Please read this disclaimer carefully. It explains exactly what PawDoc does and does not do for your pet.
1. What PawDoc provides#
PawDoc gives two things:
- General educational information about pet health, and
- Triage (urgency guidance) — a best estimate of whether and how urgently your pet may need to be seen by a veterinarian, expressed as an action from get help now through watch and re-check (the lowest level). PawDoc never tells you your pet is "normal" or "fine."
That is the whole of what PawDoc offers. It is a starting point to help you decide what to do next — not an answer about what is wrong with your pet.
2. What PawDoc does not do#
PawDoc does not:
- diagnose your pet or name a definitive condition;
- prescribe, recommend, or adjust any medication, dose, or treatment;
- provide a prognosis or a treatment plan;
- examine your pet or run any test; or
- practice veterinary medicine.
Diagnosing, prescribing, and treating are acts of veterinary medicine that require a licensed veterinarian who has examined your pet. PawDoc is software and does none of these things.
3. No veterinarian-client-patient relationship (VCPR)#
A veterinarian-client-patient relationship is the professional relationship that must exist before a veterinarian can diagnose or treat a specific animal, and — per veterinary-profession guidance — it generally requires an in-person examination of your pet. Using PawDoc does not create a VCPR, because PawDoc is not a veterinarian and performs no examination. General information and triage of this kind are recognized as activities that can be offered without an established VCPR, precisely because they stop short of patient-specific diagnosis and treatment.
4. Always consult a licensed veterinarian#
PawDoc is designed to point you toward professional care, not away from it. A licensed veterinarian who examines your pet can do what PawDoc cannot: reach a diagnosis, order tests, and prescribe treatment. You remain fully responsible for your pet's health and for decisions about its care. When in doubt, contact your veterinarian.
5. Accuracy and AI#
PawDoc's guidance is generated with the help of artificial intelligence and can be incomplete or wrong. Its quality depends on the photos, video, and description you provide. PawDoc is provided "as is," without any warranty of accuracy or completeness. For details on how the AI works and its limits, see AI Transparency & Limitations.
6. Emergencies#
If your pet may be experiencing a life-threatening problem, do not wait for or rely on PawDoc — seek emergency care immediately. See the Emergency Disclaimer for red-flag signs and what to do.
7. Questions#
Contact support@pawdoc.app. This disclaimer is part of, and incorporated into, our Terms of Service.