OUR DOCTORS
DVM, FAVD, DAVDC
Dr. Force graduated from UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine in 1986. She worked in a mixed practice in Invercargill, New Zealand for her very first job out of vet school.
Dr. Judy Force – DVM, FAVD, DAVDC
That was a challenge! Cats & dogs, horses & cattle and the occasional sheep or deer farm. Back in the states she worked in a small animal practice in South Lake Tahoe, California and then Fort Bragg, California before settling down in Watsonville (Santa Cruz County) about 10 years ago.
In the 1980’s there was no dentistry department at UC Davis. The second year out of school, though, Dr. Force took the AAHA weekend courses in dentistry and was hooked. It wasn’t until she was working at Santa Cruz Veterinary Hospital, though, that she found they had lots of wonderful dental equipment that was hardly being used that she was able to devote herself to learning as much dentistry as possible.
Her first mentor, Dr. Barry Staley, was a retired human periodontist and came to oversee dental cases that Dr. Force was doing at SCVH. Dr. Michael Floyd was a great mentor until he retired a few years ago and then Dr. Brook Niemiec (in San Diego), Pat Frost Fitch and Dr. Alex Reiter were her main mentors. During the last three years she has traveled to several veterinary dental practices around the country to work with board certified veterinary dentists™
and advance her knowledge and skills.
In 2006 Dr. Force was honored to have been awarded a Don Low Fellowship in anesthesia. She spent 20 days at UC Davis in the veterinary teaching hospital working in the anesthesia department with faculty, residents and students and improving her understanding of anesthesia in critical as well as geriatric and special-needs patients.
In 2011 Dr. Force became a Fellow of the Academy of Veterinary Dentistry. She passed a rigorous examination in 2014 and is now a Diplomate of the American Veterinary Dental College.
Dr. Force continues to study and learn new skills. She shares that knowledge by lecturing at the national Veterinary Dental Forum as well as to local veterinary hospitals and associations. She has written articles for journals and is currently working on a chapter for veterinary dental restorations book.
In her spare time, Dr. Force enjoys training and competing with her Dalmatians in agility, obedience and an occasional Dalmatian road trial. She enjoys riding her horses on the trail and in dressage competitions. She also likes to play banjo and guitar and spend time with family and friends.
Read more about Dr. Force in the Register Parjaronian.
DVM
Dr. Zuckerman a graduate of Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine, having completed clinical training at UC Davis Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital.
Dr. Ilana Zuckerman – DVM
Dr. Zuckerman started with Dentistry For Animals in January 2020. She is a graduate of Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine, having completed clinical training at UC Davis Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital. After several years of general practice, emergency practice and relief work, she developed interest in oral medicine and surgery. She is now dedicating her time solely to dentistry here at Dentistry For Animals. In her spare time, she enjoys running, yoga, listening to audiobooks, and backpacking through the Sierras with her partner, James, and their Australian Cattle Dog, Lawney.
OUR STAFF
Jeanie, RVT
Practice Manager
Jeanie, RVT – Practice Manager
Jeanie comes to us with over 30 years of experience in veterinary medicine. She started in a small general practice in Carmel where she developed a solid foundation. She has a strong background in emergency and critical care and was Nursing Supervisor at both the Monterey Emergency Clinic and Santa Cruz Veterinary Hospital. Most recently she was the primary CCU RVT at a large multi specialty practice in Campbell. Jeanie has loved all aspects of veterinary medicine including management and comes to us as Practice Manager after taking a break to start a family. She is a graduate of Hartnell Colleges Animal Health Technology Program is a Licensed Veterinary Technician and holds a BA in Biology from UC Santa Cruz. She enjoys reading, working out and poodles! She shares her home with her husband, one silly cat and her adorable son.
Karen, RVT
Veterinary Technician
Karen, RVT – Veterinary Technician
Shortly after graduating high school she started working as a kennel technician and while working the full time, she had the opportunity to train in all areas of the hospital. Karen became the lead technician and manager at the hospital. In 2009, Karen attained her RVT as a Registered Veterinary Technician. She has special interest in Dentistry, Pain Management, and Anesthesia. In 2013 she began working at Dentistry for Animals to further her education and skills in dentistry. And in 2014, she started studying and training to attaining her VTS a specialty in dentistry.
Cindy
Veterinary Assistant
Cindy – Receptionist & Veterinary Assistant
Cindy joined the practice back in 2014 with 10 plus years of client service and veterinary assisting experience. She worked for four years in the surgery department at Santa Cruz Veterinary Hospital. She loves animals and has a calming demeanor that sets animals at ease. In her spare time she enjoys reading books, going to concerts and spending time with her two daughters and their dogs Dexter (Dogue de Bordeoux), Thor (Jack Russel Terrier) and Jupiter (Corgi).