Boise, Idaho · Dogs and cats since 2012
Vet care for your dog or cat, without the rush
Wagtail is a small clinic with two veterinarians who know your pet’s name, explain things in plain English and tell you the price before they start.
- Since 2012caring for Boise pets
- $69wellness exam, in writing
- Same daysick visits when we can
- In-houselab, with most results in an hour
What we do
Everyday care, all under one roof
Most of what your dog or cat needs happens here, with a lab down the hall. Bigger problems get a clear plan and, when needed, a referral to a specialist we trust.
Wellness exams
A head-to-tail checkup, twice a year for seniors and yearly for everyone else, with a plan for food, parasites and prevention.
About wellness exams
Vaccines
Only the ones your pet needs for the life they lead. We keep a schedule and email you a reminder before anything’s due.
See vaccine prices
Dental care
Exams, cleanings under anesthesia with X-rays and monitoring, and a home-care plan you can actually follow.
About dental care
Spay and neuter
Planned surgery with pre-surgical bloodwork, pain medicine and a vet’s call the next day. Priced by size, quoted before you commit.
See surgery prices
Sick visits
Limping, vomiting, itchy ears or just “not themselves.” We hold the last hour of every weekday for same-day visits.
Book a sick visit
Senior care
Longer visits, a gentle look at joints and teeth, and honest talk about comfort for dogs and cats aged seven and up.
About senior care
A calmer visit
We slow down for nervous pets
Plenty of dogs and cats dread the vet. We try not to give them a reason: treats in every room, quiet back-to-back exam rooms, and no waiting beside strangers if your cat or fearful dog would rather go straight in.
Tell Sam when you arrive and he’ll find your pet a room. And if it takes a few visits before your dog will walk through the door, that’s fine. Some of our best patients started as the ones who wouldn’t.
- Treats and patience in every exam room
- Cats can skip the waiting room
- Nail trims and weight checks, no appointment needed
New puppy or kitten?
The Puppy and Kitten plans cover your first four months
The first months are a rush of vaccines, tests and questions. Our plans bundle every visit into one price you can pay online, with Tess on hand to answer the questions you haven’t thought of yet.
- 4 visits for a puppy, 3 for a kitten, with exams and the vaccines each visit calls for
- Stool tests, deworming and a microchip included
- Book each visit online whenever suits you
Two vets, a technician and a front desk that remembers your pet
A small team means you’ll usually see the same faces. Tess and Sam know most patients by name.
Ada Okafor, DVM
Founder & veterinarian
Opened Wagtail in 2012 after eight years in busy general and emergency practice. Loves first puppy visits, senior dogs and cats who hate the carrier.
Licensed in Idaho
More about Ada Okafor, DVM
Ben Larkin, DVM
Veterinarian
Joined in 2018. Has a soft spot for senior pets, dental care and soft-tissue surgery, and a talent for making a nervous dog laugh.
Licensed in Idaho
More about Ben Larkin, DVM
Tess Alvarado, CVT
Veterinary technician
Our certified veterinary technician since 2015. Runs puppy and kitten visits, vaccine appointments and the lab, and holds the cats.
Certified veterinary technician (CVT)
More about Tess Alvarado, CVT
Sam Haddad
Front desk lead
The first voice you’ll hear. Sam answers the phones, finds you a time, and remembers your pet’s name, and usually your pet’s favorite treat.
More about Sam Haddad
Renee Whitlock
Practice manager
Keeps the clinic running: billing, estimates, insurance paperwork and records. The person to call about a bill or a pay link.
More about Renee Whitlock
What our clients say
- ★★★★★
“Moose is terrified of every vet’s office in the valley. Dr. Okafor sat on the floor with him for ten minutes before she touched a stethoscope, and he walked out wagging. I cried a little in the parking lot.”
Marisol T.Wellness exam, anxious dogReview on Google - ★★★★★
“We brought home a goldendoodle puppy with zero idea what we were doing. Tess walked us through the whole first four months and showed us how to brush teeth. Every visit was on the calendar before we left.”
Jared & Priya K.Puppy planReview on Google - ★★★★★
“Gus is fourteen. Dr. Larkin never rushed us, told us what’s normal for his age and what isn’t, and wrote down a plan for his stiff days. Plain English, and the price in writing before anything started.”
Linda H.Senior visitReview on Google
In an emergency, call now
We aren’t staffed overnight. When we’re closed, Foothills 24-Hour Animal Emergency is open every hour of every day at 2605 Quarry View Drive, Boise, ID 83703. Call them on the way.