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Brooke Bellanca
Dr. Guenzel
ENC 1102
3/1/2023
Research Dossier: How AI Can Detect Diseases in Animals
Dossier Introduction
For my research paper I decided to pick a topic that was relevant to my major as well as
my desired future profession. After deciding my paper would be based on veterinary medicine
and biology I searched AI and animal medicine, the first result discussed using AI to predict
diseases in animals. The topic of using AI technology to predict diseases in animals could have a
huge impact on the veterinary world, which includes me if I continue the path to becoming a
veterinarian.

Since the beginning of the assignment I have been able to research how artificial
intelligence has an impact on veterinary medicine, and how the technology may be able to
predict diseases in animals earlier than a veterinarian is able to. I have discovered that AI
technology had been used in order to detect diseases before on farms, on domestic house
animals, and even on humans.

Many scholarly and internet sources have helped me build my knowledge on AI and its
contribution to disease detection. The two main sources that stood out to me and helped develop
my research topic are “Using Artificial Intelligence to Predict Life-Threatening Bacterial Disease
in Dogs” by Rob Warren, and “AI in veterinary medicine: From finding disease to predicting it”
by Jennifer Ogeer.

I'm still working on my three different perspectives, however I think I might compare AI
disease detection in farm animals and pets and people.

Research Proposal
Subject: Research Proposal: AI to predict disease in animals
Topic description: Using artificial intelligence in the animal care and medicine world could be
the difference in life and death for some animals. AI would be able to help predict diseases in
animals in the early stages while it is still able to be treated. Using previous data and symptoms
that veterinarians input into the system the AI is able to create a prediction of the disease an
animal may have or if the animal is negative for a disease. People may not trust the accuracy of
the prediction that the AI makes, however it could get a diagnosis faster than a veterinarian and
be a helpful tool to fit in more patients. Getting an early diagnosis would allow vets to treat the
animal more efficiently and have better results.
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Documentation Style: I will be using the APA style because I am a biology major and plan to
go into vet school, which will consist of many research and lab papers that will most likely be
formatted in APA style.
Purpose: My major is biology, which discusses and goes into depth about diseases and illnesses.
I am currently learning and researching different diseases and bacteria in my biology class and
the symptoms. Not only does it relate to my major, but it also relates to my future career as a
veterinarian. Using AI to detect diseases would allow more time for treatment as well as more
time for other patients.
Intended audience: The intended audience are the students in my class. Some of the students in
class may not have prior knowledge in medicine and especially veterinary medicine. Some terms
may not be common knowledge and will have to be explained to the audience for a better
understanding of the topic. The students may be interested in my topic because many people are
pet owners including college students. I currently have 3 cats that I take care of, and some other
students in the class may have a pet as well. They would be able to learn about technology that
could save their pet in the future. I also know that one other student in the class was interested in
becoming a veterinarian in the future, so she may be interested in the research as well and how it
could affect her future profession.
Research Question / Preliminary Thesis / Argument: The use of AI technology in the
veterinary medicine world gives veterinarians an advantage when diagnosing diseases.
Types of research areas: I will be conducting research in scholarly and internet research, I don't
have direct access to AI in veterinary medicine so I will be doing my research through published
articles on the internet and information that professionals on the topic have published. I will try
to do field research if I'm able to conduct a survey or if I'm able to do an interview.
Keywords: AI, Artificial Intelligence, Veterinary Medicine, Disease Prediction, Animals

Annotated Bibliography
Ogeer, J. (2020, June 2). Ai in veterinary medicine: From finding disease to predicting it.
Veterinary Practice News. Retrieved February 8, 2023, from
https://www.veterinarypracticenews.com/ai-diagnostics-january-2020/
Content: The source discusses how AI technology can help detect disease in animals before
people can in order to help get a headstart on treating the animal.
Author: Jennifer Ogeer is a veterinarian with a lot of experience in the field, as well as
experience in teaching and technology.
BEAM: I believe that the article focuses on the data and research of the findings.

Quinton, A. M. (2022, May 25). Using artificial intelligence to predict life-threatening

bacterial disease in dogs. UC Davis. Retrieved February 8, 2023, from
https://www.ucdavis.edu/health/news/using-artificial-intelligence-predict-life-threatening-
bacterial-disease-dogs
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Content: The article discusses how UC Davis used AI technology to predict a bacterial
disease in a dog, which was then published in Journal of Veterinary Diagnostic
Investigation.
Author: Rob Warren is the Communications and Marketing Officer at the Veterinary
Medical Teaching Hospital at UC Davis
BEAM: I believe that the article focuses on the data and research of the findings.