Courtney Polo

Practice Manager

Courtney is a compassionate and loving individual that has had an attachment to animals since she was young. Her entire life she grew up caring for her pets and giving them the extra love and care they deserve. As she got older, she knew that it was her calling to remain caring for animals and build a career in the Veterinary Medicine field.

Courtney obtained an Associate’s Degree in Veterinary Technology from Becker College in 2011. She has continued her education and is enrolled in the Pre-Veterinary Concentration at Becker College and hopes to achieve her Bachelor’s Degree in the near future.

While working full time and raising her son, she also is taking courses to succeed in becoming a Veterinary Practice Manager. Courtney‘s main interests in the Veterinary Medicine field are surgery and anesthesia as well as client education. On her time away from work she loves to spend quality time with her son and caring for her first child…her cat, Kahli.


Dr. Betty Johnston

Veterinarian

Betty Johnston, V.M.D., joined the staff of Acton Animal Hospital in 2005. Dr. Johnston has practiced veterinary medicine for over 30 years, 15 years of which were devoted to the mixed practice of treating large and small animals, and the last 16 years working with small animals exclusively.

She holds a B.S. degree and earned her V.M.D. degree from the University of Pennsylvania. She is a member of the MVMA, the AVMA, and the AAHA.

Dr. Johnston takes a special interest in dog training and participates in obedience, field, rally and agility competitions with her two dogs, Cooper and Gable. The part of veterinary medicine that Dr. Johnston enjoys most is working with owners to get their puppies off to a healthy, happy start with proper medical care and training.


Dr. Daphne Flessas

Veterinarian, Owner

Daphne Flessas, D.V.M., owner of Acton Animal Hospital, is a Massachusetts native who received her Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine from Tufts University School of Veterinary Medicine in 1996. She has practiced in New England for the past 19 years, most recently in Bellingham.

Her veterinary interests include internal medicine, soft tissue surgery, dentistry and dermatology. Dr. Flessas has a passion for education, works with students as much as she can, and is committed to life-long learning in the veterinary field.

She and her husband live in Grafton, MA, and have three daughters. The family shares their home with a French Bulldog named Monkey and a tiny Chihuahua named Pickles, to the utter dismay of cats Ruby, Max, and Trouble.


Spay & Neuter

Every year thousands of stray and unwanted animals are euthanized in shelters across the United States. Many of these deaths are the avoidable result of owners failing to spay and neuter their pets. The unexpected offspring of these liaisons often fill shelters and are never given the chance at happy, loving lives.

Spaying

Spaying is a common surgical procedure performed on female cats and dogs. The process is called an ovariohysterectomy and involves removing the patient’s uterus, ovaries and fallopian tubes, rendering the animal incapable of reproduction. Millis Animal Hospital veterinarians recommend spaying your pet at 3-6 months, depending on your dog’s breed and ideally before the patient’s first heat.

Benefits
This procedure has many benefits including:

  • Prevents unwanted pregnancies
  • Eliminates the risk of ovarian and uterine tumors
  • Remove the possibility of uterine infections

What to expect after surgery
Spaying is a major surgery that requires 7-10 days of recovery and may include medication; lethargy is common for the first couple of days following the procedure. A small, green tattoo is applied post-surgery that signifies that the animal is spayed should she ever get lost, or taken to a shelter.

Neutering

Neutering is performed on male cats and dogs. This process castrates the animal, removing their testicles and making them unable to impregnate females. Neutering is advised when your pet is 4-6 months old, but can be performed on older animals as well.

Benefits
Neutering generates many important health benefits:

  • Prevents unwanted reproduction
  • Placates the animal, reducing aggressive behavior and decreasing dominant tendencies
  • Reduces roaming and spraying (territory marking)
  • Eliminates the risk of testicular and prostate tumors

What to expect after surgery
Although less invasive than spaying, neutering is still a major medical procedure that requires some recovery time. Following the procedure your pet will be sleepy from the anesthesia, this lethargy may last a couple of days. Medication may be administered to combat pain. Owners must prevent the animal from licking or biting the incision to reduce the risk of infection.

To learn more about spaying and neutering or to schedule an appointment, contact your Acton Animal Hospital veterinarian today.


Laser Therapy

The (non)cutting-edge of veterinary science

Laser therapy is an innovative new technology used to treat acute and chronic injuries. The non-invasive treatment stimulates cell regeneration by increasing blood flow to the targeted area. This is used to accelerate the healing process following surgery, alleviate joint pain and treat degenerative diseases.

How it works

Low-level laser therapy (also known as “cold” laser therapy) focuses red and infrared light on tissue at and below the surface of the skin. The light energizes the cellular mass, producing a structural protein called collagen used to repair tissue. Lasers continue the healing process by supporting vascular dilation and synthesis, increasing blood circulation to the affected region. The stimulation releases the bodies own pain-relieving hormones, generating mild pain management properties.

The process generally takes between 5-10 minutes, with the majority of patients seeing positive effects after 3-5 uses. The treatment continues to relieve pain and fight inflammation for up to 24 hours following the session.

Conditions benefitted by laser therapy

  • Hip dysplasia
  • Post-surgical incisions and soft-tissue trauma
  • Arthritis and degenerative joint disease
  • Musculoskeletal injuries
  • Neuromuscular disease

Low-level laser therapy is normally combined with other types of veterinary medicine including pharmaceutical regimens and alternative therapies. The broad biochemical benefits, and lack of adverse side effects, have made laser therapy the preferred post-operative rehab method in veterinary medicine.

If you would like to know if laser therapy can help your pet, just give us a call or request an appointment online.


Microchipping

Keep track of your pet

Nearly 1 in 3 pets will become lost during their lives. Microchip implants are an incredibly simple, inexpensive and effective way to find lost pets, keeping them out of animal shelters and back where they belong. These tiny chips serve as a permanent pet identification system that cannot be removed or damaged, reuniting you and your pet quickly. By supporting this practice, Acton Animal Hospital hopes to prevent some of the nearly 6.5 million animals that enter U.S. shelters each year.

A simple process

The microchip is contained in small biocompatible capsule smaller than a grain of rice, ensuring that the device is non-toxic, hypoallergenic and completely safe. An easy, nearly pain-free procedure then places the transponder just under the skin where a special biopolymer keeps the device in place inside the animal. These microchips are rated for 25 years, meaning it never has to be removed or recharged during your pet’s lifetime.

The transponder works by passively transmitting radio waves with an animal-specific tracking number that, when connected to the central database, displays the pet’s name and owner contact information. Should your pet run away or get lost, a simple scan of the chip will allow the proper authorities to determine the owner’s identity and return the animal accordingly.

Acton Animal Hospital believes microchipping is the safest, most effective method of pet recovery available, helping reunite more than 15,000 lost pets to their owners every month.

To learn more about microchips or schedule your pet to get “chipped”, just call us or request an appointment online.


Vaccinations

Protect your pet!

Vaccinations are the best weapon against many viral and bacterial infections, preventing deadly diseases like canine parvovirus and rabies. Vaccinations are important for all pets, but crucial for puppies and kittens because their young immune systems are still developing and need protection to stay healthy.

An Acton Animal Hospital veterinarian will help you with every step of the vaccination process, including:

  • Pet examination and introductory vaccinations
  • Necessary booster shots
  • Vaccine education

Keep your pets safe and healthy by scheduling their vaccinations today.


Parasite Treatment & Prevention

One bite is all it takes!

Your pet is an easy target for common parasites like ticks, fleas and heartworm-carrying mosquitos. These insects feed on your pets, potentially infecting them with many dangerous diseases.

Fleas

These bloodsucking insects feed on mammals and lay eggs in their fur. Fleas can transmit harmful parasites like tapeworm and Murine typhus, as well as cause dermatitis and anemia. One flea can reproduce nearly 50 times a day, making a flea infestation a substantial threat to your pet’s wellbeing. Flea infestations often spread throughout your home as well, living in your carpet and furniture and making them tough to eradicate.

Ticks

Ticks are found lurking in shrubs and tall grass. They attach as your pet runs past, biting them and feeding on their blood. Although nearly microscopic, the tick represents can be one of the most dangerous parasites. A single tick bite can carry a host of potentially fatal diseases including Lyme disease, typhus, Rocky Mountain spotted fever and ehrlichiosis anaplasmosis.

Although rare, animal-to-human transfer is possible, making the tick hazardous to you and your family. Special care should be made to inspect your pet, and yourself, after any woodland outdoor activities.

Heartworm

Heartworm-carrying mosquitos represent a potentially lethal danger to your pet. The mosquito’s bite transmits the heartworm larva to your animal, which then slowly develops and makes its way toward the heart. Once there, it multiplies within your pet’s pulmonary artery, leading to constricted blood flow, heart disease and major organ failure.

Parasite Prevention Plan

Regular application of flea, tick and heartworm preventive medication is a surefire way of keeping your pet free of nasty parasites. Consult with your Acton Animal Hospital veterinarian to determine the best parasite control products for your pet.

Acton Animal Hospital’s Parasite Prevention Plan includes:

  • Pet examination and testing in our in-house lab
  • Parasite-control product consultation with a Millis Animal Hospital veterinarian
  • Access to state-of-the-art treatment

Have questions about parasite prevention and treatment for your pet? Call us and we’ll be happy to help!


Emergency Care

We make every effort to accommodate our patients for emergency care during office hours and we can provide overnight care for non-critical patients. When our hospital is closed, we refer our clients to these emergency facilities. They provide excellent emergency care 24 hours a day/365 days a year, and monitor critically ill patients that need extended care when we are unavailable.

IVG MetroWest Hospital/Boston West
5 Strathmore Rd.Natick, MA 01760
508-319-2117

Tufts VETS
525 South Street
Walpole, MA 02081
508-668-5454

Massachusetts Veterinary Referral Hospital – Ancillary, Specialty and Emergency Services
20 Cabot Rd.
Woburn, MA 01801
781-932-5802

Tufts Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine
Foster Hospital for Small Animals
200 Westboro Road.
North Grafton, MA 01536
General Phone: 508-839-5395
Emergency Phone: 508-887-4623

Angell Animal Medical Center
350 South Huntington Ave.
Boston, MA 02130
617-522-7282

Poison Help Lines

ASPCA Animal Poison Control
Phone: 888-426-4435
$65 consultation fee

Pet Poison Helpline
Phone: 800-213-6680
$39 consultation fee


Pharmacy

Convenient in-house and online pharmacy options

Acton Animal Hospital maintains a complete inventory of pharmaceuticals, vitamins, shampoos, flea and tick control products and heartworm preventatives to meet the needs of your pet. We also carry a full line of prescription diets available in our hospital or from our online pharmacy.