Guidance and vet-visit prep, not veterinary diagnosis.
Barkwell is a calm tool for understanding what your pet might need and preparing for the vet. It does not diagnose, does not treat, and never gives medication doses. Medical decisions always belong with a veterinarian.
What Barkwell does, and what it does not.
These are not fine-print disclaimers. They are the design. Barkwell was built this way on purpose.
Barkwell guides. It does not diagnose.
Barkwell explains what a symptom could relate to in plain language. It never states a diagnosis as fact. That belongs with your veterinarian.
No medication doses, ever.
Barkwell will never name a medication, suggest a dose, or recommend a treatment plan. Those decisions belong to you and your vet.
Medical decisions stay with your vet.
Barkwell helps you understand a symptom and walk in prepared. Starting, adjusting, or stopping any treatment is always a conversation with your veterinarian.
Always honest about what it is.
Barkwell is software. It never pretends to be a veterinarian. When it is uncertain, it says so and encourages you to ask a professional.
Contact an emergency vet now
If your pet shows any of the following, do not wait and do not rely on Barkwell or any app. Get emergency help immediately.
- Trouble breathing or labored breathing
- Collapse, unconsciousness, or not responding
- Suspected poisoning, including chocolate, xylitol, grapes, raisins, antifreeze, or rat poison
- Severe or uncontrolled bleeding
- Seizures or convulsions
- A bloated or hard belly with unproductive retching
- A cat that is unable to urinate or straining to
Call your nearest 24-hour emergency vet. In the US, the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center is available at (888) 426-4435.
How Barkwell screens for red flags.
Barkwell runs a code-level screen on every description before anything reaches the AI model. It checks for red-flag phrases, including trouble breathing, collapse, suspected poisoning, severe bleeding, seizures, a bloated hard belly with retching, and a cat unable to urinate. The screen is negation-aware, so “no trouble breathing” does not fire it.
If a match fires, urgency is set to emergency and cannot be lowered by the model. Barkwell stops the normal guidance flow and tells you clearly to contact an emergency vet now.
Barkwell does not try to triage or reassure you when a red flag fires. Getting help fast matters more than a calm read.
What you described may be a sign of an emergency. Please do not wait. Contact an emergency vet or your nearest 24-hour animal hospital now. Barkwell cannot help in an emergency.
An example of the emergency note in the app.
Your data is yours.
Data encrypted, photos not kept.
Your pet data is encrypted in transit and at rest. Photos are not retained after a check. We never sell your data. Read our security practices.
Export and delete, anytime.
You can export your full pet health record or delete your account from Settings at any time. Learn more about your data.
Questions about how Barkwell works?
Our help center covers the most common questions. Our team is glad to hear from you too.