PaySec + Covetrus Pulse: Zero Processing Fees for Modern Veterinary Practices
How veterinary practices on Covetrus Pulse (vOS) are eliminating credit card processing fees with PaySec's Network Offset Pricing integration.
Running a veterinary practice in 2026 means managing rising costs for pharmaceuticals, lab services, staffing, and equipment — all while keeping care affordable for pet owners. One cost that rarely gets the attention it deserves is the credit card processing fee deducted from every client payment. At 2.3-2.5% per transaction, a veterinary hospital processing $120,000 per month in client payments is losing nearly $35,000 per year to payment processors. That is real money that could fund staff raises, new diagnostic equipment, or improved facilities.
Covetrus Pulse (formerly Pulse/vOS) is the cloud-based veterinary operating system from Covetrus — combining practice management, client communication, and integrated services into a unified platform. It represents the next generation of veterinary software, built for modern practices that want cloud access, integrated communication tools, and streamlined operations.
PaySec integrates with Covetrus Pulse to eliminate processing fees across all payment types — from routine wellness exams to emergency surgeries to pharmacy and product sales.
What Is the PaySec + Covetrus Pulse Integration?
PaySec connects with Pulse's invoicing and checkout workflow. When a veterinary team member finalizes an invoice in Pulse and initiates payment, the PaySec terminal receives the total and displays dual pricing: the base amount for cash or check, and an adjusted amount for credit card. The client sees both options, chooses their payment method, and the transaction posts back to the client and patient record in Pulse automatically.
This is Network Offset Pricing (NOP) — a transparent, card-network-compliant approach that is legal in all 50 states. There are no hidden surcharges. Both prices are displayed before the client decides. The practice receives the full invoice amount regardless of which payment method the client selects.
The Real Cost of Processing Fees for Veterinary Practices
| Practice Size | Monthly Client Payments | Processing Rate | Annual Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small animal (1-2 vets) | $55,000 | 2.5% | $16,500 |
| General practice (3-4 vets) | $120,000 | 2.4% | $34,560 |
| Specialty/referral hospital | $250,000 | 2.3% | $69,000 |
| Emergency clinic | $180,000 | 2.4% | $51,840 |
These fees are deducted before your daily deposit arrives. Most practice owners know they pay processing fees, but few have calculated the actual annual cost. When you see the number, it changes your perspective.
How Network Offset Pricing Works with Pulse
Standard Checkout
- Invoice finalized in Pulse, payment initiated
- PaySec terminal displays dual pricing to client
- Client pays (card at card price, or cash/check at base price)
- Payment posts to patient/client account in Pulse
- End-of-day reconciliation automated
Client Communication
Pulse's client communication tools work alongside PaySec:
- Invoice emails include payment link with dual pricing
- Text reminders for outstanding balances include pay link with both options
- Client portal shows payment options clearly before the client enters card information
Pharmacy and Products
Covetrus integrates pharmacy and product ordering directly into Pulse. Client purchases through the practice all process at zero cost:
- Prescription medications at checkout with NOP
- Retail products (food, supplements, flea/tick prevention) with dual pricing
- Online pharmacy orders processed at zero cost
Specialty and Emergency Veterinary Savings
For specialty hospitals and emergency clinics on Pulse, the savings are dramatic because of high average invoice values:
| Specialty Service | Avg Invoice | Current Fee (2.5%) | With PaySec |
|---|---|---|---|
| Orthopedic surgery | $5,000 | $125 | $0 |
| Oncology treatment | $3,000 | $75 | $0 |
| Critical care stay | $4,500 | $113 | $0 |
| MRI/CT imaging | $2,500 | $63 | $0 |
A single orthopedic surgery saves $125 in processing fees. A specialty practice performing several surgeries per week saves thousands per month. Annual savings for a specialty practice: $50,000 to $70,000 or more.
Integration Features
Cloud-Native Sync: Both Pulse and PaySec operate in the cloud. Payment data flows in real time, reports are accessible from anywhere, and there is no on-premise infrastructure to maintain beyond the checkout terminal.
Multi-Location Support: Veterinary groups running Pulse across multiple locations can deploy PaySec at every site with per-location merchant accounts and centralized group-level reporting.
All Payment Types: Wellness exams, surgeries, dental cleanings, pharmacy sales, boarding, grooming, product retail — every payment type that flows through Pulse processes at zero cost through PaySec.
PCI Level 1 Compliance: PaySec handles all card data through PCI Level 1 certified infrastructure. Your practice never stores sensitive client payment information.
No Contracts, No Minimums: No long-term commitments, no minimum processing volumes. PaySec works for solo practitioners and large veterinary hospital groups alike.
Who Is This For?
The PaySec + Covetrus Pulse integration is designed for any veterinary practice — small animal, mixed animal, specialty, or emergency — that has adopted Pulse as its practice management platform and wants to stop losing revenue to credit card processing fees. Practices with high-value services (surgery, specialty care, emergency medicine) see the largest per-transaction savings, but even routine small animal practices save thousands per year because the volume of daily transactions adds up.
If you chose Pulse for its modern, cloud-first approach to veterinary practice management, PaySec is the natural complement: a modern, zero-cost approach to payment processing.
Getting Started
- Contact PaySec for a veterinary merchant account — approval typically takes 3-5 business days
- Deploy NOP terminals at each checkout station in your practice
- Connect to Pulse payment flow — PaySec's integration team configures the connection
- Configure client portal payment page — online payments display dual pricing automatically
- Go live with zero-fee processing — most practices are live within two weeks
The setup does not disrupt your daily operations. Your team continues using Pulse exactly as they do today, and clients adapt to the dual pricing display within their first visit.
PaySec + Covetrus Pulse: the veterinary operating system paired with zero-cost payment processing. Every exam, every surgery, every pharmacy sale — full revenue retained.