Pet vaccinations: what your pet needs and why it varies
What vaccinations does your pet actually need?
If you have ever been handed a vaccination reminder and wondered whether your pet actually needs everything on the list, that is a completely reasonable thing to question. The honest answer is that it depends. Not every pet needs the same vaccines, not every vaccine needs repeating every year, and the conversation we have with you at Rock House Vets on Pet vaccination advice always starts with your pet’s specific life before anything goes on a schedule.
What follows is a plain-language guide to how we think about pet vaccinations for dogs, cats and rabbits. What the core vaccines are, what changes based on how your pet lives, and why the appointment itself matters beyond just the injection.
Why your pet’s vaccination needs are not the same as your neighbour’s
Three things determine which vaccines your pet needs: their species, their age, and how they live. The species question matters most because the diseases we vaccinate against are not shared across animals. Dogs face threats that cats never will, and rabbits are susceptible to conditions that are entirely separate from both.
Age shapes the approach because a puppy or kitten starting their first course needs a series of injections spaced weeks apart to build immunity properly. An adult pet coming back for a booster is working with existing immunity and may only need certain components refreshed, depending on how long it has been and what its records show.
Lifestyle is the variable that changes most between individual pets and between owners. A dog that regularly uses kennels or day care has a meaningfully different risk exposure to one who mostly walks in quiet parks and rarely meets other dogs in enclosed spaces. A cat with outdoor access encounters risks that a purely indoor cat does not. These are not minor footnotes. They genuinely change what we recommend, and we will always ask before we advise.
Dogs: what every dog needs, and what your dog might need on top
Every dog in the UK needs what is called the DHPPi vaccine. This covers distemper, hepatitis (adenovirus), parvovirus, and parainfluenza. Parvovirus is worth singling out: it remains a genuine risk in the UK, we still see cases, and unvaccinated dogs, particularly puppies, are seriously vulnerable. Puppies usually start their primary course from six to eight weeks of age, with a second injection a few weeks later. After that, the DHPPi component is typically boosted every three years.
Leptospirosis is different, and it is the one that catches some owners out. Lepto is a bacterial disease spread through rat urine and contaminated water, and the immunity it produces does not last three years. Every dog needs an annual leptospirosis booster to maintain meaningful protection. If your dog swims in rivers, walks in areas with standing water, or spends time on farmland, the risk is higher, but we recommend it across the board.
Kennel cough sits in a different category. It is not a core vaccine in the way DHPPi is, but if your dog goes into boarding, uses day care, attends training classes, or mixes regularly with other dogs in enclosed spaces, an annual kennel cough vaccine is something we strongly recommend. Most reputable kennels now require proof of it. It is given as a nasal spray, which some dogs find less stressful than an injection, and it acts quickly.
If you are travelling to Europe with your dog, a rabies vaccination is required, alongside a microchip and an Animal Health Certificate issued within ten days of travel. We are authorised to issue AHCs and can advise on the specific timing rules, which are strict and worth planning for well in advance.
For full schedule details and our puppy packages, visit our dog vaccinations in Wolverhampton page.
Cats: what indoor cats still need, and what outdoor cats might need on top
The single most common vaccination misconception we come across is that an indoor cat does not need vaccinating. It is understandable, but it does not hold. The core cat vaccines cover feline herpesvirus, calicivirus, and panleukopenia (feline parvovirus), which together cause cat flu and serious gastrointestinal disease. These viruses can be carried into the home on your clothes, your shoes, or via other animals. Your cat does not need to leave the house to be exposed to them.
Kittens usually start their primary course at nine weeks, with a second injection three to four weeks later. After that, boosters for core components are annual for higher-risk cats or triennial for low-risk indoor-only cats, and we will discuss which category your cat sits in at each appointment.
Feline leukaemia virus (FeLV) is an additional vaccine worth discussing if your cat goes outside or has contact with other cats. FeLV is passed between cats through close contact and saliva, and it has serious long-term consequences for the immune system. We do not add it automatically, but we will ask about your cat’s lifestyle and give you a clear reason for our recommendation either way.
Full schedule information for kittens and adult cats is on our cat vaccination service page.
Rabbits: vaccinations that most owners do not know their rabbit needs
Rabbits are the most under-vaccinated pet we see, and it is worth being direct about why that matters. The conditions we vaccinate rabbits against are serious and, in many cases, fatal. Rabbit haemorrhagic disease comes in two strains: the original (RHD1) and a newer variant (RHD2) that arrived in the UK and spread quickly. Myxomatosis is the third threat. All three are addressed by a single annual combination vaccine.
RHD2 is the one owners are often surprised by. It is transmitted by insects, contaminated hay, and indirect contact with wild rabbits. That last route is relevant even for house rabbits, because wild rabbits can come into a garden, and the virus persists in the environment. Saying a rabbit lives indoors does not rule out exposure in the way some owners assume.
We recommend annual vaccination for all rabbits, regardless of where they live. If your rabbit has never been vaccinated or has lapsed, it is straightforward to restart. Our rabbit vaccinations in Wolverhampton page has the full details, including the right age to start and what to expect at the first appointment.
What to do if your pet has missed their vaccination
We see this regularly, and it is never a reason not to come in. Depending on how long the gap has been, your vet will either restart the primary course or, in many cases, a single catch-up booster is sufficient. We check what records we have, ask about any history from a previous practice if needed, and advise on the right approach for that individual pet.
Some owners feel embarrassed about a lapsed vaccination programme and are put off making the appointment. Please don’t. The diseases these vaccines prevent are real, and getting back on schedule is a straightforward thing to do. We will not make you feel awkward about it.
Spreading the cost: how our health plan works for vaccinations
We are often asked how much vaccinations cost, and it is a reasonable thing to plan for. The Rock House Vets Pet Health Plan is a monthly direct debit that covers annual boosters as part of a broader routine care package, which also includes flea and worming treatment and a discounted health check. Rather than a single cost arriving once a year, it spreads the expense across the year in a predictable way.
For dogs and cats who are vaccinated annually, it typically works out to better value than paying for each item separately. If you would like to know more about the plan or whether it makes sense for your pet, ask when you call or mention it at your next appointment. We are happy to run through the numbers with you.
Pricing for individual vaccinations is available by calling us directly or by visiting our full pet vaccinations page.
Questions we’re asked most often about pet vaccinations
My puppy or kitten has just had their first vaccine. When can they go outside?
We recommend keeping them indoors until one week after completing their primary course. This is particularly relevant for parvovirus exposure, which can be present in parks, pavements, and anywhere dogs congregate. Socialisation is also important during this window, and we are happy to advise on how to approach both if you give us a call.
My dog attends day care. Which vaccines does he actually need?
At minimum: an up-to-date DHPPi, an annual leptospirosis booster, and an annual kennel cough vaccine. Most day care providers and kennels require proof of kennel cough vaccination specifically. If your dog’s records are with a previous practice and you are unsure what is current, bring them in, and we will check.
My rabbit lives indoors. Does she still need to be vaccinated?
Yes. RHD2 can be carried by insects and survive in the environment, meaning exposure is possible even for house rabbits. We vaccinate all rabbits annually regardless of where they live. If your rabbit has never been vaccinated, the first appointment is simple and does not involve a primary course the way dogs and cats do.
My pet had a reaction to a vaccine at another practice. What should I tell you?
Tell us everything you know about it: which vaccine, how long after the injection, what the signs were, and how it was managed. Reactions are uncommon, but the history genuinely changes how we approach the appointment. We may recommend staying in the practice for observation after vaccination, adjusting the protocol, or discussing alternatives. It is exactly the kind of individual detail that shapes the way we work with you.
Book your pet’s vaccinations at Rock House Vets
Whether your pet is due a routine booster, has never been vaccinated, or has missed an appointment and you’re not sure what to do next, we’re here to help. Every vaccination visit at Rock House Vets includes a full health check, and we’ll always talk you through exactly what your pet needs before anything is done.
Visit our pet vaccinations page or call us on 01902 271 757. We see patients from across Wolverhampton, Tettenhall, Walsall, Dudley, and the wider West Midlands.