Common heart conditions that affect small dogs could be picked up by AI, scientists say
A common heart condition affecting small dogs can be picked up by AI, experts have discovered.
Mitral valve disease regularly affects breeds such as King Charles Spaniels, miniature poodles, Pomeranians and Chihuahuas.
It occurs when one of the heart valves becomes deformed and leaks. It can become fatal if not treated early.
A research team led by the University of Cambridge adapted an algorithm originally designed for humans and found it could automatically detect and assess heart murmurs in dogs – one of the key indicators of the disease.
A common heart condition affecting small dogs could be picked up by AI, experts have discovered (file image)
Mitral valve disease regularly affects breeds such as King Charles Spaniels, miniature poodles, Pomeranians and Chihuahuas. A Chihuahua is shown here
It occurs when one of the heart valves becomes deformed and leaks. It can become fatal if not treated early
Tests showed that the AI model, which works by analyzing audio recordings from digital stethoscopes, detected heart murmurs with 90 percent accuracy, comparable to that of expert cardiologists.
The team said their technology could provide an affordable and effective screening tool for veterinarians and improve the 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 major health problem, but in dogs it is an even bigger problem.
‘Most smaller dog breeds will develop heart disease as they get older, but dogs obviously can’t communicate in the same way as humans. It is therefore up to primary care veterinarians to detect heart disease early enough so that it can be treated.’
About one in thirty dogs seen by a veterinarian have 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 assess heart murmurs in dogs – one of the key 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 refined the algorithm so that it can both detect and assess heart murmurs based on the audio recordings, and distinguish between murmurs associated with mild disease and murmurs that reflect advanced heart disease that requires further treatment.
In people with valve disease, surgery is the only treatment, but effective medication is available for dogs.
Normally, assessing a heart murmur and determining whether the heart disease requires treatment requires a lot of experience, referral to a veterinary cardiologist and expensive specialized heart scans.
Co-author Professor Jose Novo Matos said: ‘We can’t do 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 such tools can help vets and owners so we can quickly identify the dogs most in need of treatment.’
The findings were published in the Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine.