The ultimate list of vet software for startups: what to use (and what to skip)

If you run a pet clinic, you know that veterinary startups run on shoestring budgets. Maybe you've spent a decade banging your head against half-baked software solutions. Or maybe you're just about to set out on your own veterinary practice and trying to carefully choose from all the apps that are on the market—and with so many tools out there, it’s easy to end up spending more time (and money) than you save.

Here’s a deeper dive into each category, the lean tools that’ll move the needle, and which shiny apps to give a hard pass.

1. Practice management & scheduling

OpenVPMS

OpenVPMS is a free, open-source practice management suite—no licensing fees, just hosting or an optional support plan. It covers patient charting, drag-and-drop scheduling, invoicing, and basic financial reports, with extra telemedicine or inventory features available as plugins. An active community means plenty of ready-made modules (or freelancers) to tweak workflows without breaking the bank. Setup can take a weekend or a consultant’s help, but once it’s live, it’s rock-solid.

• Full patient charting (medical history, treatment plans, lab results)
• Appointment calendar with drag-and-drop rescheduling and customizable staff views
• Invoicing, payment processing, and basic financial reports
• Plugin ecosystem: add telemedicine, inventory, or specialty modules as needed

Why it works for startups:

• Cost: Free core software—you only cover hosting or a modest support contract.
• Flexibility: Open-source code means you can tweak workflows (or hire a freelancer to) without crippling fees per user.
• Community support: Active user forums and shared plugins reduce development time.

Potential drawbacks:

• Initial setup can be technical—plan for a weekend of configuration or hire a one-time consultant.
• UI isn’t as slick as some paid platforms, but it’s rock-solid once configured.

AVImark (Covetrus)

Why to skip for now:

• Clunky workflows: Users report excessive clicks and scattered screens that slow down charting and billing, increasing the risk of errors during busy shifts.
• Weak reporting & inpatient tools: Its reporting modules struggle with larger datasets and lack robust inpatient management for hospitals, hampering performance analysis and patient tracking.
• Best for established practices: Covetrus Pulse shines in larger clinics already within the Covetrus ecosystem—not lean startups still chasing first-year growth

2. Inventory tracking

Zoho Inventory is a lightweight stock-management tool that keeps your clinic’s supplies in check without any heavy lifting. With every purchase or sales order you enter, inventory levels update instantly, and you’ll get low-stock alerts straight to your inbox or phone—no more surprise shortages. It plugs right into QuickBooks, Xero, Shopify, and your favorite carriers, so all your orders and shipping workflows stay in sync. Plus, the free tier covers up to 50 orders a month and includes a handy mobile app for barcode scanning on the go—perfect for clinics just getting started.

Zoho Inventory (Free tier)

Core features:

• Automatic stock level updates when you create purchase or sales orders
• Low-stock alerts via email or mobile push notifications
• Integrations with QuickBooks, Xero, Shopify, and popular shipping carriers

Startup perks:

• Free up to 50 orders/month: Perfect for clinics ramping up.
• Mobile app: Scan barcodes on-the-fly during deliveries or stocktakes.

When to upgrade:

• Once you exceed 50 orders, plans start at just $29/month for 150 orders and multi-warehouse support.

Sortly

Sortly lets you see your clinic’s gear laid out like a digital filing cabinet—just drag items into folders, tag them, and fill in any custom details you need. When tools or gadgets move in or out, a quick barcode or QR scan updates your records, so nothing slips through the cracks. You can even snap and attach photos of pricier equipment to make audits a breeze. The free plan covers up to 100 items and lets you set user roles—so techs or assistants only see what they need—without tacking on extra fees.

Core features:

• Simple, visual inventory catalog with folders, tags, and custom fields
• Barcode/QR code scanning for check-in/check-out workflows
• Photo attachments for each item (ideal for tracking expensive equipment)

Startup perks:

• Free up to 100 items: Plenty of headroom for most clinics.
• User roles: Assign techs or assistants limited access without extra licensing costs.

Big-suite inventory add-ons

Why to skip:

• Bundled modules in large PM systems often tack on 20–30% more to your monthly bill.
• You’ll pay for features (like multi-location reporting) that you don’t need until you’re a 10-vet practice.

3. Client communication & engagement

PetDesk

PetDesk feels like having a personal assistant for your practice. It handles everything from friendly appointment reminders to keeping pet health records organized and even running simple loyalty perks for your clients. In real-world examples, clinics using PetDesk saw appointments per client jump from 2.12 to 3.64 over 18 months—a 72% increase in visits. That means fewer no-shows, happier pet parents, and ultimately healthier pets under your care.

What you get:

• Two-way SMS and email chat embedded in appointment reminders
• Automated recall campaigns for vaccines, wellness visits, and follow-ups
• Self-booking links you can drop in newsletters or social posts

Why it works:

• Cuts phone tag—clients reply in the channel they prefer
• Most major PM systems integrate via a one-click connector

Generic email-only tools

Why to skip:

• No real-time chat—messages sit in the inbox abyss
• No appointment-level context, so your front desk ends up digging through threads.

4. AI phone answering services & after-hours coverage

Upfirst’s veterinary answering service

Upfirst is a new and upcoming AI answering and virtual receptionist service. Users often cite how natural and human-like the receptionists are and how easy it is to get set up. Vets and other business owners appreciate getting instant notifications through SMS or email whenever a call comes in, so no call gets lost.

What you get:

• Customizable receptionists trained on common pet triage questions (urgency, symptoms, pet history)
• Emergency routing: critical calls go straight to your on-call vet’s mobile
• Can handle FAQs, appointment bookings, and message taking
• Get updates and transcriptions via SMS or email with every call
• Easy-to-use online portal and set up
• Affordable, transparent pricing

Why it works:

• Keeps after-hours staffing costs near zero
• Clients feel heard even when your doors are closed

Smith.ai & Ruby

What you get:

• Hybrid human+AI receptionists who can handle FAQs, appointment bookings, and payment collections
• Pay-per-call tiered pricing plans that scale with your call volume
• Detailed call transcripts and CRM integration

Why it works:

• Offloads routine inquiries so your staff stays focused on in-clinic patients

In-house 24/7 staffing

Why to skip:

• Even one overnight tech is several thousand dollars per month in salary and benefits.
• High turnover; you’re constantly recruiting, training, and covering shifts.

Quick tips for a lean, future-proof stack

1. Trial first: If a tool doesn’t shave at least an hour—or $100—in your first 30 days, cut it loose.
2. Integrations over islands: Every system should feed data back to your PM and accounting platform—avoid manual CSV juggling.
3. Exportable data: Before you commit, ensure you can easily export patient records, inventory logs, and call transcripts.
4. Plan your exit path: Open-source and freemium tools are great on day one—just have a migration plan for when it’s time to level up.

With a smart mix of open-source foundations, affordable SaaS, and specialized AI answering services, you’ll spend less time wrestling with software and more time doing what you love: helping pets and their people.