Dr. Contreras was born and raised in Southern California, living in various cities throughout Orange and Riverside county. She had a love of animals from an early age, and developed a love of science in school, which led her to her dream job: veterinarian. After graduating as a valedictorian from her high school, she then went on to graduate cum lade with a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from the University of California in Riverside. From there, she went on to graduate with a Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine from the University of California Davis - School of Veterinary Medicine.
She then worked as a general practitioner for a few years, where she enjoyed interpreting bloodwork results and performing surgeries. However, she eventually had a dog come to her with the sudden inability to use her back legs. Although her family could not afford a back surgery, they were very dedicated to their fur baby, and brought her in for a check up with Dr. Contreras every week, and also started taking her elsewhere for some acupuncture sessions. And within a couple months, she was running circles around the exam room again!
Having witnessed this amazing recovery, Dr. Contreras decided to take a deeper look into integrative medicine, and loved what she found. She then went back to school to acquire her acupuncture certification, which allowed her to leave her general practice job to completely focus on integrative medicine. She then did another year of study for her rehabilitation certification, and hopes to continue to expand her knowledge in the future, to better serve her patients, and their families.
Dr. Contreras loves being able to help her patients feel better, and giving them the ability to live their lives to the fullest! She also enjoys being able to see her patients regularly enough to build relationships with them, and their families.
When she's not working, Dr. Contreras enjoys spending time with her family, and doing things with her hands - like woodworking, crafting, and crocheting. One of her recently completed projects is a catio for her cat, who is afraid to go outside but loves chatting with the birds!
Why I chose this profession:
I chose the veterinary profession because of my love for animals, which I’ve had from a very small age, “helping” my grandfather with his farm. But I chose to specialize in rehabilitation because of my compassion for our fur babies, and the desire to help them live their lives to the fullest.
Favorite part of my job:
Being able to see the gradual improvement of pets I’m working with, and building relationships with their family.
Personal hobbies and interests:
Woodworking, books, crochet, crafts
Favorite food:
Carne Asada Nachos
Dream Destination:
Machu Picchu, Peru
Education:
University of California Davis - School of Veterinary Medicine
Degree achieved:
Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine (DVM)
Certifications:
Certified Veterinary Medical Acupuncturist (CVMA)
Certified Companion Animal Rehabilitation Therapist (CCAT)
Name of Certifying Organization
CuraCore
North Carolina State University - College of Veterinary Medicine
Website of Certifying Organization
https://curacore.org/vet/mini-course/mav-sa-onsite-program/
https://www.ncsuvetce.com/canine-rehab-ccat/