Hippo Manager is a cloud-based veterinary practice information management system (PIMS) that served independent small-animal clinics, mobile practices, and specialty hospitals. It was acquired by Shepherd Veterinary Software in March 2025, and existing Hippo Manager users are being migrated to the Shepherd platform. If you are researching Hippo Manager because you saw it in a software directory, because a practice you are acquiring runs it, or because it appeared on a comparison shortlist, this review covers what the platform does, how it compares, and what the acquisition changes.

Fast answer

Hippo Manager was a strong fit for independent small-animal clinics and mobile practices that wanted an affordable, cloud-native PIMS with core features — medical records, scheduling, inventory, invoicing, and a built-in DICOM viewer — for one flat monthly fee with unlimited users and support. Since the Shepherd acquisition, new signups are directed to Shepherd. Practices currently on Hippo Manager are being transitioned to the Shepherd platform, which adds AI-powered scribing, automatic charge capture, and a more modern interface. If you are evaluating PIMS options today, review Shepherd directly.

Company background and acquisition context

Hippo Manager was developed as an affordable, cloud-first alternative to server-based PIMS systems like AVImark and Cornerstone. Its appeal was simplicity: one flat monthly fee per veterinarian, unlimited staff logins, unlimited data storage, and free training and support.

Shepherd, founded by Dr. Cindy Barnes in Prescott, Arizona, was built around automatic charge capture through SOAP-driven invoicing. By acquiring Hippo Manager, Shepherd gained approximately 800 practice accounts and additional development resources, becoming one of the fastest-growing cloud PIMS platforms in the US.

What Hippo Manager included

Medical records and charting

Hippo Manager provided SOAP-format medical records with customizable templates. Charts could be structured per clinician preference, and the system supported speech-to-text input through integrations with Dragon and Talkatoo. Records were accessible from any device with a browser and internet connection.

Appointment scheduling and whiteboard

The scheduling module supported medical and boarding appointments with customizable views. An interactive whiteboard displayed real-time patient status linked to the day's schedule. Invoices, treatment notes, and patient details were accessible from the whiteboard with a single click.

DICOM viewer and imaging

Hippo Manager included a built-in DICOM-style viewer that supported drag-and-drop imports of audio, video, image, and document files. Storage was unlimited. The viewer worked with imaging files from Cuattro and MedRx VetScope integrations.

Inventory management

The inventory module tracked stock levels, supported reorder alerts, and deducted items at administration. Integration with VetCove allowed in-software ordering for some practices.

Invoicing and payment processing

One-click payment processing from the invoice screen worked through integrations with Clearent, Stripe, and OpenEdge/X-Charge. Electronic signature capture was available for consent forms.

Reporting

Standard reporting included production reports, client and patient lists, and practice-level metrics. The Enterprise tier added API access and customized KPI reporting. Reporting was one of the areas where user reviews most frequently identified room for improvement — several reviewers noted that built-in analytics were limited compared to competitors.

Client communication

Email and text reminders covered appointments, vaccination due dates, and follow-ups. Integrations with PetDesk and AllyDVM extended client engagement. Telehealth was available through a TeleVet integration.

Integration ecosystem

Hippo Manager supported integrations with more than 20 third-party partners:

Lab integrations were generally bidirectional — results flowed into the patient record. Some reviewers noted that the breadth of integrations was narrower than platforms like ezyVet or Cornerstone, particularly for imaging PACS and third-party analytics tools.

Pricing structure (pre-acquisition)

At $119/month per DVM, Hippo Manager was among the most affordable full-featured cloud PIMS options. IDEXX Neo started at approximately $260/month per user, and ezyVet at approximately $260/month per user.

What users said

Hippo Manager held a 3.9 out of 5 rating across 133 verified reviews on Software Advice as of early 2026:

What reviewers liked

• Cloud-based accessibility from any device with a browser
• Simple, flat pricing with no hidden fees or per-seat charges
• Friendly and responsive customer support — 82% of reviewers who commented on responsiveness were positive
• Customizable medical record templates
• Unlimited data storage and backups included
• Good value relative to higher-priced competitors

What reviewers criticized

• Limited reporting and analytics. Built-in reports were basic, and practices that relied on KPI dashboards needed workarounds or the Enterprise API tier.
• Fewer integrations than competitors. The integration list was smaller than Shepherd, ezyVet, or Cornerstone, particularly for AI scribing, imaging PACS, and advanced analytics.
• No built-in AI tools. Practices that wanted AI-powered SOAP notes or clinical decision support needed separate third-party subscriptions.
• Interface described as "bulky" by some reviewers. Bugs were reported, particularly during periods of rapid growth when support wait times increased.
• No dedicated pet parent mobile app. Client-facing tools were limited to email and text reminders and third-party portals.
• Online booking not built in. Required a third-party integration rather than being a native feature.

Where Hippo Manager was strongest

• Solo practitioners and small clinics transitioning from paper or legacy server systems to a cloud PIMS for the first time
• Mobile practices that needed browser-based access from multiple locations
• Clinics with tight software budgets where the $119/month per DVM price point was the deciding factor
• Practices that did not need advanced analytics or AI tools and were satisfied with core scheduling, records, inventory, and invoicing

Where Hippo Manager was limited

• Multi-location groups with 10+ sites. Multi-location support was available but less mature than competitors.
• Practices that needed deep third-party integrations. The integration list was smaller than the ecosystems around IDEXX, ezyVet, or Shepherd.
• Clinics that wanted built-in AI scribing or clinical decision support. No native AI tools were available.
• Specialty and emergency hospitals. The feature set was oriented toward general practice workflows.
• Mixed-animal and large-animal practices. The platform was designed for companion animal use.

How Hippo Manager compared to key competitors

What the Shepherd acquisition means for current Hippo Manager users

Shepherd has stated that all Hippo Manager practices will be migrated to the Shepherd platform. Key changes:

1. Interface change. Shepherd's interface is SOAP-first with automatic charge capture. The workflow is different from Hippo Manager's template-based charting, and staff retraining should be expected.
2. New AI tools. Shepherd includes TranscribeAI (ambient scribe), DiagnoseAI (differential support), and SummarizeAI (chart review) at no extra cost.
3. Pricing change. Shepherd's pricing is higher than Hippo Manager's historical pricing. Practices should confirm what pricing applies during and after migration.
4. Integration expansion. Shepherd integrates with IDEXX, Antech, Zoetis, VetCove, AllyDVM, Weave, and Snout wellness plans.
5. Support transition. Shepherd's support team includes clinically experienced staff. Some Hippo Manager reviewers had noted support quality concerns during rapid growth; the Shepherd integration may address this.

Practices currently on Hippo Manager should ask Shepherd for a written migration timeline, pricing commitment, and confirmation that all existing data — medical records, client history, financial records — will transfer completely.

If you are evaluating PIMS options today

• Evaluate Shepherd directly. Shepherd is the platform that new Hippo Manager accounts would join. Review its interface, pricing, and integrations rather than the legacy Hippo Manager product.
• Also evaluate DaySmart Vet, IDEXX Neo, and Digitail. These are the closest competitors in the affordable cloud PIMS segment. DaySmart Vet publishes transparent tiered pricing ($137–$665/month), IDEXX Neo integrates deeply with the IDEXX diagnostic ecosystem, and Digitail offers AI-powered automation with a pet parent app.
• Budget for training regardless of platform. The transition cost in staff time and productivity is almost always higher than the subscription cost. Factor in at least two to four weeks of reduced efficiency during onboarding.
• Read our veterinary practice management software guide for a broader comparison and our Shepherd veterinary software review for the successor platform.

Sources

• Software Advice, "Hippo Manager Software Reviews, Demo & Pricing — 2026": https://www.softwareadvice.com/veterinary/hippo-manager-profile
• GetApp, "Hippo Manager 2026 Pricing, Features, Reviews & Alternatives": https://www.getapp.com/industries-software/a/hippo-manager
• Today's Veterinary Business, "Who's Who in Veterinary Practice Management Software": https://todaysveterinarybusiness.com/whos-who-in-veterinary-practice-management-software
• SignalPet, "The Top 10 Veterinary Software Tools Every Clinic Should Know in 2026": https://www.signalpet.com/articles/the-top-10-veterinary-software-tools
• Shepherd Veterinary Software, "Hippo to Shepherd migration page": https://www.shepherd.vet/hippo-to-shepherd
• PupPilot, "Hippo Manager vs Shepherd Veterinary Software: Comparison 2026": https://www.puppilot.co/resources/compare-pims/hippo-manager-vs-shepherd
• Digitail, "Best Veterinary Software Guide": https://digitail.com/blog/best-veterinary-software-guide
• VetSoftwareHub, "Best Veterinary Practice Management Software in 2026": https://www.vetsoftwarehub.com/article/best-veterinary-practice-management-software-2026