AI and veterinary science
Artificial intelligence has touched almost every area of life to a greater or lesser extent. Veterinary medicine and pet owners are also using AI technology, especially in the areas of radiography and diagnostics.
As recently as last year, Crystal Reagan, a veterinary therapist at the UCLA Veterinary Teaching Hospital, developed an algorithm to detect Addison’s disease with more than 99% accuracy. It is a congenital chronic disease in dogs that is associated with abnormalities in the adrenal glands. It is characterized by vague clinical signs and the possibility of highly accurate early diagnosis enables early treatment and prevention of disease progression.
Crystal Reagan has since succeeded in developing a similar algorithm for diagnosing leptospirosis, an infectious zoonotic disease that can cause serious kidney problems.
Let’s look at a few other innovative AI-enabled programs and technologies that are gradually beginning to be used by veterinarians:
- Artificial intelligence stethoscopes. Such devices enable the detection of arrhythmias and other heartbeat abnormalities for the timely diagnosis of heart disease.
- SediVue Dx urine sediment analyser. This is a device that works with data obtained from an inverted microscope and a high-quality digital camera. It detects possible bacterial infections and examines and counts the types of cells, crystals, and casts present.
- SignalPET software platform. This is another technology that has been developed to study and interpret radiographs. It can distinguish between normal radiographic anatomy and abnormal findings and can identify 85% of common radiographic abnormalities in dogs and cats in just 5 minutes, making it easy to recognize and interpret the most common causes of coughing, lameness, vomiting, and diarrhea.
- Vet-AI’s Joii app is designed to help pet owners check for any symptoms their pets are exhibiting. They can also get advice from highly qualified veterinarians through paid video calls.
The use of AI greatly improves medical care for pets, making life easier for owners and helping professionals — veterinarians.
