Common heart condition which plagues small dogs can be picked up by AI, scientists say

A common heart condition that plagues small dogs can be picked up by AI, experts have found.

Mitral valve disease regularly affects breeds such as King Charles spaniels, miniature poodles, Pomeranians and chihuahuas. 

It occurs when one of the heart’s valves becomes distorted and leaky. It can progress to become fatal if not treated early on.

A research team, led by the University of Cambridge, adapted an algorithm originally designed for humans and found it could automatically detect and grade heart murmurs in dogs – one of the main indicators of the disease. 

Mitral valve disease regularly affects breeds such as King Charles spaniels miniature poodles, Pomeranians and chihuahuas. Here a chihuahua is pictured

It occurs when one of the heart’s valves becomes distorted and leaky. It can progress to become fatal if not treated early on

Tests showed that the AI model, which works by analysing audio recordings from digital stethoscopes, detected heart murmurs with 90 per cent accuracy – similar to expert cardiologists.

The team said their technology could offer an affordable and effective screening tool for vets and improve quality of life for dogs, as early detection and timely medication can extend their lives.

First author Dr Andrew McDonald said: ‘Heart disease in humans is a huge health issue, but in dogs it’s an even bigger problem.

‘Most smaller dog breeds will have heart diseases when they get older, but obviously dogs can’t communicate in the same way that humans can, so it’s up to primary care vets to detect heart disease early enough so it can be treated.’

Roughly one in 30 dogs seen by a veterinarian has a heart murmur, although the prevalence is higher in small breeds and older dogs.

A research team, led by the University of Cambridge, adapted an algorithm originally designed for humans and found it could automatically detect and grade heart murmurs in dogs – one of the main indicators of the disease (pictured: A Toy poodle)

King Charles spaniels are one of the most likely breeds to suffer from the disease 

The researchers fine-tuned the algorithm so it could both detect and grade heart murmurs based on the audio recordings and differentiate between murmurs associated with mild disease and those reflecting advanced heart disease that required further treatment.

In humans with valve disease, the only treatment is surgery, but for dogs, effective medication is available.

Normally, grading a heart murmur and determining whether the heart disease needs treatment requires a lot of experience, referral to a veterinary cardiologist, and expensive specialised heart scans.

Co-author Professor Jose Novo Matos said: ‘We can’t perform heart scans on every dog in this country – we just don’t have enough time or specialists to screen every dog with a murmur.

‘But tools like these could help vets and owners, so we can quickly identify those dogs who are most in need of treatment.’

The findings were published in the Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine.