Use Snippets to save reusable text and insert it into records, summaries, and client communications. Snippets can include static text, dynamic variables, or both.
Dynamic variables are placeholders that automatically fill in with live case and patient information when the snippet is inserted. For example, a snippet can include the patient’s name, species, pronouns, medication dose, or client name without needing to edit those details manually each time.
What Are Snippets?
Snippets are reusable text passages that you can ask CoVet to include in generated content.
They are useful for text you write often, such as:
Medication instructions
Routine care reminders
Follow-up instructions
Discharge language
Client education notes
Post-surgery care instructions
Clinic-specific phrasing
Snippets can be simple static text, or they can include dynamic variables that update based on the active case.
Enable Snippets
Snippets are enabled by default, but you can confirm they are turned on in your settings.
To enable Snippets:
Open your Profile.
Go to Personalization.
Select Snippets.
Make sure the Snippets toggle is turned on.
Once enabled, you can create, edit, and use Snippets in supported CoVet workflows.
Create a New Snippet
To create a new snippet, open the Snippets menu of your Personalization options (the same place where you enabled Snippets), then:
Select New Snippet.
Add a Snippet Description.
Add the snippet text.
Choose the language.
Select Create Snippet.
The Snippet Description helps CoVet understand when to use the snippet. Use a clear description that explains what the snippet is for.
Example:
Snippet Description:
Gabapentin instructions for anxious patients before future visits.
Snippet Text:
Gabapentin may help reduce stress before veterinary visits. Please follow the dosage instructions provided by your veterinary team.
What Are Dynamic Variables?
Dynamic variables are named tokens that you can add to a snippet. When the snippet is inserted into a case, CoVet replaces each token with information from the active case.
For example, you might write a snippet like this:
Snippet text:
{{patient_name}} should receive {{medication_name}} at {{medication_dose}} as directed.
When inserted into a case, CoVet fills in the available details automatically.
Resolved values appear in bold so you can quickly see which parts were filled in from the case.
Dynamic variables are useful when a snippet includes patient-specific, client-specific, or treatment-specific information.
Available Dynamic Variables
You can add variables for patient details, client details, pronouns, anatomy, timing, medications, diet, and custom values.
Available variables include:
Patient Name
Client First Name
Client Last Name
Patient Sex
He/She/They
His/Her/Their
Him/Her/Them
Species
Breed
Age
Weight
Left/Right
Fore/Hind
X Days/Weeks/Months
Medication Name
Medication Dose
Drug Name
Drug Strength
Drug Dosing Instructions
Diet Name
Feeding Amount
Custom
Add a Variable to a Snippet
You can add dynamic variables while creating a new snippet or editing an existing one.
To add a variable:
Open an existing snippet or select New Snippet.
Place your cursor where the variable should appear.
Select Insert variable.
Choose a variable from the picker.
Save or create the snippet.
The variable is inserted into the snippet text at your cursor.
For example:
Please give {{patient_name}} {{medication_name}} as directed.
Existing snippets are not changed automatically. They continue to work as before unless you edit them and add variables.
Use a Snippet in a Record
You can ask CoVet to insert a snippet while generating a record, summary, or client communication.
For example, your consultation notes might say:
“Today we saw Larry, a 5-year-old domestic short hair cat. He was anxious during the visit, and we discussed sending home gabapentin to try before his next appointment.”
Then you can ask CoVet:
“Please insert my gabapentin snippet.”
When you generate the record, CoVet inserts the snippet and resolves any available variables using the active case information.
How Resolved Variables Appear
When CoVet inserts a snippet with dynamic variables, it uses information from the active case to complete the text.
Resolved values appear in bold in the generated content.
For example, this snippet:
{{patient_name}} should receive {{medication_name}} at {{medication_dose}} as directed.
May appear as:
"Larry should receive gabapentin at 100 mg every 12 hours as directed."
This makes it easy to identify which values were filled in automatically.
What Happens If a Value Is Missing?
If CoVet cannot find a value for a variable, it inserts a yellow bracketed placeholder instead.
For example: [Patient Name]
CoVet also shows a toast prompt so you know that a value needs to be filled in manually.
This helps prevent missing or incomplete information from being overlooked.
Missing values may happen if:
The case does not include the needed information.
The snippet is used outside a case context.
The selected variable does not apply to the current case.
A medication, diet, direction, or other clinical detail has not been documented yet.
Review the generated content before sending or finalizing it.
Create and Manage Custom Variables
Use Custom variables when you want to define your own reusable placeholder.
Custom variables are helpful for clinic-specific wording or information that is not available as a standard variable.
To add a custom variable:
Open or create a snippet.
Place your cursor where the custom value should appear.
Select Insert variable.
Choose Custom.
Enter the custom variable name.
Insert the variable into the snippet.
Save the snippet.
When the snippet is used, CoVet will prompt you to provide or fill in the custom value if it cannot resolve it automatically.
Use clear custom variable names so the placeholder is easy to understand later.
Use Snippets Outside a Case Context
Snippets work best when they are used inside an active case because CoVet can use the case information to resolve variables.
If you use a snippet outside a case context, some variables may not be available. In that situation, CoVet inserts bracketed placeholders for missing values so you can complete them manually.
For snippets you plan to use outside a case, consider limiting variables to details you are comfortable filling in yourself.