Covetrus Pulse vs Shepherd
Graded on the same 20 criteria from each one's own website: where they differ, what they share, and which clinics each one suits.
Covetrus Pulse
Covetrus · Portland, Maine, US
- Since
- 2019 (as Covetrus)
- Runs
- Cloud
- Pricing
- By quote
- Price
- Not published
8 built in · 1 through a partner · 6 not published · 5 no
Covetrus Pulse in fullShepherd
Shepherd Veterinary Software · Prescott, Arizona, US
- Since
- 2016
- Runs
- Cloud, in the browser
- Pricing
- By quote
- Price
- Not published
10 built in · 2 through a partner · 6 not published · 2 no
Shepherd in fullKey differences
Where they differ.
- Point of sale with shiftsShepherd has a point of sale with shifts, in part (quick invoices for counter sales; no retail till); Covetrus Pulse's website does not say.
- Stock with batches and expiry datesShepherd tracks stock by batch and expiry date; Covetrus Pulse's website does not say.
- Loyalty points or promotionsShepherd has loyalty points or promotions, in part (through mClub, AllyDVM and Greenline); Covetrus Pulse's website does not say.
- Open APIShepherd has an open API; Covetrus Pulse only in part (through its partner programme).
Both have built in
- Appointment calendar and online booking
- Automatic reminders to owners
- Client app or portal
- Lab and imaging integrations
- AI note-taking
- Card payments processed in the software
- Purchase orders and suppliers
- Several branches
Feature by feature
Every criterion, side by side.
- Built in
- In part, or through a partner
- No
- Not published
| Criterion | Covetrus Pulse | Shepherd |
|---|---|---|
| Clients and care | ||
| Appointment calendar and online booking | Online scheduling through Covetrus Comms | A calendar, and direct booking in the pet portal |
| Automatic reminders to owners | Through Covetrus Comms, with texting | Automatic texts and e-mails |
| WhatsApp messages to owners | Not among its messaging channels | |
| Client app or portal | A pet-owner portal and the Comms app | An online pet portal |
| Lab and imaging integrations | Antech, IDEXX and Zoetis | IDEXX, Antech, Heska and others |
| AI note-taking | AI notes, at no extra cost | TranscribeAI writes SOAP notes |
| Telemedicine | ||
| Front desk and stock | ||
| Point of sale with shifts | Quick invoices for counter sales; no retail till | |
| Card payments processed in the software | Covetrus Payments | Shepherd Pay |
| Stock with batches and expiry dates | Inventory yes; batches and expiry not confirmed | Lots, bottles and expiry dates |
| Purchase orders and suppliers | Automatic reordering through Covetrus Supply | Purchase orders, received into lots |
| Loyalty points or promotions | Through mClub, AllyDVM and Greenline | |
| Money and management | ||
| Double-entry accounting built in | Bookkeeping partners, none named | A QuickBooks journal-entry report |
| Several branches | A shared catalogue across locations | An admin portal for groups |
| Open API | Through its partner programme | An open API, a paid option |
| Region and buying | ||
| Arabic interface | English, per Capterra | |
| Sold and supported in Egypt or the Middle East | None found | None found |
| Government e-invoicing (Egypt's ETA, Saudi ZATCA) | ||
| Prices published on its website | A demo only | No prices on its current site |
| Free trial | Its current site offers demos | |
Which to choose
Who each one suits.
Choose Covetrus Pulse if…
- North American practices that want software, supply, pharmacy and payments from one company.
- Independent small-animal practices up to groups.
- Clinics that want AI notes included at no extra cost.
Strengths
- Supply, an online pharmacy for the practice, payments and software from one vendor.
- Online scheduling, reminders and unlimited texting through Covetrus Comms.
- More than 250 integration partners, including reference labs.
- Covetrus AI writes SOAP notes, included at no extra cost.
Pricing
Covetrus does not publish Pulse's prices; it offers a demo.
Choose Shepherd if…
- Independent small-animal clinics in the US, from one vet to four or more.
- Clinics that want charges captured from the medical record.
- Clinics that want card payments built into the software.
Strengths
- Charge capture built around the SOAP record.
- Inventory lots, bottles and expiry dates, with an expiry report, and purchase orders.
- Shepherd Pay for terminals, stored cards and payments in the pet portal.
- TranscribeAI ambient notes, lab integrations and an open API.
Pricing
Shepherd's current site shows no prices and offers demos.
Also worth a look
Petfolio, made in Cairo
Built in, where neither Covetrus Pulse nor Shepherd is: whatsApp messages to owners, point of sale with shifts, loyalty points or promotions, double-entry accounting built in, sold and supported in Egypt or the Middle East, prices published on its website and free trial. To be fair about it: Petfolio books visits ahead but has no calendar view or online booking, no client app or lab connections, and its screens are in English.
Questions
Covetrus Pulse or Shepherd?
What is the difference between Covetrus Pulse and Shepherd?
Covetrus Pulse is the cloud practice management system of Covetrus, the animal-health company based in Portland, Maine, formerly known as eVetPractice. Shepherd is a cloud practice management system from Prescott, Arizona, built by vets around the medical record. Shepherd has a point of sale with shifts, in part (quick invoices for counter sales; no retail till); Covetrus Pulse's website does not say. Shepherd tracks stock by batch and expiry date; Covetrus Pulse's website does not say. Shepherd has loyalty points or promotions, in part (through mClub, AllyDVM and Greenline); Covetrus Pulse's website does not say.
Which is cheaper, Covetrus Pulse or Shepherd?
Covetrus Pulse: Covetrus does not publish Pulse's prices; it offers a demo. Shepherd: Shepherd's current site shows no prices and offers demos.
Does Covetrus Pulse or Shepherd have an Arabic interface?
Covetrus Pulse has no Arabic interface (English, per Capterra). Shepherd's website does not say whether it has an Arabic interface.
Which has accounting built in, Covetrus Pulse or Shepherd?
Covetrus Pulse relies on separate accounting software (bookkeeping partners, none named). Shepherd relies on separate accounting software (a QuickBooks journal-entry report).
Can Covetrus Pulse or Shepherd run several branches?
Covetrus Pulse runs several branches (a shared catalogue across locations). Shepherd runs several branches (an admin portal for groups).
Is Covetrus Pulse or Shepherd available in Egypt and the Middle East?
Covetrus Pulse has no team or partner in the region we could find (none found). Shepherd has no team or partner in the region we could find (none found).
Covetrus Pulse: sources
Read on 18 October 2026. Covetrus Pulse is a trademark of its owner; we are not affiliated with them.
Shepherd: sources
Read on 18 October 2026. Shepherd is a trademark of its owner; we are not affiliated with them.
- Shepherd developers — API pricing
- Shepherd help — QuickBooks journal entry report
- Shepherd help — purchase orders
- Shepherd help — direct booking
- Shepherd — payment processor
- Shepherd — integrations
- Shepherd — client communication
- Shepherd — features
- Capterra — Shepherd
- Shepherd help — inventory lots and expiry dates
- Shepherd help — TranscribeAI
- Shepherd — multi-location
- Software Advice — Shepherd
- MWI Animal Health — integration with Shepherd
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