Medical & AI Disclaimer
Last updated: April 26, 2026
If you believe your pet is experiencing a medical emergency, do not rely on VetScan. Contact your veterinarian, emergency animal hospital, or pet poison hotline immediately.
ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center: +1 (888) 426-4435 (24/7, may charge a consultation fee)
Pet Poison Helpline: +1 (855) 764-7661 (24/7, may charge a consultation fee)
1. Not Veterinary Advice
VetScan is an informational tool that uses artificial intelligence to provide general guidance about dog symptoms. It is not a licensed veterinarian and cannot diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease or medical condition.
Information provided by VetScan should never be used as a substitute for professional veterinary diagnosis, treatment, or advice. Always consult with a licensed veterinarian regarding any concerns about your pet's health.
2. No Veterinarian-Client-Patient Relationship
Use of VetScan does not create a veterinarian-client-patient relationship between you and VetScan, our staff, or any veterinarian who may have contributed to our content or AI training data.
A veterinarian-client-patient relationship can only be established through a direct, in-person examination of your pet by a licensed veterinarian.
3. AI Limitations
VetScan uses artificial intelligence, which has inherent limitations. You should be aware that:
- AI can make mistakes. The AI may produce incorrect, incomplete, or misleading information
- AI cannot examine your pet. Without physical examination, blood tests, X-rays, or other diagnostic tools, accurate diagnosis is impossible
- AI cannot detect all conditions. Many serious illnesses present with subtle or atypical symptoms
- AI is not a substitute for clinical judgment. Decisions about your pet's health require professional medical expertise
- AI training data has limits. The AI may be less reliable for rare conditions, unusual breeds, or unique cases
4. Triage Is Guidance, Not Diagnosis
Our urgency scoring (e.g., "watch and wait", "see a vet within 48 hours", "emergency now") is general guidance based on common patterns in dog health. It is not a diagnosis and may not reflect the actual severity of your pet's condition.
When in doubt, always err on the side of caution and consult a licensed veterinarian.
If your pet's symptoms are severe, worsening rapidly, or involve breathing difficulty, seizures, severe bleeding, ingestion of toxins, severe trauma, inability to urinate, prolonged vomiting or diarrhea, or any other potentially life-threatening signs — go to an emergency animal hospital immediately, regardless of what VetScan says.
5. No Guarantee of Accuracy
While we strive to provide reliable information, we cannot guarantee that VetScan's output is accurate, complete, current, or applicable to your specific situation.
Health information is constantly evolving, and individual cases vary widely. Information that is accurate generally may not be appropriate for your specific pet.
6. User Responsibility
You are solely responsible for any decisions you make about your pet's health, including but not limited to:
- Whether to seek veterinary care
- How quickly to seek care
- What treatment to pursue or decline
- How to interpret symptoms or test results
- Administration of medications, supplements, or home remedies
By using VetScan, you assume full responsibility for these decisions and their outcomes.
7. Not a Replacement for Routine Care
VetScan is not a replacement for routine preventive veterinary care, including:
- Annual or biannual wellness exams
- Vaccinations
- Parasite prevention (heartworm, fleas, ticks)
- Dental care
- Spaying or neutering
- Diagnostic testing
Maintain a relationship with a licensed veterinarian who can provide comprehensive care for your pet.
8. Geographic and Regulatory Limitations
Veterinary practices, available treatments, drug regulations, and emergency resources vary by country and region. VetScan's general guidance may not reflect:
- Local laws and regulations
- Available emergency veterinary services in your area
- Region-specific health concerns (e.g., endemic diseases, parasites)
- Country-specific drug names, dosages, or availability
Always verify information with local veterinary professionals.
9. Photo and Image Analysis
If VetScan offers image-based assessment (e.g., photos of skin conditions, eyes, or wounds), this analysis is general guidance only. Images cannot replace a hands-on examination by a veterinarian, who can assess factors like temperature, pain response, lymph node size, abdominal tenderness, and many other clinical signs invisible to a camera.
10. Drug, Supplement, and Treatment Information
Any information VetScan provides about medications, supplements, dosages, or home treatments is for educational purposes only. Never administer any medication or treatment to your pet without consulting a licensed veterinarian.
Some human medications, foods, plants, and household items are toxic to dogs even in small amounts. Always verify safety with a veterinarian before use.
11. Behavioral and Mental Health
VetScan focuses on physical health. Behavioral concerns, anxiety, aggression, or other mental health issues require evaluation by a veterinarian, veterinary behaviorist, or certified animal behaviorist.
12. Not Suitable for Other Animals
VetScan is designed specifically for dogs. Do not apply VetScan output to:
- Cats
- Birds
- Rabbits, ferrets, hamsters, or other small mammals
- Reptiles or amphibians
- Livestock or large animals
- Wildlife
Other species have substantially different physiology, symptoms, and treatments.
13. Limitation of Liability
VetScan and its operators, employees, contributors, and affiliates are not liable for any harm, injury, illness, death, or other adverse outcome to your pet or any other party arising from your use of or reliance on the Service.
By using VetScan, you waive any claim against us related to medical decisions or outcomes for your pet.
14. Indemnification
You agree to indemnify and hold VetScan harmless from any claims, damages, or expenses arising from decisions made about your pet's health based on Service output.
15. Acknowledgment
By using VetScan, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agree to this Disclaimer. You acknowledge the inherent limitations of AI-generated health information and accept responsibility for verifying any information through professional veterinary consultation.
16. When to Seek Emergency Care
Take your dog to an emergency veterinary hospital immediately if you observe any of the following:
- Difficulty breathing, gasping, or blue/pale gums
- Loss of consciousness or unresponsiveness
- Seizures lasting more than a few minutes or repeated seizures
- Severe bleeding that won't stop with pressure
- Suspected ingestion of toxic substances (chocolate, xylitol, antifreeze, medications, plants, etc.)
- Severe trauma (hit by car, fall from height, attack by another animal)
- Inability to urinate or defecate, especially with abdominal pain
- Severe vomiting or diarrhea, especially with blood
- Distended or hard abdomen
- Signs of severe pain (whining, panting, restlessness, hiding)
- Heat stroke (heavy panting, drooling, weakness, collapse)
- Inability to walk or stand
- Eye injuries
This list is not exhaustive. When in doubt, contact a veterinarian.
17. Contact Us
If you have questions about this Disclaimer, contact us: