My puppy or kitten has just had their first vaccine. When can they go outside?

We recommend keeping puppies and kittens indoors until one week after they have completed their primary vaccination course. This is particularly important because diseases such as parvovirus can survive in parks, on pavements, and in areas where dogs gather. Socialisation is also vital during this period, and our team can advise you on safe ways to introduce new experiences while your pet is still protected.

My dog attends day care. Which vaccines does he actually need?

Most dog day care providers and boarding kennels require your dog to have an up-to-date DHPPi vaccination, an annual leptospirosis booster, and an annual kennel cough vaccine. Proof of kennel cough vaccination is commonly requested. If your dog's vaccination history is held by another veterinary practice and you are unsure what is current, bring your records to us and we will review them for you.

My rabbit lives indoors. Does she still need to be vaccinated?

Yes. Rabbits that live indoors still need annual vaccinations because Rabbit Haemorrhagic Disease Virus 2 (RHD2) can be carried by insects and persist in the environment. We recommend annual vaccination for all rabbits regardless of where they live. If your rabbit has never been vaccinated before, the first appointment is straightforward and does not require a primary vaccination course like dogs and cats.

My pet had a reaction to a vaccine at another practice. What should I tell you?

Please tell us everything you know, including which vaccine was given, how long after the injection the reaction occurred, what signs your pet showed, and how it was treated. Vaccine reactions are uncommon, but this information helps us tailor your pet's care. Depending on their history, we may recommend monitoring your pet at the practice after vaccination, adjusting the vaccination protocol, or discussing alternative options where appropriate.

Choosing a Vet: 9 Questions to Ask (and How Rock House Vets Answers Them)

Choosing a vet is a bigger decision than it looks

At some point, most pet owners find themselves searching for a new vet. Perhaps you have just moved to Wolverhampton, perhaps you have brought home a puppy or kitten for the first time, or perhaps your current practice has not felt quite right for a while, and you have not been sure what to do about it. Whatever has brought you here, it is a good instinct to ask questions before you register, rather than after.

A vet is not just someone you see once a year for a vaccination. Over the years, they will be there for the routine check-ups, the worrying phone calls, the difficult decisions, and the good news too. Finding a practice that feels right matters more than finding the nearest one on a map.

If part of what is holding you back is a nagging sense of guilt about leaving a vet who has looked after your pet for years, that is a genuinely common feeling, and not a reason to stay somewhere that is not working for you or your pet. Records transfer easily between practices, and a good one will never make you feel awkward for asking a few honest questions first, even while you are still registered elsewhere.

We put together the nine questions we think matter most when choosing a vet, and answered each one honestly, as Rock House Vets in Tettenhall, Wolverhampton. Not because we expect every reader to end up on our books, though we would love that, but because every pet owner deserves clear answers, wherever they land.

1. Is the practice properly registered and accredited?

Every veterinary surgeon in the UK must be registered with the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons, and many practices go further by joining the RCVS-accredited Practice Standards Scheme, which involves regular inspection against clinical and welfare standards. It is a fair question to ask outright, and any practice worth registering with should welcome it rather than brush past it.

Our team at Rock House Vets is fully qualified and registered, and genuinely happy to talk through our credentials whenever you ask.

Cat Spayed in Wolverhampton at Rock House Vets

2. What is included in a first appointment, and what should I bring?

A good first appointment should feel unhurried. You should come away with a proper understanding of your pet’s health, not just a quick once-over and a bill.

When you register with us, your first visit usually includes a full clinical examination, a chance to talk through your pet’s history and any concerns, and time to ask whatever is on your mind, whether that is diet, behaviour, vaccinations or anything else. Bringing along any previous vaccination records or medical history helps us build the fullest possible picture from day one, but if you do not have them to hand, do not worry. We can usually request them from your previous practice.

3. What happens if my pet needs emergency care outside normal hours?

Illness and accidents rarely stick to office hours, so it pays to know the answer to this before an emergency, not while you are dialling around in a panic at eleven o’clock at night.

Every practice handles this differently, whether through an out-of-hours partner service, an on-call vet, or a dedicated emergency line. We will always make sure you know exactly who to call and what to expect if something happens outside our normal opening times, so there is one less thing to work out when you are already worried.

Dog hip x-ray performed for orthopaedic assessment and investigation of joint health and mobility concerns.

4. What diagnostic facilities are actually on site?

Some practices need to refer even routine diagnostics elsewhere, which can mean delays and extra journeys at a time when you would rather things moved quickly.

We have built Rock House Vets around having as much as possible under one roof. That includes on-site X-ray and diagnostic imaging, IDEXX blood testing, and the equipment to carry out most surgical procedures without needing to send your pet elsewhere. For most conditions, that means answers, and often treatment, on the same day.

5. How does the practice handle nervous or anxious pets?

Some pets stroll into the waiting room without a care in the world. Others find every part of a vet visit stressful, from the car journey to the smell of the consulting room. A good practice should have a genuine approach to this, not just a shrug.

We see plenty of nervous patients at Rock House Vets, and we adjust how we work accordingly, whether that means giving a dog a little extra time to settle before an examination, using a quieter corner of the practice, or simply going more slowly through a procedure than the clock strictly requires. We would also rather you told us your pet gets anxious before the appointment, so we can plan for it, than find out halfway through.

Common Eye Conditions in Dogs seen in the clinic. Entropion and Cherry Eye

6. Is pricing clear, and is there a way to plan for routine costs?

Nobody enjoys being surprised by a bill, especially at a moment when they are already worried about their pet. Ask how a practice handles pricing for common procedures, and whether it offers any way to spread the cost of routine care.

We talk through costs before any treatment goes ahead, and our pet health care plan is designed to make preventative care, things like vaccinations, flea and worming treatment and annual check-ups, more predictable to budget for across the year.

7. How easy is it to get to the practice, and is there parking?

It is an unglamorous question, but a genuinely important one. A brilliant vet you can never easily get to is not much use to you or your pet, particularly if you are managing an anxious cat in a carrier or a dog who struggles with car journeys.

We are based at The Rock House, Old Hill, Tettenhall, Wolverhampton, with parking available for appointments. We see patients from Tettenhall itself and from right across the wider West Midlands, so do ask us about the easiest way to reach us from where you live.

8. What does aftercare actually look like?

Owners often forget to ask this until they need it. A consultation or a procedure is only part of the picture. What happens afterwards, in terms of guidance, follow-up and support, matters just as much.

Good aftercare means clear instructions you can actually follow at home, a genuine invitation to call if anything seems off, and follow-up where it is needed, not just where it is billable. We would always rather hear from you with a question that turns out to be nothing than have you sit at home wondering.

9. Can I speak to someone or visit before deciding?

Finally, and perhaps most usefully: does the practice let you look around or have a conversation before you commit? A quick chat on the phone tells you a surprising amount about how a practice treats people.

You are welcome to call our team at any time to ask questions, talk through your pet’s needs, or simply get a feel for how we work before registering. There is no obligation, and no question is too small.

Trust your gut, not just the checklist

No nine questions can make this decision for you, and that is fine. Pay attention to how a practice makes you feel on the phone or in the waiting room, too. That instinct is often as reliable as anything on this list.

If Rock House Vets feels like the right fit after reading this, or you simply have more questions, get in touch for a compassionate conversation. Call us on 01902 271 757, or drop us an email, and we will take it from there.