How to Use an AI Scribe with Shepherd: Complete Guide (2026)

Shepherd is the modern cloud PIMS built from the ground up with veterinary practices in mind. Its interface is intuitive, its architecture is contemporary, and it's become a favorite for practices that want to work with clean, purposeful software. If you're using Shepherd, you've chosen a system that values user experience and seamless integrations. Adding PawfectNotes to your Shepherd setup is a natural fit—it's cloud-native integration via browser extension that feels like it was built to work together.

How PawfectNotes Works with Shepherd

Since Shepherd is a modern, web-based platform, PawfectNotes integrates via a browser extension for Chrome and Edge. Shepherd is one of PawfectNotes' automatic integrations, so the finished note is written straight into the patient record. There's no separate software and no complexity. Just your browser, Shepherd, and PawfectNotes working as one. Here's the flow:

Step 1: Install the PawfectNotes Browser Extension
Install the PawfectNotes extension from the Chrome Web Store (it works in Google Chrome and Microsoft Edge) and sign in. Then open the patient's record in Shepherd and open the extension next to it.

Step 2: Press Record During the Exam
When you're in the exam room with your patient and client, click the record button in the PawfectNotes extension. The extension captures your voice and the exam. There's no special technique—just talk naturally about what you're finding on the exam, what the owner is telling you, and your clinical impressions.

Step 3: Review the Generated SOAP Note
When the exam is done, stop the recording. PawfectNotes processes it in the cloud and generates a complete SOAP note within seconds. The review interface appears right there in your browser. Scan through the note (usually under a minute), make any quick fixes, and approve it.

Step 4: Sync to Shepherd with One Click
Click Sync All Data in the PawfectNotes extension. Your SOAP note is written into the patient record you have open in Shepherd. No manual entry, no copying and pasting.

Step 5: Finalize and Organize
Once the note is in Shepherd, use Shepherd's native tools to organize it. Tag it with the relevant diagnoses, link it to treatment plans, add any follow-up reminders, or generate any necessary RXs or treatment orders. Your Shepherd workflow remains smooth and intuitive.

Setup in 3 Minutes

1. Sign Up for PawfectNotes: Go to pawfectnotes.com and create an account in about 60 seconds.
2. Install the Browser Extension: Add the PawfectNotes extension to Chrome or Edge from the Chrome Web Store and sign in.
3. Test: Open a test patient in Shepherd, record a quick practice note, click Sync All Data, and verify it appears correctly.

Three minutes, and you're ready to start saving hours every day.

What Your SOAP Notes Look Like

Here's a realistic example of what PawfectNotes generates for a sick kitten evaluation that gets synced to Shepherd:

This is the type of detailed, preventive-focused documentation that PawfectNotes captures for wellness and sick-kitten exams—practical, thorough, and ready to guide your team and inform the client.

Tips for Best Results with Shepherd

1. Leverage Shepherd's Native Organization Tools After Syncing
PawfectNotes generates the narrative, and Shepherd's tools do the organizational heavy lifting. After syncing, spend 30 seconds tagging the note with diagnoses, linking it to treatment plans, or setting reminders. Shepherd's interface makes this frictionless.

2. Send Clients a Plain-Language Summary
PawfectNotes can also generate a client-friendly discharge note from the same recording. Paste it into your usual client message so your documentation becomes part of your communication.

3. Set Up for Clean Audio
Position your microphone so it picks up your voice and the conversation clearly, away from clippers, fans, and kennel noise. Cleaner audio means more accurate transcription and less editing in the review phase.

4. Batch Your Review During Downtime
If your clinic has quiet afternoons or slower periods, review your notes then. Your notes stay in your PawfectNotes account, so you can review and sync several in one sitting—just open each patient in Shepherd before you sync.

Modern Practice, Modern Tools

Shepherd users have chosen purposeful, clean software. PawfectNotes is the natural extension of that philosophy—it's straightforward, it works, and it saves you time without adding complexity to your workflow.

Try PawfectNotes free with 50 sessions per month, every month—never expires, no credit card required. Experience how much faster documentation becomes when AI handles the narrative. Visit our integrations page to see how PawfectNotes works across all major EMRs, and check out our Shepherd-specific help center for setup instructions and tips.