Mars Using AI To Help Pet Parents Monitor Dogs’ Health

Greenies Canine Dental Check

Mars is using part of a $1 billion investment in its pet nutrition business to invest in a new artificial intelligence tool that will help pet parents monitor their furry friends’ health. 

The company launched Canine Dental Check in the U.S. as a companion tool for its Greenies dental snacks. It is a digital AI resource that allows users to snap a photo of their dogs’ teeth and gums to get immediate insights on their pets’ health. 

Also read: Mars is on the cusp of bringing AI agents to its internal platform

The technology can detect signs of tartar buildup and gum irritation, per Mars, using an AI model that is trained on over 53,000 images of dog mouths. Users receive recommendations on next steps after submitting their photos in the tool and can also connect with a licensed vet technician for further feedback via Mars’ PETconnect by Greenies service. 

For the initiative, the company brought together expertise from its digital, science, diagnostics and veterinary teams, said Ikdeep Singh, global president of Mars Pet Nutrition, in a statement.