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Veterinary Software Guide

Best veterinary software for mixed animal practices: what actually works in 2026

The mixed practice software problem

Mixed animal practices—those serving both companion animals and large animals (cattle, horses, swine, small ruminants)—represent one of the harder software problems in veterinary medicine. The workflows are genuinely different: a small animal appointment involves a scheduled visit at a fixed location; a large animal call involves a farm visit at a client's property, with travel time, in-field documentation, and invoicing that has to happen miles from the office.

Most veterinary software picks a lane. Companion animal PIMS are optimized for clinic-based workflows. Large-animal and equine tools are built for the farm-call model. Mixed practices end up running two systems, splitting records between them, and doing manual reconciliation that creates gaps and duplicates work.

According to PetDesk's 2026 State of Veterinary Practice Management Report, roughly 40% of veterinary practices report staff frequently or daily performing tasks outside their defined roles. In a mixed practice where the same DVM may work a clinic morning and then do afternoon farm calls, that number reflects real operational complexity—not just occasional role flexibility. Software that can't keep up with both sides of the practice doesn't solve the problem; it just moves it.

Here's what mixed animal practices need and which tools are worth evaluating.

Looking for a broader framework on how to approach the buying decision? Our guide to choosing veterinary software covers the full evaluation process.

What mixed animal practices actually need from software

One record system for all species.

The most common failure mode for mixed practices is fragmented records. Companion animal records in one system, large animal records in another, and clients who bring both cats and cattle—requiring staff to pull from two places. A unified record system that supports companion and large animal patients under the same client account is the foundation.

Farm-call scheduling alongside clinic scheduling.

The scheduling logic for a companion animal appointment and a farm call are different. Farm calls require travel time, geographic clustering, and the flexibility to accommodate large-animal emergencies that disrupt a planned route. The scheduling system needs to handle both without requiring the practice to manage two separate appointment books.

Mobile record access for the large-animal side.

When a DVM is at a cattle farm 40 miles from the clinic, they need access to patient records, the ability to document the visit, and the ability to generate an invoice—all on a mobile device, with intermittent connectivity. This is the mobile-first requirement that matters for mixed practices.

Large-animal-specific billing and inventory.

Large-animal practice generates invoices with medications dispensed, biologics administered, procedures performed, and travel charges in a single farm call. The billing system needs to handle that complexity, including tracking drug inventory across both the clinic and a mobile drug log.

Client communication for both practice types.

A rancher receiving reminders about herd health programs has different communication needs than a dog owner receiving vaccine reminders. Flexible reminder configuration and communication tools that work for both audiences—without requiring separate systems—make a genuine difference.

The software mixed animal practices are using

Impromed

ezyVet

PetDesk

Hippo Manager

ImproMed has the most established history of any PIMS in the mixed practice segment, with features specifically built for large-animal and mixed workflows: herd management, farm-call invoicing, drug log management for ambulatory practice, and the ability to maintain both companion animal and large animal patient records in a single client account. For mixed practices that want one system for everything, ImproMed has served this segment longer than most alternatives.

Best for: Mixed animal practices that need a single PIMS for both companion animal and large animal patients, with specific support for farm-call invoicing and ambulatory drug management.

Rating: Capterra: 4/5

Pricing: Varies per setup with a $5,000 initial flat, one-time license fee

Key strengths:

  • Genuine mixed-practice architecture—companion animal and large animal records in one system under a unified client account.

  • Farm-call invoicing supports complex multi-item bills with procedures, medications, and travel charges in a single transaction.

  • Drug log management for ambulatory practice—tracks controlled substances and biologics dispensed in the field.

  • Herd management tools for cattle, swine, and small ruminant patients that companion animal PIMS don't support.

Worth knowing: ImproMed is an on-premise system. Remote access from the field requires additional configuration, and the interface hasn't kept pace with cloud-native alternatives. For mixed practices that do significant farm-call volume, the lack of native mobile access creates friction that cloud-based tools avoid. Implementation and server maintenance costs are also higher than cloud alternatives.

ImproMed has the most established history of any PIMS in the mixed practice segment, with features specifically built for large-animal and mixed workflows: herd management, farm-call invoicing, drug log management for ambulatory practice, and the ability to maintain both companion animal and large animal patient records in a single client account. For mixed practices that want one system for everything, ImproMed has served this segment longer than most alternatives.

Best for: Mixed animal practices that need a single PIMS for both companion animal and large animal patients, with specific support for farm-call invoicing and ambulatory drug management.

Rating: Capterra: 4/5

Pricing: Varies per setup with a $5,000 initial flat, one-time license fee

Key strengths:

  • Genuine mixed-practice architecture—companion animal and large animal records in one system under a unified client account.

  • Farm-call invoicing supports complex multi-item bills with procedures, medications, and travel charges in a single transaction.

  • Drug log management for ambulatory practice—tracks controlled substances and biologics dispensed in the field.

  • Herd management tools for cattle, swine, and small ruminant patients that companion animal PIMS don't support.

Worth knowing: ImproMed is an on-premise system. Remote access from the field requires additional configuration, and the interface hasn't kept pace with cloud-native alternatives. For mixed practices that do significant farm-call volume, the lack of native mobile access creates friction that cloud-based tools avoid. Implementation and server maintenance costs are also higher than cloud alternatives.

ImproMed has the most established history of any PIMS in the mixed practice segment, with features specifically built for large-animal and mixed workflows: herd management, farm-call invoicing, drug log management for ambulatory practice, and the ability to maintain both companion animal and large animal patient records in a single client account. For mixed practices that want one system for everything, ImproMed has served this segment longer than most alternatives.

Best for: Mixed animal practices that need a single PIMS for both companion animal and large animal patients, with specific support for farm-call invoicing and ambulatory drug management.

Rating: Capterra: 4/5

Pricing: Varies per setup with a $5,000 initial flat, one-time license fee

Key strengths:

  • Genuine mixed-practice architecture—companion animal and large animal records in one system under a unified client account.

  • Farm-call invoicing supports complex multi-item bills with procedures, medications, and travel charges in a single transaction.

  • Drug log management for ambulatory practice—tracks controlled substances and biologics dispensed in the field.

  • Herd management tools for cattle, swine, and small ruminant patients that companion animal PIMS don't support.

Worth knowing: ImproMed is an on-premise system. Remote access from the field requires additional configuration, and the interface hasn't kept pace with cloud-native alternatives. For mixed practices that do significant farm-call volume, the lack of native mobile access creates friction that cloud-based tools avoid. Implementation and server maintenance costs are also higher than cloud alternatives.

ezyVet's configurability makes it viable for mixed practices willing to invest in setup work. Cloud-native with mobile browser access, it handles the companion animal side of a mixed practice with depth—and can be configured for large-animal workflows with sufficient customization. For mixed practices that do more companion animal volume than large-animal volume, ezyVet's companion animal strength may outweigh its large-animal limitations.

Best for: Mixed practices where companion animal volume significantly exceeds large-animal volume, and where cloud-native architecture is a priority.

Rating: Capterra: 4/5

Pricing: ~$420/month + server costs

Key strengths:

  • Cloud-native with mobile access. Records accessible from the field on a phone or tablet, which matters for the large-animal side of the practice.

  • Strong companion animal PIMS functionality. Practices that see more dogs and cats than livestock benefit from ezyVet's depth in that segment.

  • IDEXX diagnostics integration for in-clinic diagnostic workflows on the companion animal side.

Worth knowing: ezyVet isn't purpose-built for large-animal or mixed practice. Herd management, ambulatory drug logging, and large-animal-specific record templates require configuration workarounds. For practices with significant large-animal volume, the gaps in native large-animal support are more consequential.

ezyVet's configurability makes it viable for mixed practices willing to invest in setup work. Cloud-native with mobile browser access, it handles the companion animal side of a mixed practice with depth—and can be configured for large-animal workflows with sufficient customization. For mixed practices that do more companion animal volume than large-animal volume, ezyVet's companion animal strength may outweigh its large-animal limitations.

Best for: Mixed practices where companion animal volume significantly exceeds large-animal volume, and where cloud-native architecture is a priority.

Rating: Capterra: 4/5

Pricing: ~$420/month + server costs

Key strengths:

  • Cloud-native with mobile access. Records accessible from the field on a phone or tablet, which matters for the large-animal side of the practice.

  • Strong companion animal PIMS functionality. Practices that see more dogs and cats than livestock benefit from ezyVet's depth in that segment.

  • IDEXX diagnostics integration for in-clinic diagnostic workflows on the companion animal side.

Worth knowing: ezyVet isn't purpose-built for large-animal or mixed practice. Herd management, ambulatory drug logging, and large-animal-specific record templates require configuration workarounds. For practices with significant large-animal volume, the gaps in native large-animal support are more consequential.

ezyVet's configurability makes it viable for mixed practices willing to invest in setup work. Cloud-native with mobile browser access, it handles the companion animal side of a mixed practice with depth—and can be configured for large-animal workflows with sufficient customization. For mixed practices that do more companion animal volume than large-animal volume, ezyVet's companion animal strength may outweigh its large-animal limitations.

Best for: Mixed practices where companion animal volume significantly exceeds large-animal volume, and where cloud-native architecture is a priority.

Rating: Capterra: 4/5

Pricing: ~$420/month + server costs

Key strengths:

  • Cloud-native with mobile access. Records accessible from the field on a phone or tablet, which matters for the large-animal side of the practice.

  • Strong companion animal PIMS functionality. Practices that see more dogs and cats than livestock benefit from ezyVet's depth in that segment.

  • IDEXX diagnostics integration for in-clinic diagnostic workflows on the companion animal side.

Worth knowing: ezyVet isn't purpose-built for large-animal or mixed practice. Herd management, ambulatory drug logging, and large-animal-specific record templates require configuration workarounds. For practices with significant large-animal volume, the gaps in native large-animal support are more consequential.

For mixed practices that have a working PIMS and want to improve the client communication layer—particularly on the companion animal side—PetDesk's automated reminders, two-way texting, and online booking tools reduce the front-desk workload that companion animal care generates. For the large-animal side, reminder tools for herd health program schedules and vaccination programs can be configured to serve farm clients without requiring a separate communication system.

Best for: Mixed practices that want to automate client communication for both the companion animal and farm client sides of the practice without replacing their PIMS.

Rating: G2: 4.6/5 | Capterra: 4.7/5 | 12,000+ practices

Pricing: Not publicly listed

Key strengths:

  • Automated reminders configurable for both companion animal wellness schedules and farm client herd health programs.

  • Two-way texting reaches ranchers and farm clients on the communication channel they're actually using.

  • Online booking reduces phone volume for the companion animal side of the practice without affecting farm-call scheduling workflows.

Worth knowing: PetDesk is a communication and engagement platform, not a PIMS. It doesn't address the core mixed-practice software challenge: unified records for both species. And while reminder and texting tools work for both companion animal and farm clients, the farm-call scheduling, drug logging, and herd management functionality that mixed practices need lives in the PIMS layer.

For mixed practices that have a working PIMS and want to improve the client communication layer—particularly on the companion animal side—PetDesk's automated reminders, two-way texting, and online booking tools reduce the front-desk workload that companion animal care generates. For the large-animal side, reminder tools for herd health program schedules and vaccination programs can be configured to serve farm clients without requiring a separate communication system.

Best for: Mixed practices that want to automate client communication for both the companion animal and farm client sides of the practice without replacing their PIMS.

Rating: G2: 4.6/5 | Capterra: 4.7/5 | 12,000+ practices

Pricing: Not publicly listed

Key strengths:

  • Automated reminders configurable for both companion animal wellness schedules and farm client herd health programs.

  • Two-way texting reaches ranchers and farm clients on the communication channel they're actually using.

  • Online booking reduces phone volume for the companion animal side of the practice without affecting farm-call scheduling workflows.

Worth knowing: PetDesk is a communication and engagement platform, not a PIMS. It doesn't address the core mixed-practice software challenge: unified records for both species. And while reminder and texting tools work for both companion animal and farm clients, the farm-call scheduling, drug logging, and herd management functionality that mixed practices need lives in the PIMS layer.

For mixed practices that have a working PIMS and want to improve the client communication layer—particularly on the companion animal side—PetDesk's automated reminders, two-way texting, and online booking tools reduce the front-desk workload that companion animal care generates. For the large-animal side, reminder tools for herd health program schedules and vaccination programs can be configured to serve farm clients without requiring a separate communication system.

Best for: Mixed practices that want to automate client communication for both the companion animal and farm client sides of the practice without replacing their PIMS.

Rating: G2: 4.6/5 | Capterra: 4.7/5 | 12,000+ practices

Pricing: Not publicly listed

Key strengths:

  • Automated reminders configurable for both companion animal wellness schedules and farm client herd health programs.

  • Two-way texting reaches ranchers and farm clients on the communication channel they're actually using.

  • Online booking reduces phone volume for the companion animal side of the practice without affecting farm-call scheduling workflows.

Worth knowing: PetDesk is a communication and engagement platform, not a PIMS. It doesn't address the core mixed-practice software challenge: unified records for both species. And while reminder and texting tools work for both companion animal and farm clients, the farm-call scheduling, drug logging, and herd management functionality that mixed practices need lives in the PIMS layer.

Hippo Manager is a cloud-native PIMS that includes large-animal and equine functionality alongside companion animal records—one of the few platforms built from the ground up with mixed practice in mind. Farm-call scheduling, herd management, and mobile field access are designed features rather than workarounds.

Best for: Mixed practices that want a cloud-native PIMS with genuine large-animal support—particularly practices with equine or mixed cattle/companion animal patient bases.

Rating: Capterra: 3.9/5

Pricing: $119/month per veterinarian

Key strengths:

  • Farm-call scheduling with travel time and geographic clustering built in, not adapted from appointment-based companion animal scheduling.

  • Mixed species records under unified client accounts—both companions and large animals without running two systems.

  • Cloud-native with mobile access designed for field use.

Worth knowing: Hippo Manager has a smaller user base and less review volume than established PIMS platforms. Integration options are more limited, and the development roadmap is harder to assess than for larger vendors. Worth evaluating for the mixed practice segment—but verify support quality and implementation resources before committing.

Hippo Manager is a cloud-native PIMS that includes large-animal and equine functionality alongside companion animal records—one of the few platforms built from the ground up with mixed practice in mind. Farm-call scheduling, herd management, and mobile field access are designed features rather than workarounds.

Best for: Mixed practices that want a cloud-native PIMS with genuine large-animal support—particularly practices with equine or mixed cattle/companion animal patient bases.

Rating: Capterra: 3.9/5

Pricing: $119/month per veterinarian

Key strengths:

  • Farm-call scheduling with travel time and geographic clustering built in, not adapted from appointment-based companion animal scheduling.

  • Mixed species records under unified client accounts—both companions and large animals without running two systems.

  • Cloud-native with mobile access designed for field use.

Worth knowing: Hippo Manager has a smaller user base and less review volume than established PIMS platforms. Integration options are more limited, and the development roadmap is harder to assess than for larger vendors. Worth evaluating for the mixed practice segment—but verify support quality and implementation resources before committing.

Hippo Manager is a cloud-native PIMS that includes large-animal and equine functionality alongside companion animal records—one of the few platforms built from the ground up with mixed practice in mind. Farm-call scheduling, herd management, and mobile field access are designed features rather than workarounds.

Best for: Mixed practices that want a cloud-native PIMS with genuine large-animal support—particularly practices with equine or mixed cattle/companion animal patient bases.

Rating: Capterra: 3.9/5

Pricing: $119/month per veterinarian

Key strengths:

  • Farm-call scheduling with travel time and geographic clustering built in, not adapted from appointment-based companion animal scheduling.

  • Mixed species records under unified client accounts—both companions and large animals without running two systems.

  • Cloud-native with mobile access designed for field use.

Worth knowing: Hippo Manager has a smaller user base and less review volume than established PIMS platforms. Integration options are more limited, and the development roadmap is harder to assess than for larger vendors. Worth evaluating for the mixed practice segment—but verify support quality and implementation resources before committing.

Questions worth asking before you decide

Can the system maintain companion animal and large animal patient records under a single client account?

This is the foundational question for mixed practice software. If a client brings in their dog on Monday and you schedule a cattle herd visit on Friday, those records need to live in the same client account without requiring staff to manage two separate entries.

How does farm-call scheduling work—specifically, does it account for travel time and support geographic clustering?

Ask for a demonstration of scheduling a farm call that's 30 miles from the clinic, followed by another farm visit nearby, followed by a return to the clinic for afternoon appointments. The scheduling logic should reflect that geographic reality without requiring manual workarounds.

What's the mobile experience like for the large-animal side—specifically, can records be accessed and updated with intermittent connectivity?

A demonstration conducted on a fast broadband connection will tell you nothing about how the system performs in a rural field context. Ask specifically about offline mode, data caching, and how the system behaves when connectivity drops during a farm call.

How does drug logging work for controlled substances dispensed in the field?

Ambulatory drug logs are a regulatory requirement in most jurisdictions. Ask how the system handles tracking controlled substances dispensed during farm calls, and how that log syncs back to the main inventory system.

How does pricing scale with the complexity of a mixed practice?

Per-veterinarian pricing models may not reflect the different staffing needs of a mixed practice, where some DVMs are primarily companion animal and others are primarily large-animal. Get a quote for your actual team composition and verify that large-animal-specific features aren't add-on costs.

FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions

What PIMS do most mixed animal practices use?

ImproMed has historically been the most common choice for mixed practices, given its specific support for large-animal and ambulatory workflows alongside companion animal records. Cornerstone and Avimark are common on the companion animal side of mixed practices that run two separate systems. Among cloud-native options, Hippo Manager has the most native mixed-practice functionality, while ezyVet is often configured for mixed practices with heavy companion animal volume. There's no single dominant cloud option for mixed practice the way ezyVet dominates emergency medicine.

Can a mixed animal practice use one software for both companion animals and livestock?

Yes—and it's significantly better than running two systems. The challenge is that most PIMS were built for one category or the other, so truly unified mixed-practice support requires either a purpose-built platform like ImproMed or Hippo Manager, or significant configuration of a general PIMS. The key capability to verify is whether large-animal and companion animal patients can share a client account—without that, the practical benefits of a single system are limited.

How do rural mixed animal practices handle software when internet connectivity is unreliable?

Offline functionality is the key specification. Cloud-native systems vary significantly in how they handle connectivity loss: some cache data locally and sync when a connection restores, others become non-functional without a live connection. For ambulatory and farm-call work in rural areas, ask explicitly about offline mode before choosing a cloud PIMS. On-premise systems like ImproMed don't have this problem on the clinic side, but remote access from the field still requires connectivity.

FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions

What PIMS do most mixed animal practices use?

ImproMed has historically been the most common choice for mixed practices, given its specific support for large-animal and ambulatory workflows alongside companion animal records. Cornerstone and Avimark are common on the companion animal side of mixed practices that run two separate systems. Among cloud-native options, Hippo Manager has the most native mixed-practice functionality, while ezyVet is often configured for mixed practices with heavy companion animal volume. There's no single dominant cloud option for mixed practice the way ezyVet dominates emergency medicine.

Can a mixed animal practice use one software for both companion animals and livestock?

Yes—and it's significantly better than running two systems. The challenge is that most PIMS were built for one category or the other, so truly unified mixed-practice support requires either a purpose-built platform like ImproMed or Hippo Manager, or significant configuration of a general PIMS. The key capability to verify is whether large-animal and companion animal patients can share a client account—without that, the practical benefits of a single system are limited.

How do rural mixed animal practices handle software when internet connectivity is unreliable?

Offline functionality is the key specification. Cloud-native systems vary significantly in how they handle connectivity loss: some cache data locally and sync when a connection restores, others become non-functional without a live connection. For ambulatory and farm-call work in rural areas, ask explicitly about offline mode before choosing a cloud PIMS. On-premise systems like ImproMed don't have this problem on the clinic side, but remote access from the field still requires connectivity.

FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions

What PIMS do most mixed animal practices use?

ImproMed has historically been the most common choice for mixed practices, given its specific support for large-animal and ambulatory workflows alongside companion animal records. Cornerstone and Avimark are common on the companion animal side of mixed practices that run two separate systems. Among cloud-native options, Hippo Manager has the most native mixed-practice functionality, while ezyVet is often configured for mixed practices with heavy companion animal volume. There's no single dominant cloud option for mixed practice the way ezyVet dominates emergency medicine.

Can a mixed animal practice use one software for both companion animals and livestock?

Yes—and it's significantly better than running two systems. The challenge is that most PIMS were built for one category or the other, so truly unified mixed-practice support requires either a purpose-built platform like ImproMed or Hippo Manager, or significant configuration of a general PIMS. The key capability to verify is whether large-animal and companion animal patients can share a client account—without that, the practical benefits of a single system are limited.

How do rural mixed animal practices handle software when internet connectivity is unreliable?

Offline functionality is the key specification. Cloud-native systems vary significantly in how they handle connectivity loss: some cache data locally and sync when a connection restores, others become non-functional without a live connection. For ambulatory and farm-call work in rural areas, ask explicitly about offline mode before choosing a cloud PIMS. On-premise systems like ImproMed don't have this problem on the clinic side, but remote access from the field still requires connectivity.

See how PetDesk fits your practice

12,000+ veterinary practices use PetDesk to reduce front desk workload and give clients a better experience. A demo takes about 30 minutes—we'll show you exactly how it connects to your PIMS.

Book a demo

Take an Online Tour

See how PetDesk fits your practice

12,000+ veterinary practices use PetDesk to reduce front desk workload and give clients a better experience. A demo takes about 30 minutes—we'll show you exactly how it connects to your PIMS.

Book a demo

Take an Online Tour

See how PetDesk fits your practice

12,000+ veterinary practices use PetDesk to reduce front desk workload and give clients a better experience. A demo takes about 30 minutes—we'll show you exactly how it connects to your PIMS.

Book a demo

Take an Online Tour