Medical Disclaimer

PawMD Is a Triage Tool — Not a Diagnostic Service

PawMD uses artificial intelligence to help dog owners make a more informed decision about the urgency of a veterinary visit based on the symptoms they describe. It is designed to answer one question: how quickly does my dog need to see a vet?

PawMD does not:

• Diagnose medical conditions or diseases
• Prescribe or recommend specific medications or dosages
• Provide a substitute for a physical veterinary examination
• Guarantee the accuracy or completeness of any assessment
• Account for every possible condition, breed-specific risk, or combination of symptoms

No Veterinarian-Client-Patient Relationship

Using PawMD does not create a veterinarian-client-patient relationship (VCPR) of any kind. A VCPR is a formal relationship established only when a licensed veterinarian personally examines your animal and takes on responsibility for their care. PawMD's AI responses do not constitute veterinary advice under any applicable law or professional standard.

Artificial Intelligence Has Limitations

PawMD's responses are generated by a large language model (AI) that has been trained on general knowledge — it has not examined your dog, cannot order tests, and cannot observe clinical signs that a veterinarian would look for in person. AI can be confidently wrong. Factors that can affect the quality of a PawMD assessment include:

• The accuracy and completeness of the information you provide
• Breed-specific or individual health factors that weren't captured in the conversation
• Rare or atypical presentations of conditions
• The inherent uncertainty of remote triage for any species
• Limitations of the underlying AI model at the time of your session

For all of these reasons, you should always treat a PawMD recommendation as a starting point — not a final answer.

When to Ignore PawMD and Act Immediately

Regardless of what PawMD tells you, seek emergency veterinary care without delay if your dog shows any of the following:

• Difficulty breathing, labored breathing, or choking
• Pale, white, gray, or blue-tinged gums
• Collapse, sudden weakness, or inability to stand
• Suspected ingestion of a toxin, poison, medication, or foreign object
• Active seizure or post-seizure disorientation
• Severe, uncontrolled bleeding
• Distended, hard, or bloated abdomen (possible bloat/GDV — life-threatening in minutes)
• Inability to urinate, especially in male dogs (possible urinary blockage)
• Eye injury, trauma, or sudden vision loss
• Loss of consciousness or unresponsiveness
• Suspected heatstroke (excessive panting, drooling, disorientation in heat)
• Any symptom that your gut tells you is serious — trust your instincts

Your Judgment Matters

You know your dog. If something feels wrong — even if PawMD suggests monitoring — trust that instinct and call a vet. The cost of an unnecessary vet visit is always lower than the cost of waiting too long.

Beta Software

PawMD is currently in beta and is provided as-is. The quality of assessments will improve over time as we refine the system. During this period, errors and inaccuracies are possible. Your use of PawMD is at your own risk, and PawMD's operators disclaim all liability for outcomes related to use of or reliance on the Service. See our Terms of Service for the full limitation of liability.

Questions

If you have concerns about this disclaimer or how PawMD works, please reach out at hello@pawmd.app. For all pet health concerns, please consult a licensed veterinarian.