Glossary
Every term decavet uses, defined in plain language with an example.
Plain-language definitions of the words you'll see throughout decavet. Terms are listed alphabetically.
Adjustment
An extra line added to an invoice that isn't a service — a fee, surcharge, late fee, courtesy discount, write-off, or other. Example: a $15 late fee on an overdue invoice.
Appointment
A single trip to one place at one time. Holds one or more visits. See Appointments vs visits.
Bundle (service bundle)
A saved group of services you can add to a visit in one click. Example: a "Spring Wellness" bundle that adds an exam plus two vaccines.
Category
A label that organizes your services and inventory into groups (Exams, Vaccines, Surgery, Supplies). Also used for default tax behavior.
Charge
A billable line in the staging area between a service rendered and an invoice. Editable — where you review and assign who pays before invoicing.
Client
A contact you treat animals for and bill. One of the contact categories.
Contact
Anyone or any business in your address book — clients, locations, professionals, suppliers, pharmacies, syndicates. See Contacts explained.
Contact method
One way to reach a contact: email, mobile, phone, fax, or WhatsApp. A contact can have several, each with opt-in flags for billing, marketing, and text.
Discount profile
A named, reusable discount (for example "Senior 10%") you assign to a client so it applies automatically.
Estimate
A quote document, structurally the same as an invoice, that can be accepted, declined, or expired, and converted to an invoice.
Household
Extra names (spouse, partner, family, staff) attached to one contact, sharing the same address and ledger.
Inventory item
A medication or supply you stock, with a price, a dispensing unit, and optional stock tracking.
Invoice
The bill a client receives. Freezes its lines, applies tax and discounts, and tracks what's been paid. See How billing works.
Location
A contact categorized as a place you visit — a barn, farm, or show ground.
Patient
An animal under your care. Connected to the contacts who own and care for it. See Patients explained.
Payment
Money received — cash, card, check, e-transfer, or online — that is applied to one or more invoices.
Payment application
The link recording how much of a payment went to which invoice.
Provider
The team member (usually a vet) assigned to an appointment or who performs a service.
Service catalog
Your menu of billable services, with prices and note templates. The source for services rendered.
Service rendered
A single thing you did during a visit — an exam, vaccine, medication, or procedure. Together, services rendered form the medical record for that visit.
Sex (equine)
For horses, decavet shows Stallion, Mare, Gelding, and Spayed Mare instead of generic male/female labels.
Syndicate
A contact representing a group that jointly owns a horse, with each member's ownership percentage. See Syndicate ownership.
Tax rate
A configured percentage applied to taxable items when an invoice is created. Snapshotted on each invoice.
Visit
The work done for one animal during an appointment — the clinical and billing unit. See Appointments vs visits.
Visit type
A label for the kind of visit (Wellness Exam, Lameness Exam, Dental Float, Vaccination, and so on), configurable under Settings.