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Cambridge startup Decorte Future Industries has officially launched Sonus Health today (21 January), an artificial intelligence tool that provides veterinary diagnostics via mobile microphones.
The app allows pet owners to conduct preliminary cardiovascular assessments at home. The technology was developed alongside veterinary cardiologists to identify heart murmurs and variability.
News of the launch comes as veterinary costs have risen by more than 60% since 2015. Data suggests 40% to 60% of pets develop chronic conditions by age seven, with advanced diagnostic costs reaching £1,200.
Users place a smartphone against a pet’s chest to record audio data. The application provides an immediate reading before sending a report to a specialist for review.
As part of the launch, more than 12 veterinary clinics have been granted early access to the technology. A further 160 clinics across regions including North America, Europe, and Africa have joined a waitlist for the service.
The company has appointed three new members to its leadership team. Former booking platform founder Daniel Steele joins as chief technology officer and former Wluper chief operating officer Linda Jiang joins as chief revenue officer.
In addition, veterinary cardiologist Laurent Locquet has been appointed as head veterinarian. The expansion follows a global increase in pet ownership, with 150 million pets joining households during the first year of the pandemic.
Roeland P-J E Decorte, founder and chief executive of Decorte Future Industries, said: “Pet healthcare is reaching a breaking point. Millions of new pets joined households during Covid, the largest surge in recorded history. In 2026, virtually all of these pandemic pets are reaching the age when complex conditions typically emerge.
“The result is a looming ‘petpocalypse’: a wave of ageing pets arriving just as costs have risen dramatically and veterinary capacity is under strain. Too often, the result is pets suffering in silence or being put down because treatment is unaffordable.”
