Out of hours? Call 24/7 01632 960 247

Fernhallow Vets
Gloved hands gently examining an older German shepherd lying on the consulting-room table

Independent vets in York since 2009

Your pet’s own vets, even at 3am

Dogs, cats, rabbits and small pets, seen in 20-minute appointments. When something goes wrong at night, our 24/7 line rings here, not at a call centre.

4.9 from 1,140 reviews 6,800 pets registered

Services

Six things we do every day

From a puppy’s first jab to a 2am emergency. Every service has a published starting price, and you get a written estimate before any treatment.

See the full price list

Symptom checker

Is this an emergency?

Pick your pet and what you are seeing, answer a couple of questions, and we will tell you whether to call now, come in today or book a normal appointment.

Collapsed, fitting or struggling to breathe? Don’t use the checker. Call 01632 960 247 now.

Who is it?
What are you seeing?
A couple more questions

Have they been sick more than three times today, or is there any blood?

Is the belly swollen or tight, with retching that brings nothing up?

Routine

Book a routine visit

This sounds safe to watch at home for 24 to 48 hours and book a normal appointment.

What to do

  • Book a 20-minute consultation in the next few days.
  • Keep notes or photos of what you see; they help more than you would think.
  • If anything changes, run the checker again or call us.

Meanwhile

Take food away for a few hours but leave small amounts of water. Keep a note or photo of what came up.

Book an appointment

This checker is guidance, not a diagnosis. It cannot examine your pet. If you are worried, or your pet gets worse, call us whatever it says.

Worried at night or at the weekend? Call 01632 960 247, 24/7.

About the practice

Independent since 2009, and still answering our own phone at night

Fernhallow is owned by the vets who work here, not a group. That is why we can book twenty minutes, keep our own out-of-hours rota and hold back same-day slots without asking anyone’s permission.

Years in York
17
Vets and nurses
12
Pets registered
6,800
Hours a day on call
24
Meet the team and the practice
A dog's pale paw resting in a person's open hand
A calico kitten steadied by a nurse's gloved hands on the weighing scale

New here?

What happens at your first visit

About forty minutes from the door to the car park, and you leave knowing exactly what we found and what anything costs.

  • Register in two minutes

    Online or at the desk. Send us old records and we will ask your previous vet for the rest.

  • A nurse weighs in

    Weight, temperature and a quick chat about food and habits while your pet settles.

  • Twenty minutes with a vet

    Nose-to-tail examination, time for every question, and nobody watching the clock.

  • A written plan and price

    You leave with what we found, what we recommend and what it costs, on paper or by email.

Register your pet

Health planner

What’s due, and when?

Vaccinations, neutering, dental and senior checks for the next twelve months, laid out for your pet’s species and age.

Your pet
  • Vaccination
  • Health check
  • Procedure
  • Dental
  1. Now

    Second puppy vaccination

    Out on walks one week later.

  2. In 3 months

    Neutering

    From six months for most dogs; large breeds often later. We will advise at the check.

  3. In a year

    Booster and yearly health check

    Nose-to-tail check, weight and a booster.

A typical plan for a healthy pet. Your vet may suggest a different schedule for your pet’s breed, lifestyle or history.

The Fernhallow health plan

£160 a year less, for the same care

One monthly payment covers the routine care every pet needs, and takes 10% off everything else, including emergencies.

  • Vaccinations and two health checks a year
  • Flea and worm treatment posted to you monthly
  • Free nurse clinics and dental checks
  • 10% off treatment, food and medicines
Health plan compared with paying as you go over a year, for a medium dog
Health plan £18.50 a month Pay as you go Paid at each visit
Booster vaccinationOnce a year, with a full health check Included £62
Second health checkSix months after the booster Included £52
Flea & worm treatment12 months, posted to you Included £168
Nail clipsUp to four a year with a nurse Included £56
Nurse clinicsWeight, dental and skin checks Unlimited £44
Discount on treatmentConsultations, operations, food and medicines 10% off Full price
Total per year £222 £382

You save £160 a year, before the 10% off any treatment. Cats £15.50 and rabbits £11 a month. No joining fee; cancel with a month’s notice.

From owners

What owners tell us after the visit

4.9 out of 5 from 1,140 reviews

A fluffy ginger Pomeranian lying on an examination table with a hand resting on its back

Biscuit, Pomeranian, 6

Chocolate poisoning, out of hours

“Biscuit found a tray of brownies at ten on a Saturday night. I rang the emergency number expecting a call centre and got Dr Hale, who had already pulled up his notes. We were seen at 10.25 and home before midnight with a very sorry dog.”
Hannah W., Heworth
A grey and white cat with its eyes half closed having its ear gently examined on a blue table

Mabel, Tabby cat, 14

Overactive thyroid, ongoing care

“Mabel hates the car, so they booked her a quiet first-thing slot, kept her in the cat-only waiting room and talked me through her thyroid results on the phone the next day. Every price was written down before anything happened.”
Graham T., Clifton
A ginger guinea pig sitting in the palm of a hand

Pickle, Guinea pig, 3

Overgrown teeth

“Most vets we tried treated Pickle like a hamster. Fernhallow burred his overgrown teeth under sedation, showed us how to check them at home and set up six-monthly reminders. He is eating hay like a machine again.”
Priya and Sam K., Osbaldwick

Pet care guides

Written by the vets you’ll meet

Plain answers to the things we are asked most, for dogs, cats and small pets.

All guides
A golden dog asleep on a grey shaggy mat with its eyes closed
Dogs 18 September 2026 5 min read

My dog ate chocolate. What do I do now?

How much is dangerous, why the first two hours matter, and what we do when you arrive. Written by the vets who take these calls at 10pm.

Questions

Dogs, cats or rabbits?

Pick your pet for the questions we hear most. Anything else, call the front desk or ask at your appointment.

Every question and answer

Dogs

When can my puppy go out for walks?
One week after the second puppy vaccination, usually at about 13 weeks. Before then, carry them out so they can see traffic and people; it helps with nerves later.
Do I need kennel cough cover?
If your dog goes to kennels, day care, training classes or meets lots of dogs on walks, yes. It is a quick nasal drop, no needle, and most kennels ask for it.
When should I neuter my dog?
From six months for most dogs. Large and giant breeds often do better waiting until 12 to 18 months. We talk it through at the second puppy check, with prices by weight.
My dog ate something they shouldn’t. What now?
Call us straight away, day or night, before trying anything at home. Within about two hours we can often make them sick safely. Bring the wrapper or packet.

Cats

My cat hates the vet. Can you help?
We have a separate cat waiting room, cat-only morning slots and calming spray in every consulting room. Cover the carrier with a towel and bring a blanket that smells of home.
Do indoor cats need vaccinating?
Yes, though a lighter schedule may suit them. Some viruses travel in on shoes and clothes, and catteries ask for proof of vaccination.
When can my kitten go outside?
Once the kitten course is finished, they are neutered and microchipped, which is usually at about four to five months.
Why do you check my older cat’s blood pressure?
Kidney and thyroid problems are common in cats over eleven and both raise blood pressure, which can damage the eyes. A quick, painless check catches it early.

Rabbits & small pets

Do you see rabbits, guinea pigs and other small pets?
Yes, and not as an afterthought. Two of our vets have extra training in rabbit and small-pet medicine, and we keep the right size of kit and food for them.
Why does my rabbit need vaccinating every year?
Two viral diseases spread by insects, wild rabbits and even on hay kill most unvaccinated rabbits. One combined vaccine a year covers both.
My rabbit has stopped eating. How worried should I be?
Very. A rabbit that has not eaten or passed droppings for more than 12 hours needs a vet the same day, out of hours too. Call the 24/7 line.
How often should their teeth be checked?
Every six months. Rabbit and guinea-pig teeth never stop growing, and the back teeth can form sharp spurs long before you notice a change in eating.

New to Fernhallow? Register in two minutes

Register online and book a first check. New puppies and kittens get their first health check free when you book the vaccination course.

A happy ginger dog on a blue lead by a lake, out for a walk