The problems we exist to fix
Practices don't switch software because they want to — they switch when staying costs more than moving. These are the pains we hear in clinics' own words, and what Cairn does about each one.
"Every vet we add is another $99–$349 a month. We're penalized for growing."
Nearly every system on the market prices per DVM or per user, so your software bill climbs with every hire — support staff sometimes included.
"They charge us to get our own records out."
Data lock-in is a strategy for the big vendors: proprietary formats, export fees, and migrations quoted in the thousands make leaving expensive on purpose.
"Support went downhill after they got bought."
The industry has consolidated into a couple of giants, and reviews of the rolled-up products tell the same story: strong support early, inconsistent after the acquisition, and "unexpected price increases."
"It looks — and clicks — like 2005."
Too many clicks for routine tasks, slow screens, workarounds held together with sticky notes and spreadsheets. Staff frustration is a named reason practices switch.
"We spend evenings finishing records."
Documentation debt is the quiet burnout engine of practice life, and most systems treat the note as a blank text box you fill after hours.
"The internet dropped and the whole clinic stopped."
Cloud systems are great until the connection isn't. A rural clinic — or any clinic on a bad ISP day — can't chart, can't invoice, can't check in.