Our Dental Team

Dr. Krista Mendoza

DVM, Diplomate American Veterinary Dental College

Dr. Krista Mendoza received her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from the University of Illinois in 1997. After completing a one-year rotating small animal internship at Mesa Veterinary Hospital in Arizona, she returned to the University of Illinois for a two-year veterinary dental residency program. She worked at the Veterinary Specialty Hospital of the Carolinas in Cary, NC from 2000-2004, and also taught dentistry to veterinary students at North Carolina State University during this time. Dr. Mendoza became a Diplomate of the American Veterinary Dental College in 2002. She is the author of several journal articles and has presented numerous dentistry lectures and labs at the Annual Veterinary Dental Forum and also for primary care veterinarians. After relocating to the Pittsburgh area, she started the Animal Dental Clinic of Pittsburgh, LLC and worked as the dentist within Pittsburgh Veterinary Specialty & Emergency Center (PVSEC) from June of 2008 - November 2020. Dr. Mendoza renovated an older home on 9117 Marshall Road, Cranberry Township, PA into the new location for the Animal Dental Clinic in order to transition her practice into a place of their own. She lives in Fredonia, PA on a beef cattle farm with her husband and two teenage children. When not at the dental clinic or home on the farm, you will find Dr. Mendoza in a pool or a lake, as she loves to swim and is a member of the Grove City Masters Swim Team.

Peggy

Front Office Manager

Peggy grew up in the North Hills of Pittsburgh and went to the Median School of Allied Health Careers from 1988-1989, fulfilling a dream of working with pets. She worked as a veterinary technician at Wexford Veterinary Hospital for 19 years, and then transitioned to work as a receptionist with Pittsburgh Veterinary Specialty & Emergency Center for the last 12 years. Peggy is married to her husband, Don, and they have 5 cats - Birdie, Brutus, Divot, Mulligan, and Stroker Ace. She loves the ocean and beach, hiking and walking outdoors, cooking and canning, reading, and watching documentaries.

Jill

Veterinary Technician, Dental Assistant

Jill has been working in the veterinary field for over 20 years. She has always had a passion for working with animals and being around people who shared the same interest. Jill lives in Hermitage, PA with her daughter Emma and they have 3 dogs and more than a handful of cats. In their spare time, they enjoy camping, going to the beach, listening to music, and spending time together. 

Vicky

Certified Veterinary Technician, Veterinary Technician Specialist in Anesthesia & Analgesia

Vicky obtained her Associate's degree in Allied Health in Veterinary Technology from Fairmont State College. As a veterinary technician who is certified as VTS (Anesthesia & Analgesia), she demonstrates superior knowledge in the care and management of anesthesia cases and promotes patient safety, professionalism, and excellence in anesthesia care. Vicky's clinical interests include anesthesia in geriatric patients as well as post-procedure pain management. She enjoys spending time with her husband and 2 daughters, riding their 2 horses, and hiking with their 3 rescue dogs. Along with the horses and dogs, they also have 4 cats, 2 goats, and chickens.

Kristen

Certified Veterinary Technician, Veterinary Technician Specialist in Anesthesia & Analgesia

Kristen is a graduate of Penn State University and Manor College where she obtained her AS in Veterinary Technology in 2002.  Kristen started her career as a Certified Veterinary Technician at the University of Pennsylvania before moving to Los Angeles in 2004.  It was here that her love of anesthesia began.  Kristen moved to Pittsburgh in 2008.  She became a Veterinary Technician Specialist (VTS) in anesthesia and analgesia in 2014.  Kristen’s special interests include challenging intubation, anesthesia for cardiac patients, and pediatric anesthesia.  When Kristen is not working, she enjoys cooking, baking, and spending time with her husband and daughter.  Kristen has 3 dogs, Tucker, Olive, and King Friday the XIII.

Shelly

Certified Veterinary Technician, Back Office Manager 

Shelly comes to us having spent time in private veterinary practice and specialty practice. She has spent 25 years in the veterinary field after receiving her associates degree in veterinary technology from Cuyahoga Community College. She spent over 15 years working and supervising others in the Emergency and Critical Care areas of two very large specialty centers in western Pennsylvania. The last few years she has concentrated on educating and training a new crop of veterinary technicians at a local career school. Shelly brings a wealth of knowledge, enthusiasm, and skill to contribute to the dental team. In her free time, Shelly enjoys small groups at her church and investing in the spiritual, practical, and mental well-being of young women to build a stronger sense of self worth and confidence. She lives with her husband and together they have four beautiful daughters. The apple of her eye (after her doting husband) is her Sphynx cats named Alopecia (Pecia)and Minoxidil (Moxi) who rule her waking hours as well as some sleep time.