Mars Using AI To Help Pet Parents Monitor Dogs’ Health
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.
More AI-Driven Petcare To Come
The company plans to expand such efforts throughout 2025, providing additional innovations that offer real-time insights into wellbeing, such as an Iams Poopscan tool that will use AI to analyze photos of dog feces and monitor stool consistency to provide data on digestion and health.
These are part of an ongoing strategy to meet the needs of the increasingly “always-connected” pet parent, the company previously said. Last year, Mars teamed up with Tripadvisor for a hub to transform itself into a comprehensive digital resource for consumers as it looks to cater to the growing market of digitally connected pet owners.
The hub includes an “AI trip builder” where users can develop a pet-friendly trip with a personalized itinerary guided by traveler tips and reviews.
