Avimark Is Being Sunset: What Are Your Options?

If you've used Avimark for any length of time, you probably feel the same way a lot of practice owners do: it's not perfect, but it works. You know where everything is. Your staff knows the shortcuts. It does what you need it to do.

The problem is that Covetrus and its parent company Patterson aren't putting resources into Avimark anymore. They're pushing clinics toward Pulse, their cloud-based replacement. And based on what veterinary professionals are saying online, that transition has not gone smoothly.

This article covers what's happening with Avimark, what alternatives exist, what they actually cost (since most vendors won't tell you), and how to evaluate your options without spending three weeks on sales calls.

What's Happening with Avimark?

Avimark has been a staple of small and mid-size veterinary practices for decades. It runs on local servers, it's reliable, and for many clinics it's simply "the way we do things."

But IDEXX acquired the broader veterinary software landscape (Cornerstone, ezyVet), and Covetrus merged with Patterson. Both companies are consolidating their product lines around cloud-based platforms. Avimark, as a server-based system, doesn't fit the roadmap.

Covetrus hasn't published an official "end of life" date for Avimark. What they have done is slow feature development, reduce support staffing, and actively push existing Avimark customers toward Pulse.

One Avimark user on Reddit put it this way:

"I am fine with avimark, but I don't think they are putting much effort into it now. They are trying to push everyone over to their cloud based solution."

Veterinary professional, r/veterinaryprofession (March 2025)

Another longtime user:

"They told me back in 2014 to get ready to say goodbye to Avimark because it was a relic of the past. 2025 and you can pry Avimark from my cold, dead hands."

Practice owner, r/veterinaryprofession (March 2025)

The sentiment is consistent: people love using Avimark, but they can see the sunset coming. The question isn't whether to switch, but when, and to what.

Why Not Just Move to Pulse?

Pulse (Covetrus's cloud-based replacement) is the path of least resistance. Same vendor, presumably easier data migration. On paper it makes sense.

In practice, the feedback has been rough.

"PULSE SUCKS! It was marketed to our clinic as an amazing option for mixed animal practices and honestly AVImark is much better. I have spent the entire past year trying to teach myself and my staff how to use Pulse. We were told during setup and migration that our questions could be answered by support later on, then we were basically abandoned."

Practice owner, r/VeterinaryMedicine (September 2025)

"They gave us a timeline and told us they would have people come to train us in person and help us make sure everything gets set up properly after the migration, neither of which happened. Now we are teaching ourselves how to use the software and each week we are continuing to find more issues with the program."

Veterinary professional, r/VeterinaryMedicine (September 2025)

"At first I felt like it was just a learning curve and now it's very obvious it's just the program isn't good."

Same user, follow-up comment

The pattern here isn't just "the product needs work." It's broken promises: promised in-person training that never happened, promised support that disappeared, and a product that leaves clinics worse off than where they started.

The worst part? By the time clinics realize Pulse isn't working, they've already invested months in migration:

"By the time you realize all the flaws it's too late and would be too expensive and confusing to staff and clients to switch PMS systems again."

Practice owner, r/VeterinaryMedicine

Your Actual Options

Here's an honest look at what's available for small-to-mid veterinary practices right now. We're including pricing where we can find it, which isn't easy since most vendors hide their numbers behind "request a demo" forms.

ezyVet (IDEXX)

Best for: Multi-vet practices that want deep IDEXX lab integration and can afford the price tag.

• Cloud-based, acquired by IDEXX in 2022
• Strong diagnostic integration (naturally, since IDEXX makes the labs too)
• Capterra rating: 94/100 overall
• Pricing: Not published. Industry estimates: $400-$800/month with per-provider fees
• The catch: It's enterprise software dressed in a small-practice wrapper. The learning curve is steep, and the cost reflects the enterprise audience IDEXX is really chasing.

"When we switched to Ezyvet last year, it was... difficult. It's decent in a few aspects, but the negatives far outweigh the positives IMO. Their medications tab is a disaster."

Vet tech, r/veterinaryprofession (March 2025)

Digitail

Best for: Clinics that want the most AI features and don't mind paying for them.

• Cloud-native, AI-first
• Claims 10,000+ veterinarians, 4.8 stars on Capterra
• AI SOAP notes (Tails AI Scribe), AI-powered intake, discharge notes
• Pricing: Not published. Tiered model. Industry estimates: $250-$600/month. AI features are behind higher-tier paywalls.
• The catch: The AI story is real, but the best features require the highest-priced tier. And the base product, without the AI extras, is comparable to competitors at a higher price point.

Provet Cloud

Best for: Multi-location or corporate-owned practices.

• Cloud-based, growing fast, strong in Europe and corporate vet groups
• 55,000+ users (CVS Group, IVC Evidensia, AmeriVet)
• Clinical AI for SOAP notes
• Pricing: Not published
• The catch: Built for enterprise veterinary groups, not solo or two-vet clinics. Capterra score: 73/100, with ease-of-use complaints.

Hippo Manager

Best for: Budget-conscious clinics that want something simple and cloud-based.

• Cloud-based, simpler feature set
• Capterra rating: 80/100
• Pricing: Estimated $119-$219/month (one of the few that's semi-transparent)
• The catch: Limited feature depth. Smaller team behind it, fewer integrations.

PawChart (That's Us)

Best for: Independent practices with 1-5 vets who want modern features at a fair price.

We're building PawChart specifically for the kind of clinic that Avimark served well: small, independent, and tired of being an afterthought to vendors chasing corporate accounts.

• Cloud-based, built for small practices from day one
• AI SOAP notes included at every tier (no paywall)
• Client communication (reminders, texting, online booking) built in
• Pricing: Published. $99/month (Solo), $179/month (Practice), $249/month (Group). No per-provider fees. No contracts.
• Migration from Avimark designed to happen in a weekend, not a quarter

We're transparent about where we are: PawChart is new. We don't have 10,000 users or a 20-year track record. What we have is a product designed around the workflows that matter to small practices, at a price that doesn't require a committee meeting.

How to Evaluate Your Options Without Losing Your Mind

For a detailed side-by-side breakdown of every major PMS, see our 2026 comparison guide. Below is the short version for Avimark clinics specifically.

Switching practice management software is a big decision. Here's how to approach it without spending weeks in demo calls:

1. Know your dealbreakers

Before you look at any product, write down the 3-5 things your current software does well that you can't live without. For most Avimark users, this includes:

• Speed: Avimark is fast. If a cloud product is noticeably slower for routine tasks, your staff will hate it.
• Charge capture: Avimark is good at preventing missed charges (one of its overlooked strengths).
• Report templates: If you've built custom reports over years, check whether they can migrate.

2. Ask about migration before features

The #1 complaint across every PMS transition is broken migration promises. Before you care about AI features or pretty dashboards, ask:

• How long does migration take, start to finish?
• What data migrates automatically vs. manually?
• What training is included?
• Who do I call when something goes wrong in week two?

If a vendor gets vague on any of these, that's your answer.

3. Get real pricing

If a vendor won't show you pricing without a sales call, ask yourself why. The answer is usually that the number is higher than you'd expect and they want to sell you on value before revealing cost.

For reference, here's what the market looks like:

4. Talk to clinics, not salespeople

The best way to evaluate software is to talk to a practice that's already using it. Ask the vendor for references, then ask those references the questions the vendor won't answer: What broke during migration? What do you wish you'd known? Would you switch again?

The Bottom Line

Avimark served small practices well for a long time. The fact that it's being sunset isn't your fault, and the fact that the replacement (Pulse) has problems isn't your problem to solve.

You have options. Some are expensive. Some are designed for much larger organizations than yours. Some are transparent about what they cost and what they do.

Take your time, ask the hard questions, and pick the tool that treats your practice like it matters, because it does.

PawChart is modern practice management software built for independent vet clinics. AI SOAP notes, client communication, and billing, starting at $99/month. See our pricing →