Artificial intelligence can help treat pets

Doctors at Royston Veterinary Centre in the UK have started using artificial intelligence to diagnose diseases in pets. They have observed that they are getting results faster and their diagnoses are more accurate, especially in pets with cancer, the BBC reports .

To diagnose a pet, a tissue sample is taken. The sample is then examined under a microscope — only this is not done by veterinarians, but by artificial intelligence. The data is then sent to specialists who work around the clock to quickly make a diagnosis.

"Yesterday I saw a nasty tumour on a dog. Without AI I would have had to remove it and probably part of the dog's finger, but when the AI ​​looked at the samples it was clear the tumour would go away on its own, saving the stress of surgery and money," said Professor David White, head of the Royston Centre.

For example, Anthea Slade's cat was saved. She said that seven-year-old Blossom had a runny nose, and then her nose started bleeding. When she went to Royston Veterinary Centre, doctors suggested diagnosing the cat with AI - and found an aggressive form of cancer. Blossom was saved, and Anthea is sure that artificial intelligence played a key role.

Professor White, who has been operating on animals for 43 years, said that using AI does not increase the cost of the service, and also greatly speeds up the diagnosis. If previously it took doctors up to four days, then with the help of AI it is possible to make a diagnosis within a few hours. White believes that this use of artificial intelligence in veterinary medicine is a breakthrough.

But surgeons at the Royal Veterinary College believe AI should be used responsibly. A spokesman said AI could be an important tool to improve veterinary healthcare and improve outcomes, but it was up to the vet to make the final decision on diagnosis and treatment.

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