The Best Two-Way Radios for Veterinary Offices
If you go out and buy the first radio that you see for your team, you might be in for a rude awakening. Static, poor battery life, messages that sound like a drive-through speaker...
That’s why you need a quality radio tailored to your practice, and we’ve got you covered!
We don't want you to buy any radio just because you like the name or the price. We want you to make an educated decision and purchase the perfect radio within the scope of your needs, staff, and location.
We’ve sold thousands of radios and have compiled all that knowledge right here in this brief guide.
What do you need in a walkie talkie for a veterinary office?
The golden retriever in Exam Room 3 has been waiting for sedation for over 20 minutes...
The vet tech who was supposed to assist is tied up helping with an emergency intake…
The doctor is ready, but no one knows. Everyone’s working hard—but no one’s on the same page.
These are all common issues in a veterinary practice - and they can easily be solved with clear, quality two-way radios.
Let's walk through some important components when comparing radios.
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Coverage Considerations
When choosing two-way radios for your office, it is important to match radio power and coverage of your building size and layout.
Selecting a radio that is too powerful for your needs can lead to overpaying, while choosing one with insufficient coverage may result in poor quality and dead zones.
For small practices, 1 to 2 watts of power will do the trick - you can get from 100k - 200k sqft of coverage.
Larger practices (or multiple buildings), covering up to 350,000 square feet, require more powerful radios in the 3-4 watt range on analog (or 1 watt on digital) that can transmit clearly through walls and across larger distances.
You also need to take obstructions and building materials into account. If you have thick concrete walls, it may be necessary to go 1-watt stronger.
Number of Channels Needed
Channels help segment team conversations, to simplify radio chatter.
Recommended groups for Veterinary Offices:
- Front Desk – for reception staff to coordinate check-ins, curbside pickups, and notify the team when patients arrive.
- Tech Team – for vet techs to communicate about prepping rooms, assisting with procedures, or requesting help.
- Doctors – for quick updates between vets, like lab results, urgent patient needs, or when they're ready for the next exam.
- Surgery – a dedicated line for the surgical team to coordinate anesthesia, prep, and post-op recovery without interruption.
Easy breezy. That’s concise and direct communication.
Channels can also be used to set up private conversations: “Sarah, call Tom on channel two.”
Sarah and Tom can then have an in-depth conversation over the radio without bothering the rest of the staff.
Quality Brands Make a Difference
You need a radio that is not going to fall apart within a year. You need one that will last so you’re not throwing away money.
Motorola and Kenwood two-way Radios are the most quality brands on the market because they are purpose-built for reliable communication with a durable build.
Designed to be easy to use and intuitive their radio series are affordable, cost-effective and eliminate monthly cell phone plans.
Tested for 5 years of field use, Motorola and Kenwood make sure you see a return on your investment.
Not to mention the included manufacturer warranty (1-3 years depending on model).
What features make a great veterinary radio?
- Clear Audio Quality – With barking dogs, meowing cats, and busy clinic noise, radios need strong, crisp sound so nothing important gets missed.
- Hands-Free Options (VOX or Headsets) – Vet techs often have their hands full—literally. Being able to communicate without reaching for a radio is a game changer.
- Durability & Water Resistance – Radios should be tough enough to survive accidental drops, disinfectant sprays, and the occasional wet nose.
- Private & Group Channels – To keep conversations organized, separate channels for front desk, techs, and doctors are essential. Look for models with easy channel switching.
- Compact & Lightweight Design – Bulky radios can get in the way. Smaller, lightweight models clip onto scrubs or lab coats comfortably.
- Battery Life – A long-lasting battery that can power through an entire shift (or two) without a recharge keeps operations flowing.
- Range That Covers the Entire Facility – Whether the clinic is a small practice or a multi-room hospital, you need radios that maintain strong coverage throughout.
- Emergency Alert Button – For those rare but urgent situations when immediate help is needed—like an aggressive animal or sudden medical emergency.
Our Top Two-Way Radio Picks for Veterinary Practices
To help you with your selection, we've highlighted several different models below that are perfect for practices of every size.
These recommendations come from our own experience working with thousands of these radios. Each one has a rock-solid history and great reputation.
Small Practice
For typical office layouts, you’ll want a compact and lightweight radio that is discreet and easy to carry. Offering modest power and 1 to a handful of channels, you will have enough groups to keep operations running smoothly.
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User-friendly with reliable coverage and extended battery life.
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The Motorola CLS1410 lives up to its name. CLS stands for Clear, Light, and Simple, and that’s what you’re getting with this device.
This is a UHF Radio with four channels (or this 1 channel version), which will allow you to divide your staff and give the managers their own private channel.
It has 15 floors of indoor range with up to two miles of clear communication outside.
This device features Audible Call Alerts and Vibracall technology.
It’s also an easy device to set up thanks to simplified cloning.
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Compact and powerful. Easy to use and great battery life.
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The Kenwood PKT300 would be a perfect radio for your practice if you...
- Work in an area less than 275,000 square feet
- Need to send a signal around steel and concrete
- Require hands-free operation
This is a UHF radio with six channels. You can segment your staff into six different groups for more effective communication.
The PKT300 pushes out sound with two watts of power and an outdoor range of up to two miles.
It also has an indoor range of 20 floors or up to 275,000 square feet.
You’re going to have power throughout the day. It also comes with a standing charging tray, a wall charger that plugs into power outlets, and a belt clip.
This is a radio that performs under harsh or stressful conditions with a strength of signal which easily gets around concrete and steel.
This is one easy-to-use, sturdy radio.
The VOX feature also allows you to operate the device hands-free.
Honorable Mention
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Lightweight, discreet, and hands-free with excellent audio clarity.
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Larger Practice - Multiple Buildings
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Advanced digital technology for clear audio and extended coverage.
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The Motorola Curve is another popular option…
This is a radio that will work well with a larger staff. It has 10 channels to choose from, making it ideal for a big offices with multiple teams.
The Curve will also save you money in the long run. Because it operates on a digital band, you won't have to worry about paying any pesky FCC licensing fees.
While larger than the CLPe series, this device is still lightweight at only 4.2 ounces. It covers up to 20 floors or 300,000 square feet of range.
The Call Button compatibility can improve customer service with quick response times.
When it comes to protecting confidential information, the Curve has you covered with Frequency Hopping Spread Spectrum technology and 10,000 different privacy codes.
Another great and beneficial feature of this device is its Page All and Call All Available functions. This allows you to reach out to the entire staff at once, and it is ideal in an emergency.
On the other side of the coin, there is also a Direct Call feature that allows you to contact just one person with sensitive information.
This device is going to be able to handle even the longest shift with a 14-Hour battery life. That's all thanks to the rechargeable lithium-ion battery that it comes with.
This is another two-way radio that has an anti-microbial coating to curb the spread of bacteria.
Honorable Mention
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Request a Quote for Bulk Purchases
Need to equip your team? We want to help!
Make sure to request a quote for our best possible pricing.
REQUEST A QUOTE for our best pricing!
We are here for you!
If you have any questions on which radio is right for your veterinary practice – do not hesitate to reach out to our support team.
We have a very knowledgeable staff with over 25 years of experience in the two-way radio industry that can answer all your questions.
You can’t get rid of us that easily after purchase - we include lifetime tech support to be there for you every step of the way!