About Us
Dr. Sharon Startup DVDC was born and grew up in Beaufort and Columbia, South Carolina. She has been practicing veterinary medicine for over 35 years. She graduated from the University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine, and in 1985, she started a general veterinary practice in Knoxville, TN. She began performing dental procedures and oral surgery in 1997. Her interest in Veterinary Dentistry grew, and she pursued advanced training so that she could provide the best dental care for her patients. In 2014, Dr. Startup became a Diplomate of the American Veterinary Dental College (AVDC), joining the elite group of dental specialists worldwide who have successfully passed the AVDC boards.
Dr. Startup’s passion for her field has led her to stay very involved. She has published articles and book chapters and taught senior veterinary students, veterinary interns, private practitioners, and teaches collaboratively with other specialists around the globe.
In her free time, Dr. Startup enjoys spending time with her daughter Lauren and her four-legged baby Jobie. She also enjoys the ocean, kayaking, paddleboarding, and riding her many bikes.
Katy Burton, DVM, Practice Limited to Dentistry
Dr. Katy Burton DVM is a University of Tennessee College of veterinary medicine graduate. Dr Burton worked in general practice in Knoxville TN for 20 years before joining our team at Animal Dental Services. After taking a dental course with Sharon Startup DVM, DAVDC, Dr. Burton’s interest in dentistry evolved. She began her dental residency in January 2021 and has since gone through rigorous training in advanced dentistry and oral surgery. She enjoys providing the best dental care and oral surgery to our four-legged family members.
Most of Dr Burton adult life has been spent calling Tennessee home and her childhood home was on the coast of Oregon. In her time away from dentistry she enjoys spending time with her husband and children and most importantly her fur baby Roo, the ocean, running, and yoga.
Martin Kennedy, DVM, Dipl. AVCAA
Dr. Martin Kennedy, a highly accomplished and esteemed professional, brings a wealth of experience and expertise to his role as a Board-Certified Veterinary Anesthesiologist™ at Animal Dental Services. Dr. Kennedy embarked on his educational journey at Cornell University, where he pursued a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemical Engineering. However, fueled by his passion for animal care, he shifted gears and achieved a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from the University of Wisconsin.
To further hone his skills, Dr. Kennedy underwent an intensive residency program specializing in Anesthesia and Pain Management at the University of Wisconsin. Additionally, he gained invaluable experience through a rotating internship at the University of Minnesota. Before joining the team at Animal Dental Services, Dr. Kennedy served as the head of the anesthesia service at a prestigious referral practice in Cincinnati until December 2019. Following this, he worked as an associate professor of anesthesia & pain medicine at the University of Minnesota.
Dr. Kennedy’s professional interests encompass a broad spectrum of anesthesia-related subjects, such as total intravenous anesthesia (TIVA), high-risk patient management, and multimodal pain control. He derives immense satisfaction from mentoring aspiring anesthesiologists and sharing his extensive knowledge and experiences with them. With his extensive anesthesia experience, Dr. Kennedy provides the best remote anesthetic monitoring for patients at Animal Dental Services.
