Editorial policy and evidence standards

1. Our clinical mission

At PawzAI and Maggie, our mission is to empower pet parents with organized medical records, actionable preventative care timelines, and evidence-based guidance. Pet care is a critical health discipline; incorrect advice regarding medication, toxic foods, or vaccination intervals can have severe real-world consequences.

Every calculator formula, blog guide, and interactive tool published on this website is developed to reflect consensus veterinary science and international clinical guidelines.

2. Authoritative evidence sources

We do not rely on forum anecdotes, marketing claims, or general search summaries. Our content and algorithmic formulas are sourced directly from established international veterinary bodies:

• World Small Animal Veterinary Association (WSAVA): Global Nutrition Guidelines for metabolic energy requirements (RER and DER) and Vaccination Guidelines for core versus non-core canine immunizations.
• American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA): Canine Vaccination Guidelines, preventive healthcare protocols, and lifestyle risk factors.
• National Research Council (NRC): Nutrient Requirements of Dogs and Cats for macro- and micro-nutrient profiles and caloric densities.
• Veterinary Poison Helplines: Clinical toxicology data from ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (APCC) and the Veterinary Poisons Information Service (VPIS) for theobromine, xylitol, rodenticide, and plant toxicities.

3. Source checks and review status

We check health statements against the cited primary sources and test calculator behaviour. Source verification is not the same as an independent clinical review of an article or formula.

1. Literature review: Health statements should be traceable to the cited guidelines, primary literature or professional reference material. Authorship alone does not establish medical credentials.
2. Review labels: We only describe content as veterinarian reviewed when an actual reviewer, credentials, review scope and date are documented. A source citation or a sources-checked date does not establish that review.
3. Calculator checks: Automated tests check supported inputs, boundaries and expected results. Passing tests does not amount to clinical approval or replace a veterinarian's assessment of your dog.
4. Periodic updates: When content is revised, we update its date and check the relevant sources. Check current product labels, local rules and your vet's instructions for decisions about your dog.

4. AI transparency and safety boundaries

Leo is our conversational pet health companion, designed to help pet parents understand symptoms, interpret lab work, and prepare informed questions for their vet visits. However, AI cannot perform physical exams, listen to heart sounds, palpate abdomens, or run bloodwork.

To protect your pet, Leo operates under strict, immutable safety boundaries:

• No definitive diagnoses: Leo will never claim to diagnose a disease. It discusses possibilities, differential diagnoses, and urgency levels to support your next conversation with a licensed veterinarian.
• No prescription writing: Leo never prescribes medication doses or alters veterinarian instructions.
• Emergency override: When symptoms suggest a medical emergency (such as gastric torsion/bloat, respiratory distress, seizures, or acute toxin ingestion), Leo immediately instructs the user to seek emergency in-person veterinary care and provides direct hotline contacts.

5. Independence and commercial transparency

Our medical advice is free from commercial bias:

• We do not accept paid reviews or sponsored rankings from pet food manufacturers.
• We do not receive kickbacks or affiliate commissions from pharmaceutical companies for recommending specific medications or flea and tick preventatives.
• Our business is funded solely by users who upgrade to Maggie Pro for advanced multi-pet tracking, unlimited Leo AI conversations, and automated cloud backups.

6. Feedback and corrections

Veterinary science continually evolves with new clinical trials and pharmaceutical releases. If you notice any outdated information or have a question regarding a citation, please contact our editorial team at support. We investigate all clinical feedback promptly.