Boehringer Ingelheim, a global animal health leader, and Eko Health, an AI-driven cardiopulmonary diagnostics company, have announced a strategic collaboration to improve early detection of heart disease in dogs. 

The partnership combines Boehringer’s expertise in canine cardiology with Eko’s digital stethoscopes and AI algorithms—used in over 650,000 human healthcare devices globally. A canine-specific detection algorithm, developed with input from veterinary cardiologists, will be accessible to veterinarians via a dedicated Eko mobile app launching in 2026. 

Heart murmurs in dogs—caused by turbulent blood flow when heart valves don’t close properly—are common in myxomatous mitral valve disease (MMVD), a chronic condition affecting 10–15% of dogs and a leading cause of canine heart-related deaths. 

“As a leader in canine cardiology, we know early diagnosis and timely treatment of MMVD can help dogs live longer,” said Dr. Erich Schött, Head of Pet Therapeutics and Pet Vaccines at Boehringer Ingelheim. “This tool will simplify murmur detection and help veterinarians better inform and support pet owners.”

In many clinics, veterinarians use analog stethoscopes under noisy conditions and time constraints, making subtle murmurs easy to miss. This new AI-powered solution aims to improve detection accuracy and confidence during routine exams. 

“We’re proud to partner with Boehringer Ingelheim to bring advanced AI tools to veterinary care,” said Connor Landgraf, CEO and co-founder of Eko Health. “Together, we aim to help millions of dogs—and the families who care for them—access earlier, life-extending treatment.”