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Veterinary · head to head

ImproMed vs PetDesk

I

ImproMed

Veterinary

On-premise Windows practice management with deep inventory and financial reporting, now inside Covetrus

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
PetDesk logo

PetDesk

Veterinary

Client reminders, two-way texting and a pet owner app that syncs with on-premise practice systems

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: ImproMed it is a server-based Windows product, so the practice owns the hardware, the SQL database, the patching and the backup regime, and those costs never appear in the software quotation.; PetDesk the on-premise connector depends on a computer at the practice staying powered, online and patched, and when it stops syncing the reminders stop silently rather than raising an alarm.
  • They diverge on capability: ImproMed covers Multi-location inventory, PetDesk covers Two-way texting.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which ImproMed and PetDesk actually diverge.

Attributes where ImproMed and PetDesk differ
AttributeImproMedPetDesk
PlatformsWindowsWeb, iOS, Android

Identical on both: starting price (On request), pricing model (quote), free tier (No), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Veterinary).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in ImproMed

  • Multi-location inventory
  • Production reporting
  • Wellness plans
  • Laboratory and imaging integration
  • On-premise deployment
  • Covetrus prescription management

Only in PetDesk

  • Two-way texting
  • Automated reminders
  • Branded pet owner app
  • Online booking requests
  • On-premise connector
  • Review generation

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

ImproMed

  • A multi-doctor hospital carrying significant inventory value that needs reorder points and vendor price comparisonnot PetDesk
  • A practice manager who has to analyse production by veterinary surgeon and reconcile it against the general ledgernot PetDesk
  • A hospital in an area with unreliable internet that will not put the appointment book and records on a cloud connectionnot PetDesk
  • A small group running wellness plans that need recurring billing and compliance tracking against patientsnot PetDesk

PetDesk

  • A practice losing revenue to no-shows that wants automated confirmations without more front desk callsnot ImproMed
  • A clinic on an older on-premise system that cloud-only communication tools cannot integrate withnot ImproMed
  • A group wanting one branded client app across several locationsnot ImproMed
  • A practice trying to shift routine client questions off the phone and into textnot ImproMed

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

ImproMed

  • It is a server-based Windows product, so the practice owns the hardware, the SQL database, the patching and the backup regime, and those costs never appear in the software quotation.
  • Covetrus markets Pulse as its strategic cloud platform while holding three legacy practice management systems, so ask directly what development ImproMed still receives and get the support commitment and end-of-life notice period in writing.
  • Remote and mobile access is weak compared with cloud systems, which matters for on-call work, home record review and multi-site groups sharing patients.
  • The interface is dense and dated, and training a new receptionist or technician on it takes materially longer than on a modern cloud system.
  • If Covetrus does steer customers to Pulse, the migration is a full data conversion with retraining, so the cost of the eventual move should be priced into the decision now rather than later.

PetDesk

  • The on-premise connector depends on a computer at the practice staying powered, online and patched, and when it stops syncing the reminders stop silently rather than raising an alarm.
  • Synchronisation is one-way with several practice systems, so online booking requests still have to be typed into the schedule by a staff member and the labour saving is smaller than the demonstration suggests.
  • Pricing is per location, so a group of small branch clinics pays repeatedly for a product whose value scales with client volume rather than with the number of front doors.
  • The product line was assembled through acquisitions, leaving overlapping apps and consoles, and which one you get depends on when and through whom you bought.
  • Text message compliance, including consent and opt-out handling, sits with the practice as the sender, and automated recall campaigns make it easy to message clients who never agreed to receive them.

Pricing, plan by plan

ImproMed

On request
  • ImproMed Infinity$undefined/year
    • Quoted per practice with a licence and an annual support agreement
    • Server hardware and database licensing are the responsibility of the practice
    • Data conversion and training charged separately

PetDesk

On request
  • PetDesk$undefined/year
    • Priced per practice location
    • Message volume tiers
    • Branded app included on higher tiers

Which should you pick?

Choose ImproMed if

  • You need multi-location inventory.
  • You work on Windows.
  • You also want production reporting.
ImproMed review

Choose PetDesk if

  • You need two-way texting.
  • You work on Web, iOS, Android.
  • You also want automated reminders.
PetDesk review

Questions people ask

Is ImproMed or PetDesk better?
Neither clearly leads. ImproMed starts at On request and PetDesk at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, ImproMed or PetDesk?
ImproMed starts at On request and PetDesk at On request.
Does ImproMed or PetDesk run on more platforms?
ImproMed runs on Windows. PetDesk runs on Web, iOS, Android.
What is ImproMed best used for?
ImproMed is most often used for a multi-doctor hospital carrying significant inventory value that needs reorder points and vendor price comparison, a practice manager who has to analyse production by veterinary surgeon and reconcile it against the general ledger, a hospital in an area with unreliable internet that will not put the appointment book and records on a cloud connection, a small group running wellness plans that need recurring billing and compliance tracking against patients. Of those, a multi-doctor hospital carrying significant inventory value that needs reorder points and vendor price comparison and a practice manager who has to analyse production by veterinary surgeon and reconcile it against the general ledger are not what PetDesk is typically brought in for.
What can ImproMed do that PetDesk cannot?
ImproMed covers Multi-location inventory, Production reporting, Wellness plans, Laboratory and imaging integration. PetDesk covers Two-way texting, Automated reminders, Branded pet owner app, Online booking requests.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

ImproMed: Is ImproMed still being developed?

Ask Covetrus for a release history and a written support commitment. Pulse is the stated strategic cloud product, and ImproMed, AVImark and RxWorks are all legacy systems in the same portfolio.

PetDesk: Will it work with my on-premise practice management system?

Usually yes, through a connector installed on your network that reads the local database. Confirm whether your specific system supports two-way sync or only reading.

ImproMed: Can it run in the cloud?

It is designed for an on-premise server. Hosting it on a remote desktop service is possible but it is not a native cloud application and does not behave like one.

PetDesk: Does online booking write directly into my diary?

That depends on the practice system. With several of them a request arrives for staff to confirm and enter manually, so ask for your exact system before assuming automatic booking.

ImproMed: What is it better at than cloud alternatives?

Inventory control and financial and production reporting. Practices with high stock value and several veterinary surgeons are the ones that notice the difference.

PetDesk: Who is responsible for text messaging consent?

The practice is. PetDesk sends on your behalf, but the lawful basis, the consent record and the opt-out handling are your obligations as the sender.

ImproMed: What happens to my data if we move to Pulse?

A conversion project. Establish before signing what Covetrus will convert, what it will not, and who pays for it.

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