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Oregon Veterinarian Sues AI Firm Over Dog’s Misdiagnosed Cancer

Oregon vet sues AI company Zoetis for misdiagnosing a tumor as cancerous, leading to the death of an 11-year-old dog.

July 31, 2026 One Min Read

POLICY WIRE — Portland, OR — An Oregon veterinarian has filed a lawsuit against AI company Zoetis, alleging that a misdiagnosis of a tumor as cancerous led to the death of an 11-year-old dog. The lawsuit claims that Zoetis altered its original report and later admitted in a phone call that similar misidentifications had occurred with other clients.

The case centers on the use of AI technology in veterinary diagnostics. According to the suit, the veterinarian relied on Zoetis’ AI-driven diagnostic tool to identify a growth on the dog. The tool incorrectly identified the growth as malignant, leading to aggressive treatment that the dog couldn’t survive.

Further details from the lawsuit reveal that Zoetis admitted to the veterinarian, during a follow-up phone call, that there had been other instances of misdiagnosis involving their AI system. The company is accused of modifying its initial report to mitigate its liability.

The veterinarian is seeking damages for the emotional distress — and financial loss incurred due to the dog’s death. The lawsuit highlights growing concerns over the reliability of AI in medical diagnostics, both in human and veterinary medicine.

Reporting by Policy-Wire (PW)

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