Meet Our Las Vegas Vet Team
While our vet team has inevitably changed since 1986, the dedication, empathy, and skill of our veterinarians and staff remain undeniable. We take pride in building lasting relationships with pet parents and having them come back to us year after year. Get to know our wonderful vet team below and contact us today to book an appointment!
Our Doctors
Daniel Ulitchny DVM
Dr. Ulitchny graduated from Kansas State University and has been practicing in Las Vegas since 1998. He has special interests in internal medicine, diagnostic ultrasonography, soft tissue surgery and laser therapy. Most importantly he enjoys fostering long-term relationships with his patients and clients. Many of his clients have been with him for over 20 years allowing for a high level of personalized care that can be delivered in an efficient manner.
A native of Kansas, Dr. Ulitchny has grown to love our desert environment and life in Las Vegas. When not practicing you can find Dr. Ulitchny involved in a variety of activities with his family and the community. Whether it’s his experiences with Red Rock Search & Rescue, racing cars with his son or biking and hiking with his family there is always something keeping him on the move.
Kristine Ziegler DVM
Dr. Ziegler is native to Las Vegas and a true desert rat! Her parents moved to Las Vegas in 1966 for her father's career as a nuclear physicist and her mother's as a medical technologist at Sunrise Hospital. Dr. Ziegler always knew she would be a veterinarian, but her first introduction to the field was when she was hired as a kennel attendant by Dr. Pennell at the age of 16. She continued to work various positions for him over the next 8 years. And yes, he did have something to do with her attending Washington State University where she earned her Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine in 1998.
Dr. Ziegler has special interests in rescue work, dentistry, internal medicine, and of course any adorable kitten or puppy. She loves her loyal clientele, as many she has known her entire life. She is also an anesthesia examiner for veterinarians who graduated from non-accredited veterinary colleges around the world.
When she is not involved with veterinary work, Dr. Ziegler enjoys the outdoors, skiing, and most of all being a mom to three wonderful children. In Addition, she is also a Fur-Mom of 6 Fur-babies and 1 grand Fur-Baby. She knows what it means to love pets as part of the family.
Jon R. Pennell MS, DVM
Dr. Pennell was born and raised in Southern Idaho where his father was a mixed animals veterinary practitioner and his mother was a registered nurse. Through his parents he has developed an interest in medicine. When he was young, he was very active in Boy Scouts and received his Eagle Scout award. He received his B.S. from the university of Arizona in 1972 and his M.S. in veterinary science from the University of Idaho in 1976. He then graduated from Washington State University College of Veterinary Medicine in 1981. He has been practicing veterinary medicine in Clark County for over 30 years and has a special interest in veterinary dentistry. In 1997, the Governor appointed him to serve on the Nevada State Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners. He served for a total of 9 years and was honored to be President during his last two years. He is also a past President of the Western Veterinary Conference, a current member of the American Veterinary Dental Society, the Nevada Veterinary Medical Association, and the American Veterinary Medical Association where He also serves as Nevada's Delegate.
As much as he truly loves his work, this is nothing compared to the love he has for his family. In 1973, he married his amazing wife, Kathy. Together they have two children, and are blessed with 4 beautiful grandchildren. He enjoys being a grandfather immensely. Any spare time he has is dedicated to Family activities.
Caley Smith DVM
Dr. Smith is a newcomer to Las Vegas and is incredibly excited to be joining the team at Sahara Pines. Growing up in rural Pennsylvania, Dr. Smith knew from an early age that she wanted to be a veterinarian. She began working with her local veterinarian in sixth grade where her love for animals and veterinary medicine continued to grow. After high school, Dr. Smith went on to Malone University in Canton, Ohio where she earned her Bachelor’s in Biology and played collegiate softball. The final stop of her schooling was the Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine in Columbus, Ohio where Dr. Smith earned her Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine. Dr. Smith’s special interests in veterinary medicine include nutrition (specifically weight management!), dentistry, internal medicine, and dermatology. Also important to Dr. Smith is practicing “Fear-Free” Medicine in order to give each of her patients the best possible experience in the veterinary hospital.
Outside of the hospital, Dr. Smith enjoys spending time with her husband, Aaron and their two cats. Together, they enjoy exercising and spending time outdoors. While Dr. Smith says she enjoys a good hike, her true happy place is on her paddleboard in Lake Mead. Dr. Smith and her husband can also often be found spending long hours in their kitchen cooking healthy meals. While Dr. Smith claims she is “pretty good” in the kitchen, she is most often prep cook for her husband who was trained in culinary school and whose culinary skills she is no match for.