SHERMAN O. CANAPP, DVM, MS, CCRT

Diplomate ACVS

Diplomate ACVSMR
Orthopedic Surgery & Sports Medicine

Education:

Dr. Sherman Canapp, originally from Maryland, performed his undergraduate work at University of Maryland Baltimore County and Towson University. He then attended Johns Hopkins University where he gained experience in surgical and pharmaceutical research while performing graduate studies in biochemistry. Dr. Canapp completed a combined DVM/MS at Kansas State University in 1999 with his Masters in Clinical Science in Surgery. After graduation, Dr. Canapp completed an internship in small animal medicine and surgery at the University of Missouri followed by a three-year residency in small animal surgery at the University of Florida.  Dr. Canapp became a member of the American College of Veterinary Surgeons in 2004.  In 2005, Dr. Canapp completed his certification in Canine Rehabilitation. Dr. Canapp completed his certification in Stem Cell Therapy in 2007 and TPLO certification in 2001 and has performed over 2000 TPLO procedures.  With the recent acceptance by the AVMA of a new specialty, The American College of Veterinary Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation (ACVSMR) Dr. Canapp has the extreme honor to be included as a charter Diplomate.

Areas of Expertise:

Dr. Canapp completed his masters research, resident research, and advanced training in the treatment of joint diseases.  Dr. Canapp’s current research is in the area of regenerative medicine, specifically the use of stem cell therapy and platelet rich plasma for the treatment of sports related soft tissue injuries.  Dr. Canapp is a reviewer for many scientific veterinary and human journals. He publishes and lectures frequently on the subjects of osteoarthritis, sports medicine, rehabilitation therapy and minimally invasive surgery, specifically canine arthroscopy, including presentations at the American College of Veterinary Surgeons Symposium, the Veterinary Orthopedic Society Meeting, the North American Veterinary Conference, and national and international continuing education meetings. Dr. Canapp was invited to be the Seminar Chair for the Rehabilitation Therapy Laboratory and Lecture Sessions at the ACVS Symposium in 2006, 2007, 2009 and 2010 and the Sports Medicine Chair in 2009 as well as The International Rehabilitation Symposium in 2010.  Dr. Canapp also had the honor to speak at the 2007 American Physical Therapy Association Meeting on Orthopedic Conditions in Performance Dogs and at the 2007 and 2011 United States Police Canine Association National Training Seminar.  In 2007, Dr. Canapp was elected as the founding president of the American Association of Rehabilitation Veterinarians (AARV). In 2009, Dr. Canapp was included as an instructor for the Canine Rehab Institute.

Dr. Canapp currently practices orthopedic surgery and sports medicine at the Veterinary Orthopedic & Sports Medicine Group (VOSM) in Annapolis Junction, MD where he is owner and Chief of Staff.  Dr. Canapp is also an orthopedic surgery and sports medicine consultant for the National Aquarium in Baltimore, the National Zoo in Washington, D.C., the Maryland Zoo, the Washington D.C. and Regional Police K-9 Units and Search and Rescue dogs, TSA, NSA and Military K-9 units, the Washington D.C. Animal Rescue League, National agility, fly ball, field trial, and disc dog organizations, Nutramax Laboratories, Edgewood, MD, Merial Animal Health Company, Smith & Nephew, Inc., Securos, and Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.

Special Interests:

The area of particular interest to Dr. Canapp is the area of regenerative medicine, sports medicine and minimally invasive surgery, specifically canine sports related injury and arthroscopy. Dr. Canapp has completed and teaches advanced courses in arthroscopy and routinely receives referrals for arthroscopic procedures and regenerative medicine treatments from around the US as well as other countries.  Dr. Canapp also performs minimally invasive fluoroscopic procedures. Dr. Canapp offers this type of advanced care for our pets because he believes clients expect and deserve a standard of care no less than that of human patients.

In addition to the use of regenerative medicine for the treatment of sports related injury (specifically tendon and ligament injuries), Dr. Canapp’s current research studies include the use of functional hinged stifle braces for cranial cruciate ligament injury; diagnostic joint blocking; Intra-articular injections (Hyaluronic acid; Cortisone) for the treatment of elbow osteoarthritis; therapeutic ultrasound (EXOGEN) on the healing of TPLOs; as well as the Canine Unicompartmental Elbow Resurfacing (CUE) for the treatment of elbow osteoarthritis.

Currently, Dr. Canapp and his wife, Dr. Debra Canapp (VOSM’s Medical Director and lead rehabilitation therapist), along with their daughters Allyson and Isabella and son Caden live in Montgomery County, where they share a home with their Doberman, Miles and French Bulldogs, Crash and Axios.  His personal interests include playing drums, racing cars and mountain biking.