Boehringer Ingelheim and Eko Health have launched a new AI-based veterinary solution designed to help veterinarians detect, visualize and grade heart murmurs in dogs earlier and more consistently.

The solution, Eko Vet+ | CANINEBEAT AI, combines digital auscultation technology with an AI algorithm trained specifically on canine heart sound recordings. According to the companies, the CANINEBEAT AI algorithm detects heart murmurs associated with structural heart disease in dogs with more than 95% sensitivity and specificity.

For the companion animal health market, the launch reflects a growing role for artificial intelligence in everyday veterinary practice, particularly in areas where earlier detection can influence diagnostic and treatment decisions. Heart disease affects approximately 10% of all dogs, while myxomatous mitral valve disease, or MMVD, remains the most common heart disease in dogs. Since dogs in the early stages of heart disease may not show visible clinical signs, murmurs can be missed during routine examinations.

The new solution includes three integrated components. The Eko CORE Digital Attachment connects to most single-tube stethoscopes and digitizes heart sounds for AI-based analysis. It also amplifies heart sounds up to 40 times and provides noise cancellation and cardiac sound filtering. The CANINEBEAT AI algorithm was trained and validated on more than 4,000 annotated canine heart sound recordings. The Eko Vet+ app then provides murmur images, sound files and shareable reports to support clinical assessment and pet owner communication.

Boehringer Ingelheim emphasized that the tool is intended to support, not replace, veterinary judgment and comprehensive cardiac evaluation. Dr. Erich Schott, Head of the Pet Business at Boehringer Ingelheim, said the technology can help veterinarians detect murmurs earlier and support conversations with pet owners, especially when dogs do not yet show obvious signs of disease.

The development of the solution involved input from 50 global veterinary cardiology experts. Prof. Gerhard Wess, Head of the Cardiology Service at Ludwig-Maximilians-Universitat in Munich, described the system as a useful resource for general practitioner veterinarians, particularly for detecting and grading murmurs with greater consistency.

The launch has begun in the United States and the United Kingdom, with Germany expected to follow next month. A phased rollout in additional markets is planned later this year and next. The solution will be available through both Boehringer Ingelheim and Eko Health under distinct commercial offers.

For animal health businesses, the partnership highlights how digital diagnostics and AI-enabled clinical support tools are moving further into veterinary care. By targeting earlier identification of canine heart disease, Boehringer Ingelheim and Eko Health are positioning the solution at the intersection of pet health innovation, cardiology and practice efficiency.