Your PIMS is the heartbeat of your clinic—managing everything from schedules and medical records to finances, client communication, and inventory. Switching or selecting a new practice management system isn’t just a software choice, it’s a business decision, a team experience, and a daily operational shift.
At Digitail, we frequently hear from veterinary teams seeking alternatives that can keep pace with the needs of modern veterinary practices. In this article, we take a side-by-side look at Digitail and Covetrus Pulse, two widely used veterinary PIMS platforms.
Covetrus Pulse, formerly known as eVetPractice, operates within the massive Covetrus ecosystem, a global animal health technology company formed through strategic mergers and acquisitions.
Covetrus Pulse integrates with Covetrus’s own pharmacy and inventory network. That ecosystem can be appealing to some practices looking for built-in fulfillment or standardized supply ordering. But with that scale comes the trade-off: slower release cycles, longer implementation timelines, and fewer product updates based on real user feedback. Users often describe the experience as being part of a “larger machine.”
Digitail, by contrast, is an independent cloud-based PIMS built from the ground up with modern veterinary practices in mind. As an independent company focused exclusively on veterinary care, Digitail has the agility to rapidly respond to user feedback and implement features that directly address the evolving needs of today’s practices.
The heart of any PIMS lies in how well it supports the countless daily tasks that keep a veterinary practice running smoothly. This is where the differences between Digitail and Covetrus Pulse become most apparent.
Digitail is an all-in-one solution, meaning that every feature was built to work seamlessly with every other feature. When you create a patient record, schedule an appointment, generate an invoice, or send a client communication, each action flows naturally into the next without requiring multiple clicks or navigation through complex menu systems.
Covetrus Pulse, while feature-rich, reflects its evolution from older software architectures. Many users report that simple tasks require “numerous clicks” and navigation steps for basic functions like printing lab request sheets.
Digitail offers a robust, fully integrated scheduling system designed for flexibility and efficiency across both the clinical team and pet parents.
Practices can easily set operating hours, assign doctors` availability, and create different appointment types using customizable templates, such as in-clinic visits, telehealth, drop-offs, or home care. The calendar syncs in real time, ensuring that availability is always up to date.
Clients can book appointments directly through the clinic’s website or the Digitail pet parent app, with the system automatically assigning appointments based on the doctor and service type. Double-bookings are prevented by design.
On the clinic side, staff can view and manage the calendar from any device. Rescheduling is simple, thanks to drag-and-drop functionality. The calendar supports color-coding, filtering by doctor or room, and managing multiple schedules at once.
Covetrus Pulse offers a basic scheduling system that supports standard appointment management tasks. Staff can move appointments using drag-and-drop functionality, apply color coding for easier viewing, and access different parts of the platform directly from the calendar. These features help simplify day-to-day scheduling for many users.
However, feedback from veterinary teams points to some limitations. Users report occasional issues with double-bookings and note that scheduling multiple patients under one client can be challenging. Navigation within the scheduling module can also feel unintuitive, often requiring more clicks than expected to complete routine actions. Additionally, better integration with mobile calendars remains a common request for improving workflow efficiency across devices.
Digitail’s medical records system is designed to streamline workflows and reduce administrative burden through a highly structured yet flexible interface. Each medical record follows the SOAP format with dedicated sections that guide clinicians through every part of the exam. These sections support customizable templates, enabling practices to standardize documentation based on internal protocols or specific types of visits.
Clinicians can annotate body maps, complete dental and anesthesia charts, and attach lab and imaging orders directly within the record. Integrated AI tools assist with documentation by auto-generating text from voice input or structured data, speeding up the note-taking process without sacrificing accuracy.
Beyond documentation, Digitail connects medical records with clinical operations. Approved treatments can trigger automatic invoice generation, prescriptions and refills can be managed directly from the Plan section, and discharge notes can be quickly created and shared with clients. The system supports treatment plans with e-signatures and sharing options for referrals or second opinions.
Together, these features ensure that the medical record is not a static document but a dynamic hub that drives care, billing, and client communication.
Covetrus Pulse offers cloud-based, SOAP-formatted medical records with customizable templates and Quick Links that streamline common tasks. Its AI-powered Ambient Listening feature can auto-generate SOAP notes from recorded consultations, helping reduce documentation time. Clinical workflows are tightly integrated through the Treatment Board, where updates to medications, procedures, or labs automatically sync with the medical record and trigger invoice generation. Pulse also supports lab and imaging orders, vaccine tracking, and record sharing with clients or referring vets.
However, users report some workflow friction: loading large patient files or navigating templates can be slow or involve many clicks, and the interface may feel cluttered or unintuitive.
Digitail offers a robust suite of communication tools like chat, telemedicine, email, SMS, and app push notifications. All are fully integrated into the core PIMS and Pet Parent App.
Users can initiate secure two‑way chats, share photos, and conduct follow‑ups without scheduling full appointments—ideal for triage, post‑op care, or quick health check‑ins.
All client communications, whether messages, call logs, broadcast notifications, or telemedicine sessions, automatically sync with the medical record, ensuring a complete audit trail and continuity of care, even when multiple team members are involved. The platform also supports scheduled chat messages and searchable conversation histories, helping staff follow up appropriately and track client engagement efficiently.
Covetrus Pulse’s communication features are more limited. It includes essential communication features such as email and SMS appointment reminders, but lacks the depth and integration seen in more modern platforms like Digitail. In-app chat or telemedicine functionality is not natively supported, requiring clinics to rely on third-party tools. For clinics seeking streamlined, consolidated communication inside their PIMS, Pulse may require several supplementary tools to meet modern expectations.
Digitail offers a Pet Parent App, which is part of the Digitail ecosystem, and it was built with the PIMS from day one. It allows clients to access real-time information, including medical records, prescriptions, lab results, and vaccination history, directly from their mobile devices. Clients can also view and download invoices, request and manage appointments, receive push notifications for reminders and follow-up care, and securely chat with the clinic through a built-in messaging feature.
👉 Learn how Simmons Vet Clinic drove impressive adoption of the Pet Parent App and improved communication with clients in this case study from Dr. Chris Simmons.
Unlike Digitail, Covetrus Pulse does not offer a dedicated mobile app for pet owners. Instead, clients access the portal through a browser-based experience, which may be less convenient for on-the-go communication. Through the portal, clients can view upcoming appointments, request new ones, and access medical records that have been shared by the clinic.
In Digitail, invoices are automatically generated from approved treatments, services, and product sales, streamlining the process from care to checkout. The platform supports a wide range of payment options, including split payments, partial/down payments, CareCredit, refunds, and credit notes. Practices can also apply discounts, issue client statements, and manage consolidated invoices for multi-pet households. Payment processing is fully integrated, with clients able to scan QR codes to pay directly, and staff able to preview, share, or void receipts and credit notes as needed.
Digitail also offers built-in Secure Payments, allowing clinics to accept card payments without the need for third-party gateways or hardware. This simplifies setup, consolidates fees, and helps reduce missed or delayed transactions.
Covetrus Pulse includes core billing and invoicing tools that support itemized charges, family-level invoicing, and client discount classifications. Users value the visibility of markdowns and the ability to add items to multiple invoices within the same household, which can simplify billing for multi-pet families. However, some users report limitations that can affect day-to-day efficiency, such as difficulty editing invoices after payment or occasional glitches that lead to inaccurate balances. Transitioning from treatment plans to invoices can require extra manual steps, and users have noted that the interface could be more intuitive for faster navigation.
Digitail offers a robust reporting suite that gives veterinary practices real-time insights into finances, inventory, appointments, client behavior, and staff performance. Standard reports include sales, payments, discounts, accounts receivable, and stock movement, while advanced tools like the Clinic Performance Metrics Dashboard and Power BI integration allow for deeper, customizable analysis. Reports are updated in real-time, helping practice leaders make informed decisions quickly without waiting for end-of-month data.
👉 Want to see how Digitail’s reporting tools impact day-to-day clinic operations? Explore practical examples here.
Covetrus Pulse includes a range of built-in reports covering key operational areas such as revenue, payments, scheduling, inventory, and client activity. Covetrus Pulse’s reporting functionality receives consistent criticism from users. Common complaints include reports that “take forever and then crash,” inability to generate year-long reports for some functions, and difficulty understanding how to use various reporting features. While Pulse does not offer native advanced analytics or customizable dashboards, it integrates with Covetrus’ broader ecosystem, which may provide additional insights through connected services.
Digitail’s Tails AI is a built-in, real-time AI assistant designed to support veterinary teams by streamlining documentation and enhancing clinical workflows. Integrated directly into the Digitail platform, Tails AI can automatically generate SOAP notes during the exam, summarize patient histories from medical records, and suggest diagnostic and treatment options based on context. It also assists with patient intake by extracting relevant information from client-submitted forms or previous visits.
Unlike standalone tools, Tails AI works natively across Digitail’s ecosystem, meaning no copy-pasting or switching between platforms. Reducing the time spent on repetitive documentation tasks it helps clinics increase efficiency, reduce after-hours work, and focus more on patient care.
👉 Discover how one clinic used Tails AI to avoid burnout and find better balance in this story from Dr. Liza Price.
Covetrus Pulse has introduced several AI-driven tools. One key feature is AI Ambient Listening, which passively listens during the exam and automatically generates SOAP notes. Additionally, Pulse offers an AI Pre-Visit Summary, which compiles key client and patient information ahead of the appointment. The AI Scripts tool drafts medication instructions based on the treatment plan, and the AI Post-Visit Summary creates a client-facing summary with take-home instructions.
Digitail connects with a wide range of third-party services and diagnostic equipment providers, including in-house lab analyzers, reference labs, radiology platforms, payment processors, and inventory suppliers. This includes integrations with IDEXX, Zoetis, Vetcove, and others. You can explore the full list and details here.
Covetrus Pulse is tightly integrated with the broader Covetrus ecosystem, including pharmacy, inventory, diagnostics, and payment tools. It also supports a range of third-party services such as Vetstoria, PetDesk, and diagnostic labs like IDEXX and Zoetis.
The decision between Digitail and Covetrus Pulse ultimately depends on your practice’s specific needs, growth plans, and technology preferences.
To truly understand which solution fits your clinic’s workflow, nothing replaces seeing the software in action with your real scenarios.
Schedule a personalized demo where our team will walk through your specific workflows and show you exactly how Digitail addresses your daily challenges. Ask questions, test features, and make your decision with complete confidence.
Digitail is the all-in-one veterinary software that runs your entire practice—saving you time, keeping clients happy, and helping your business grow.
