you find.
6. No AI tool can replicate 20 years of clinical practice or hands-on physical examination.
7. Use AI as a starting point. Then bring it to your vet and have the conversation.

Sound Bites:

"AI just can't replace practitioners. It can't replace 20 years of clinical practice." — Dr. Angie

"You're going to use your AIs and you're going to Google, but they are not the end all, be all." — JoJo

"When we tell people not to Google their pet's symptoms, that's so unrealistic." — Dr. Angie

"Chat GPT seems very generalized. Claude is a little bit more mature." — JoJo

"This is a great reason for a consultation. If you've Googled or AI'd something that scared you in the middle of the night." — JoJo

"It pulled in some really random disease that we'll often in medicine call zebras — something that's so rare. That's so unlikely." — Dr. Angie

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Please subscribe and review! xoxo Dr. Angie & JoJo