Buying a stethoscope can be a mind-boggling process. Everyone has a different opinion about which model is the best. Just like any other product there are people that have brand loyalty despite other options on the market.
The most expensive is not necessarily always the best, although there are some excellent stethoscopes in the top tier price range. Knowing what you need in terms of durability, acoustic quality, and size will go a long way toward finding the best stethoscope for your budget.
The following are just a few to consider from all price ranges.
Our best picks of Stethoscopes for Veterinary Professionals
3M Littmann Cardiology III Stethoscope 3131BE
Many practitioners swear by the Littmann Cardiology line as the highest quality acoustics to be had in stethoscopes.
Littmann is a quality name in the field.
The Cardiology III has a dual head chest piece for adult and pediatric patients making it handy if you are caring for very small animals in addition to larger animals. The head has a tunable diaphragm meaning you can hear high and low frequencies by adjust the pressure placed on the head.
The cardiology III also has a dual lumen tubing allowing greater noise reduction. The biggest complaint about the cardiology III is the price. At a price hovering around $200, it is a worth investigating less expensive models that may provide sufficient quality.
| Pros | Cons |
| Superior acoustics | Price |
| Dual head for large and small animals | High replacement parts cost compared to other brands |
| Longer tubing handy for working with large animals |
Buyer’s guide:
- Chest-piece: Stainless steel, Dual head
- Weight: 6.2oz
- Tubing: 22 or 27 inch dual lumen
3M Littmann Master Classic II Veterinary Stethoscope 1392
The Master Classic II, while not as strong acoustically as the Cardiology III, still has very good acoustics. Many practitioners with hearing loss swear by the Master Classic II.
The veterinary version of this stethoscope boasts a 32” tubing that is designed for ease of use when working with very large animals. The Master Classic II has a single sided head with the same tunable diaphragm as the Cardiology III. It provides similar acoustics to the Cardiology III at half the price.
Because it is only a single headed chest piece, the Master Classic II may not be the ideal choice if working with very small patients. The extra long tubing may also be a hindrance if working in noisy environment. Again, the price may be a drawback compared to similar products.
| Pros | Cons |
| Ultra-long tubing – 32” | Only 3 year warranty |
| Single headed chest piece with tunable diaphragm | Not ideal for very small patients |
| Competitive acoustic quality |
Buyer’s guide
- Chest-piece: Alloy, Single head
- Weight: 6.2oz
- Tubing: 32 inch
Welch Allyn Professional Adult Stethoscope
Welch Allyn Professional Adult Stethoscope is a mid-range stethoscope with very good noise-reduction qualities. It is one of the most comfortable and versatile general-use stethoscopes manufactured today.
It is made from stainless steel, with double-head chestpiece with nonchill rim. The binaurals are rotatable and the ear tips are interchangeable. People love it!
| Pros | Cons |
| Latex-free | Mostly used in Human Medicine |
| 5-year warranty | |
| Lightweight for more comfort when wearing for long periods of time |
Buyer’s guide
- General-use stethoscope
- Stainless steel double-head (bell and flat diaphragm) chestpiece with nonchill rim
- Rotatable in binaurals and interchangeable comfort sealing ear tips
- Latex-free
- 5-year warranty
Prestige Medical Veterinary Clinical I
The Veterinary Clinical I is a good quality dual headed stethoscope with a low price range.
This model features a 33” tubing with a stainless steel dual head. At a price of 1/3 the cost of other stethoscopes, it is a good buy for the price. The diaphragms are not tunable. A single lumen tubing allows interference from outside sounds.
| Pros | Cons |
| Price | Less noise reduction capability |
| Long Tubing | Lower acoustic quality |
| Dual Head for patients of varying sizes |
Buyer’s guide
- Chest-piece: Stainless Steel, double head
- Weight: 5.9oz
- Tubing: 33 inch
- Warranty: Limited Lifetime
MDF MD One Stainless Steel Premium Dual Head Stethoscope
The MDF MD One is of a quality construction for a low price. It features a stainless steel head and earpieces and a tunable diaphragm. At 8oz and 29.5”, the MD One stethoscope is the heaviest and shortest of those reviewed.
| Pros | Cons |
| Price | Shorter tubing |
| Dual Head | Heavier weight – can be uncomfortable over long period |
| Lower acoustic quality |
Buyer’s guide
- Chest-piece: Stainless Steel, double head
- Weight: 8 oz.
- Tubing: 29.5 inch
- Warranty: Lifetime with free replacement parts
EKO Stethoscopes – Electronic stethoscopes
When it comes to electronic stethoscopes, our pick is EKO. They produce fully-assembled stethoscope that enhances auscultation through amplification, Active Noise Cancellation, and powerful software. They also support wireless auscultation, so the vet can keep a safe distance from patients with zoonotic diseases.
EKO stethoscopes are the future of auscultation because they connect wirelessly to the Eko App in order to visualize, record and save sounds for further analysis, or securely share them for a second opinion.
They also offer an enterprise plan, which includes getting access to Eko AI for heart murmur analysis and telemedicine live streaming.
Conclusion
Buying a stethoscope is complicated by the plethora of choices available. Not every model is right for every person. Consider how you will be using the stethoscope and how often.
Durability and warranty length may be important if you are using it daily, especially if you are doing large animal and ambulatory work. Consider noise reduction if you are working in noisy environments or if you have some hearing loss.
Also consider your experience. A more experienced practitioner may not actually need higher quality acoustics to hear certain heart sounds where a less experienced person might need the extra advantage until fully trained. Finally consider price and how it fits into your budget.
Bear in mind that some of the links in this article are affiliate links and if you go through them to make a purchase we will earn a commission. As a Chewy affiliate I earn commissions for qualifying purchases. We promote ekohealth.com and CWI Medical and their products because of their quality and not because of the commission. The decision is yours, and whether or not you decide to buy something is completely up to you.
