Merlin vs Shepherd Veterinary Software: Veterinary Software Compared
A side-by-side look at Merlin and Shepherd Veterinary Software. See how these veterinary practice management systems compare on features, deployment, and Puppilot sync support.
Merlin Hybrid
Shepherd Veterinary Software Cloud
Feature-by-Feature Comparison
How Merlin and Shepherd Veterinary Software stack up across 26 core capabilities
| Feature | Merlin | Shepherd Veterinary Software |
|---|---|---|
| EMR / Medical Records Core Clinical | ✓ | ✓ |
| SOAP Notes Core Clinical | ✗ | ✓ |
| AI SOAP / Transcription Core Clinical | ✗ | ✓ |
| Treatment Sheets / Whiteboard Core Clinical | ✗ | ✗ |
| Prescription Management Core Clinical | ✗ | ✓ |
| Digital Imaging / DICOM Core Clinical | ✗ | ✓ |
| Controlled Substance Logging Core Clinical | ✗ | ✗ |
| Appointment Scheduling Scheduling | ✓ | ✓ |
| Online Booking (Client Self-Service) Scheduling | ✗ | ✓ |
| Boarding / Hospitalization Scheduling | ✗ | ✗ |
| Inventory Management Financial | ✓ | ✓ |
| Invoicing & Billing Financial | ✗ | ✓ |
| Payment Processing Financial | ✗ | ✓ |
| Wellness Plans Financial | ✗ | ✗ |
| Client Communication (Reminders) Client Engagement | ✗ | ✓ |
| 2-Way Messaging / Texting Client Engagement | ✗ | ✓ |
| Client Portal / App Client Engagement | ✗ | ✓ |
| Telemedicine / Video Client Engagement | ✗ | ✗ |
| Reporting & Analytics Operations | ✓ | ✓ |
| Multi-Location Support Operations | ✗ | ✗ |
| Mobile App / Access Operations | ✗ | ✓ |
| Digital Forms (Intake/Consent) Operations | ✗ | ✓ |
| IDEXX Lab Connection Lab Connections | ✗ | ✓ |
| Antech Lab Connection Lab Connections | ✗ | ✗ |
| Heska Lab Connection Lab Connections | ✗ | ✗ |
| IDEXX Web PACS Imaging Lab Connections | ✗ | ✓ |
Strengths & Weaknesses
Merlin
Shepherd Veterinary Software
Puppilot Syncs with Both
Whether your clinic runs Merlin or Shepherd Veterinary Software, Puppilot's AI phone answering service syncs directly with your practice management system to answer calls with real patient context. Learn more about how Puppilot works with Merlin and Shepherd Veterinary Software.
Puppilot + Merlin Full Sync
Reads: Patient records, appointment schedule, medical history, medications, client info
Writes: Appointment booking, call notes, follow-up tasks
Connection: Cloud API or direct database connection
Setup: Days
Puppilot + Shepherd Veterinary Software Full Sync
Reads: Patient records, appointment schedule, medical history, medications, client info
Writes: Appointment booking, call notes, follow-up tasks
Connection: Cloud API
Setup: Days
Frequently Asked Questions
Merlin is Merlin: cloud-based. Shepherd Veterinary Software is Vet-founded with built-in AI (TranscribeAI, DiagnoseAI) and interactive body maps. The best choice depends on your clinic's size, specialty, and workflow preferences.
It depends on your priorities. Merlin is best for Practices of any size looking for a cloud practice management system. Shepherd Veterinary Software is best for Small animal general practices that want a modern, intuitive cloud PIM with AI-powered documentation. Consider factors like your budget, whether you prefer cloud or on-premise, and which lab systems you use.
Yes. Puppilot syncs with both Merlin and Shepherd Veterinary Software, providing AI-powered phone answering that reads patient records and appointment data directly from either system.
Yes, data migration between Merlin and Shepherd Veterinary Software is possible, though it typically requires careful planning and may involve a third-party migration service. Your Puppilot service would continue working seamlessly through the switch.