About Swift River Veterinary Services
Our mission is to provide high quality affordable surgery for pets with a special emphasis on small companion animals such as rabbits, guinea pigs, rats and others.
Elizabeth Helton, DVM
Dr. Helton received her veterinary degree from the Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University in 2015. At university, she focused on shelter animal and small mammal companion medicine as well as discovering a passion for high volume high quality spay and neuter surgery. She spent 3 weeks prior to graduation training at the ASPCA Spay/Neuter Alliance in Asheville, NC. After graduation Dr. Helton has spent 10 years working as a shelter veterinarian and surgeon at Dakin Humane Society in Springfield, MA. She has also worked as a relief veterinarian for other humane societies, shelters/rescues, and private practices. Concerned by the rising costs of surgery and lack of access to affordable options for small animal companion mammal spay/neuter, Dr. Helton started Swift River Veterinary Services in 2025.
Kris, Veterinary Assistant
Kris has been working as a veterinary assistant since 2023. He came to the veterinary field with previous customer service experience, management skills, and laboratory technician expertise. He provides one-on-one attention for your pet from check-in, to surgery and anesthesia, recovery, and check-out. He is excited to be part of the Swift River team providing excellent care to all of your pets!
Meet Our Team
Swift River Reviews
We recently had our bunny, Mama, spayed here and I cannot say enough good things about this clinic. Dr. Helton was incredibly flexible, friendly, and accommodating throughout the whole process. They took the time to clearly communicate everything before and after her procedure, which really helped ease my nerves.
Most importantly, they made sure Mama received the absolute best care. You can truly tell they love what they do and genuinely care about the animals they treat. Mama recovered beautifully, and I’m so grateful for the compassion and professionalism we experienced. I highly recommend this clinic to anyone looking for exceptional veterinary care. 🐰💛 ~Danielle H.
I had an excellent experience with Swift River Veterinary Services, LLC. The team took ample time to provide thorough information and guidance before, during, and after my bunny Patches’ spay procedure.
Dr. Helton was prompt and detailed in answering all of my questions ahead of the surgery, which gave me great peace of mind. On the day of the procedure, both Dr. Helton and her technician were incredibly kind, gentle, and attentive with Patches. I was given a direct phone number to call or text, and I received updates throughout the day, which I truly appreciated.
At pickup, the technician took the time not only to explain the procedure but also to show me exactly what had been done. The take-home care instructions were clear, thorough, and easy to follow. I was especially impressed when Dr. Helton personally checked in the next day to see how Patches was recovering.
Patches is a strong-willed little bunny and immediately tried to interfere with her healing, which caused some minor complications. Dr. Helton supported me every step of the way—at all hours—until Patches was fully healed. She provided not only expert medical guidance but also helpful behavioral advice for managing my spirited girl.
I highly recommend Dr. Helton and the team at Swift River Veterinary Services. Their compassion, dedication, and expertise truly set them apart, and it’s clear that caring for both animals and their owners comes naturally to them. ~Emily H.
Dr. Helton has spayed, neutered, and done dentals for over 150 rabbits and guinea pigs within my rescue organization in the last year and a half. Her experience with these procedures is unmatched; she has even spayed rabbits declared previously ineligible for surgery, and neutered a ten year old dwarf bunny that most other doctors would shy away from altering. Dr. Helton and her staff are incredibly efficient and keep animals under anesthesia for as little time as safely possible, resulting in easier recoveries for patients. Post-op, Dr. Helton follows up to make sure our animals have recovered appropriately, and always makes herself available should concerns arise.
You can expect to pay three times as much for a doctor with the same experience elsewhere, but what really sets Dr. Helton apart is her genuine love and compassion for ALL species. She keeps many of the species she sees as patients as companion animals at home, which means that she truly understands all aspects of their care.
Our rescue capacity has dramatically increased with access to an affordable and competent exotics surgeon. I am always happy to refer adopters, volunteers, and the general public to Swift River Veterinary Services! ~ Rebecca B.