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

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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. There's no separate software, no authentication headaches, and no complexity. Just your browser, Shepherd, and PawfectNotes working as one. Here's the flow:

Step 1: Install the PawfectNotes Browser Extension
Open your browser and install the PawfectNotes extension from the Chrome Web Store, Safari App Store, or Firefox Add-Ons. You'll see the PawfectNotes icon in your toolbar. That's it—you're ready to use 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 (takes about 20 seconds), make any quick fixes, and approve it.

Step 4: Export to Shepherd with One Click
Click "Export to Shepherd" in the PawfectNotes interface. The browser extension integrates directly with Shepherd's patient record, and your SOAP note appears in the Consultation Notes section. No manual entry, no copying and pasting, no errors.

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: In your PawfectNotes dashboard, click "Integrations," find Shepherd, and install the extension.
3. Log In to Your Shepherd Account: The extension will prompt you to authenticate with Shepherd. You do this once, and it's remembered for future sessions.
4. Test: Record a quick practice note and export it to a test patient in Shepherd. 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 exported to Shepherd:

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Patient: Pixel, 12-week-old Domestic Shorthair Cat
Date: April 10, 2026
Chief Complaint: Kitten "not acting right" + decreased appetite x 24 hours

SUBJECTIVE:
New kitten adopted 1 week ago from local shelter. Owner reports kitten was playful and eating well until yesterday evening. Now is lethargic, hiding, and eating very little. No vomiting noted, but owner observed one soft stool this morning. Kitten has had no prior medical care. Vaccination status unknown but likely not current. Flea/tick status unknown. Owner brought in today due to concern.

OBJECTIVE:
BW: 2.1 kg (estimated age 12 weeks)
HR: 180 bpm (slightly elevated, possibly due to stress/illness)
RR: 32 breaths/min (slightly elevated)
Temp: 102.8°F (mild fever)
MM: pink, CRT < 2 seconds
Hydration: appears adequately hydrated

Physical Exam:

• Quiet, alert but subdued; responds to stimulation
• Palpable lymph nodes: submandibular and inguinal nodes feel mildly enlarged
• Abdominal palpation: slightly firm, no masses, mild apparent discomfort on deep palpation cranially
• Ears: canals appear clear, no discharge noted
• Eyes: alert, normal appearance
• Respiratory: lung auscultation clear bilaterally
• Cardiac: rate elevated but rhythm regular, no murmur
• Fecal exam: not performed at this time (could perform if indicated)

ASSESSMENT:

1. Acute illness, likely infectious (viral upper respiratory, feline herpesvirus, calicivirus most likely given shelter origin and presentation)
2. Mild dehydration possible
3. Possible early enteritis (soft stool, vague abdominal discomfort)
4. Rule out feline panleukopenia (unvaccinated kitten; however, lethargy and anorexia fit, but no vomiting or severe diarrhea yet)
5. Rule out parasitic infestation (newly adopted shelter kitten)

PLAN:

1. Diagnostics:

   • Recommend fecal flotation to rule out common parasites (roundworms, hookworms, coccidia)
   • Recommend bloodwork (CBC, CMP) if symptoms persist or worsen; will help differentiate viral vs. bacterial
   • Consider snap tests (FeLV, FIV) given shelter origin, though may be falsely negative if very recently infected

2. Supportive care:

   • Recommend fluids and rest; ensure kitten has access to fresh water and quiet space
   • Recommend feeding small amounts of bland food (boiled chicken, Royal Canin Digestive Care) if kitten begins eating
   • Monitor for progression of symptoms

3. Medical management:

   • Prescribe: L-lysine supplement 500mg BID (supports immune function in herpesvirus cases)
   • Monitor for 24-48 hours; if not improving or worsening, recommend recheck and possible antibiotics if bacterial superinfection suspected
   • No antibiotics at this time unless clear indication of bacterial infection

4. Preventive care:

   • Start feline FVRCP vaccination series (today: first vaccine; 3-4 weeks: second dose; 2-4 weeks after second: booster)
   • Recommend feline leukemia vaccine; can start at 8 weeks, second dose 3-4 weeks later
   • Plan fecal deworming after fecal results
   • Discuss flea/tick prevention appropriate for kittens (age/weight dependent)

5. Owner counseling:

   • Explained that most viral causes in kittens are self-limiting and improve with supportive care
   • Discussed signs to monitor (lethargy worsening, not eating for > 24 hours, vomiting, diarrhea) and when to contact clinic
   • Discussed vaccination importance, especially for shelter kittens
   • Discussed timeline for completing vaccine series (plan 3 visits total)

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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 Export
PawfectNotes generates the narrative, and Shepherd's tools do the organizational heavy lifting. After export, spend 30 seconds tagging the note with diagnoses, linking it to treatment plans, or setting reminders. Shepherd's interface makes this frictionless.

2. Use Shepherd's Communication Features with Client Notes
If you're using Shepherd's client communication feature, you can generate summaries from your PawfectNotes-generated notes and send them to clients. Shepherd integrates beautifully with client messaging, so your documentation becomes part of your communication strategy.

3. Record in Quiet Moments for Cleaner Audio
Shepherd practices often work in well-designed, quieter clinic environments. Take advantage of this—position your microphone so it picks up your voice clearly. Cleaner audio means more accurate transcription and less editing in the review phase.

4. Batch Your Recording and Exporting During Downtime
If your clinic has a pattern of quiet afternoons or slower periods, batch your note recording and review then. PawfectNotes stores your recordings locally in your browser, so you can review and export multiple notes at once. It's more efficient than exporting one at a time.

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. We also have a quick video walkthrough showing PawfectNotes and Shepherd working together.

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