In North America, most veterinarians are general practitioners, and while specialists may be available by referral, veterinarians are often required to have expertise across many disciplines, species, and breeds. That's where cognitive computing comes in. LifeLearn, a Canadian veterinary technology company, is developing a cognitive computing system called Sofie (running on IBM Watson) that would give veterinarians access to extensive, up-to-date knowledge on animal diseases, their specific treatments, and develop individualized patient care plans. Sofie will allow veterinarians to pose freeform questions about animal diseases, search for potential conditions based on clinical presentation and breed predisposition, and explore current diagnostic and therapeutic options. All of which are updated frequently with the latest scientific literature.