Covetrus Pulse vs Shepherd

Covetrus Pulse8.5Visit Shepherd8.4Visit

Higher score Covetrus Pulse #5 in Pet Care Software 8.5/10 Pricing on request ✓ 0 of 5 features Visit Covetrus

vs

Shepherd #6 in Pet Care Software 8.4/10 Pricing on request ✓ 0 of 5 features Visit Shepherd

• Covetrus Pulse fits best

  Clinics wanting Covetrus-connected practice workflows

• Shepherd fits best

  Clinics prioritizing SOAP workflows and client texting

Advertiser disclosure: iTechGuides is reader-supported. Vendors can pay for top positions in our rankings and for a place on other products' pages, and we may earn a commission when you click some links. Bought places stand at the number bought; this page and our disclosure say so. Paying vendors may get a fuller, more detailed review from our editors, and that review can change their score. How we rank.

Side by side

Feature	Covetrus Pulse 8.5/10 Visit ↗	Shepherd 8.4/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score	8.5	8.4
Ranking	#5 in Pet Care Software	#6 in Pet Care Software
Best for	Clinics wanting Covetrus-connected practice workflows	Clinics prioritizing SOAP workflows and client texting
Pricing model	Paid	Paid
Starting price	Pricing on request	Pricing on request
Free plan	Not checked yet	Not checked yet
Free trial	—	—
Deployment	Cloud	Cloud
Platforms	Web	Web
Support	Email, Live chat, Phone, Tickets, Docs	Live chat, Docs
Integrations	250+ integrations	7 integrations
Built for	Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise	Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise
Features Covetrus Pulse 0/5 · Shepherd 0/5
Online booking	Not checked yet	Not checked yet
Client portal	Not checked yet	Not checked yet
Automated reminders	Not checked yet	Not checked yet
Payment processing	Not checked yet	Not checked yet
Multi-location support	Not checked yet	Not checked yet
Specs
Mobile access	Not checked yet	Not checked yet
Our review
Pros	Combines medical records, care plans, prescriptions and payments Supports booking and reminders through Covetrus Comms Connects with 250 listed integrations, including Covetrus products	SOAP records with AI-assisted capture and clinical decision support Client portal, recurring booking, reminders, texting, and digital forms Integrated payments, inventory reporting, and multi-location support
Cons	Pricing requires contacting sales and requesting a demo The listed platform is web only Scheduling, reminders and telemedicine are tied to Covetrus Comms	Runs in a browser without a dedicated mobile app Pricing is handled through a demo rather than published tiers Support is limited to chat and documentation, not 24/7 coverage
Our verdict	Covetrus Pulse brings clinical and administrative workflows together in a cloud-based veterinary operating system. It is aimed at practices that want electronic medical records alongside scheduling, client communications, prescriptions,… Read the review →	Shepherd is cloud-based veterinary practice management software for general-practice, mobile, hybrid, and multi-location clinics. It brings scheduling, recurring appointments, client communication, SOAP-based medical records, digital… Read the review →

Strengths and trade-offs

• Covetrus Pulse — where it wins

  • Combines medical records, care plans, prescriptions and payments
  • Supports booking and reminders through Covetrus Comms
  • Connects with 250 listed integrations, including Covetrus products

  Where it doesn't

  • Pricing requires contacting sales and requesting a demo
  • The listed platform is web only
  • Scheduling, reminders and telemedicine are tied to Covetrus Comms

• Shepherd — where it wins

  • SOAP records with AI-assisted capture and clinical decision support
  • Client portal, recurring booking, reminders, texting, and digital forms
  • Integrated payments, inventory reporting, and multi-location support

  Where it doesn't

  • Runs in a browser without a dedicated mobile app
  • Pricing is handled through a demo rather than published tiers
  • Support is limited to chat and documentation, not 24/7 coverage

• Covetrus Pulse8.5/10 · Pricing on request

  Connected clinical and administrative workflows for veterinary practices.

  Visit CovetrusFull verdict →
• Shepherd8.4/10 · Pricing on request

  A veterinary practice platform centered on SOAP records, communication, and recurring care.

  Visit ShepherdFull verdict →