Starting out in veterinary practice can be challenging, but the right tools can help you provide confident patient care in less time. We asked the Instinct team what apps, tools, and resources they’d recommend to help new veterinary school grads get their footing in veterinary practice. From calculators and clinical tools to handy apps and online resources, these platforms will enhance your clinical decision-making, improve efficiency, and provide valuable information when you need it most. Without further ado, here’s our top list of innovative apps and tools every new veterinary graduate should know about.

1. IAVPM CRI Calculator

Constant-rate infusions (CRIs) are essential for pain management, sedation, blood pressure management, electrolyte supplementation, insulin administration, and more. But as you’ve probably discovered already, accurately calculating CRIs can be a bit of a nightmare.

The IAVPM’s CRI Calculator is a great tool that takes some manual math out of the equation (pun intended). It helps determine precise drug dosages, infusion rates, and duration for CRIs, saving time and sparing you the math headache.

Pro-Tip: The app is free to download, but you’ll need to be an IAVPM member to access it. You can sign up at the reduced post-grad rate here.

Website: https://ivapm.org/professionals/cri-calculator

Platforms: Web and mobile app, available for Apple and Android

Price: Free with IAVPM membership

2. Plumb’s

You probably heard Plumb’s mentioned at least once in school (if not a hundred times by every instructor). You’ve probably even used it already. But in case you haven’t heard, it’s not just a drug handbook anymore.

Plumb’s is an easy-to-use app and website with practical, up-to-date information on drugs, diagnoses, procedures, and more, specifically designed to help you make decisions about a case and move forward quickly. In addition to a drug interaction checker, a built-in calculator, and some other helpful tools, Plumb’s also has an extensive library of printable handouts for clients, covering common (and uncommon) questions about drugs, diseases, clinical signs, vaccinations, and more, to help you educate pet owners.

Pro-Tip: Plumb’s offers a hefty discount for recent graduates. Reach out to the Plumb’s team to request more information.

Website: https://plumbs.com

Platforms: Web and mobile app, available for Apple and Android

Price: Starting at $79 per month

3. Recover CPR App

A coding patient can feel like complete chaos without a systematic, predictable process and detailed monitoring. The RECOVER Initiative, which offers online courses for veterinary CPR certification, developed the RECOVER CPR app to streamline your CPR process.

Use the app to record essential data from the code and then send yourself a PDF with all the details. Keep track of your 2-minute cycles, assess compression rates by tapping on the screen, and use the built-in metronome function to guide compressions and ventilation.

Website: https://recoverinitiative.org/cprapp

Platforms: Mobile app only, available for Apple and Android

Price: Free

4. VetCalculators

Precision in veterinary medicine is vital, but making accurate calculations can be nerve-wracking, especially in the middle of a challenging or time-sensitive situation. VetCalculators is a great tool that simplifies complex calculations and automates some of the key steps so you can stay focused on the most critical aspects of patient care.

This handy app provides a range of calculators tailored for veterinary professionals. From calorie and chocolate toxicity calculators to fluid therapy estimations to anesthesia-related dosages, this tool simplifies complex calculations, saving time and helping you minimize errors. You can test it out and see what calculators are included on their website.

Website: https://www.vetcalculators.com

Platforms: Mobile app only, available for Apple and Android

Price: One-time charge of $11.99 to download, followed by a $3.99 monthly subscription fee

5. Headspace

Veterinary medicine isn’t for the faint of heart. Challenging clients, emotionally draining cases, high-stress emergencies… it can all add up to be emotionally and physically draining, so it’s crucial to carve out time to process tough emotions and build resilience.

Many of us on the Instinct team use Headspace to guide meditation and mindfulness. It’s an easy-to-use app that makes an activity like meditation more approachable and easier to incorporate into your daily routine. With mini-meditations, sleep meditations, and dozens of other formats, Headspace can help you improve focus, reduce anxiety, and promote overall well-being.

Pro-Tip: Calm is another great app for building these skills and getting support managing mental and emotional burdens. But remember: Apps like Calm and Headspace are just one part of the self-care formula. Seek help from real humans often.

Website: https://www.headspace.com

Platforms: Web and mobile app, available for Apple and Android

Price: Starting at $12.99 per month

6. VIN

We all have that one colleague who we call when a case takes an unexpected turn, or we run into something we’ve never seen before. But like us, that colleague has their own pile of cases, too. So it’s good to have another resource to turn to.

We recommend signing up for VIN, the Veterinary Information Network. It gives you access to a vast collection of articles, case discussions, and forums where you can engage with experienced veterinarians and learn from their expertise. VIN is a supportive community and knowledge hub, helping you expand your veterinary knowledge and build connections within the profession.

Website: https://www.vin.com/vin/default.aspx

Platforms: Website

Price: $810 per year per user

7. The Merck Veterinary Manual

Still have your nerdbook from veterinary school (plus a few favorite textbooks full of notes in the margins)? Us too. But sometimes you need an answer that your nerdbook and your (heavy) collection of textbooks can’t answer.

The Merck Veterinary Manual is a trusted and widely recognized reference available in a mobile app, so you can save yourself the trouble of hauling around all those textbooks. It covers thousands of topics written and regularly updated by hundreds of veterinary experts worldwide. With comprehensive information on diseases, diagnostic procedures, and treatment options, this is a must-have manual and a reliable resource for accurate decision-making.

Website: https://www.merckvetmanual.com

Platforms: Web and mobile app, available for Apple and Android

Price: Free

8. Animal Drugs @ FDA

So we wouldn’t necessarily call this one “innovative,” but it’s certainly helpful. This searchable database by the US Food and Drug Administration gives you access to information on approved animal drugs, including labels, client information sheets, safety information, and research summaries. This is also where you’ll find the Green Book, a publicly available list of approved animal drug products that the FDA updates monthly.

Website: https://animaldrugsatfda.fda.gov

Platforms: Website only

Price: Free

9. VetPrep

Are you ready for the NAVLE? Silly question–who’s ever really ready for boards? There are dozens of test prep resources available, but our favorite is VetPrep.

It offers practice questions, personalized study plans, and performance tracking to enhance exam readiness. All of their information is relentlessly reviewed, and the platform makes it easy to track your progress, focus your studying, and even practice under pressure with timed modes. It’s a great mix of reading material, review lectures, and practice questions developed in a format designed to fit into your hectic schedule.

Website: https://www.vetprep.com/index.jsp

Platforms: Web and mobile app, available for Apple and Android

Price: Starting at $309 for 45 days

10. The APCC App by the ASPCA

Poison ingestion is a common presenting complaint, and making pet owners aware of what can be toxic to their pets and how toxicities present can make a difference in these cases.

The APCC App contains a comprehensive (and searchable) list of household and other poisons for dogs, cats, horses, and birds, with the toxins divided into different sections like household hazards, cold weather hazards, warm weather hazards, and so forth. Although it isn’t super intuitive to use for pet owners, it’s a valuable reference tool for veterinary professionals.

Website: https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/animal-poison-control

Platforms: Mobile app only, available for Apple and Android

Price: Free

11. Instinct EMR

Of course, we must mention our full practice management system, Instinct EMR, the industry’s first practice management software with integrated digital treatment sheets and built-in safety tools like Plumb’s Veterinary Drugs.

As a team of veterinary professionals, we built Instinct EMR to solve the problems we’ve all encountered with existing practice management systems, like frustrating manual data entry, confusing interfaces, and complicated user experiences. Instinct EMR combines the beloved Instinct Treatment Plan platform with a complete practice management system that helps you:

• Improve workflows with integrated patient check-in and assessment, charts and vitals, digital treatment sheets, medical records, and invoicing systems
• Increase practice profitability with convenient charge capture
• Enhance patient outcomes with automated patient safety features like drug calculators and built-in Plumb’s

When you find yourself in practice, wrestling with a practice management system that just doesn’t work the way you need it to, do yourself and your team a favor and tell the practice manager about Instinct. 😉

Website: https://www.instinct.vet

Platforms: Cloud-based software

Price: Request a demo for more information.

As a new veterinary professional, having access to innovative tools can significantly enhance your practice. From stress reduction apps like Headspace and Calm to clinical decision-making aids like Plumb’s and VIN, these tools empower you to provide optimal patient care. Tap into the power of technology and stay ahead in the ever-evolving field of veterinary medicine.

Have a favorite tool or resource we didn’t mention? Connect with us on Facebook and LinkedIn and share yours.

*All prices are listed in USD unless otherwise noted.