Pioneers in Veterinary Orthopedic & Sports Medicine
Orthopedic Surgery
& Arthroscopy
Sports & Performance Medicine
Orthobiologic & Regenerative Therapy
Rehabilitation & Return to Activity
Pioneers in Minimally Invasive Care & Modern Orthopedic Medicine
For decades, our specialists have advanced the standards, techniques, and technologies shaping modern veterinary orthopedics, arthroscopy, sports medicine, and orthobiologic therapies.
Clinical Research
For decades, our specialists have conducted sponsored research with academic, clinical, nonprofit, and industry partners in areas including:
- Cartilage repair, osteoarthritis & joint preservation: Biological joint resurfacing, tissue engineering, joint biology, biomarker research, and therapies designed to preserve joint function.
- Regenerative treatments for joints, tendons & ligaments: Platelet-rich plasma, bone marrow aspirate concentrate, cellular therapies, bioscaffolds, injectable joint materials, and other biologic approaches.
- Sports medicine & soft-tissue injury: Shoulder, tendon, ligament, muscle, carpal, and other performance-limiting conditions in companion, athletic, and working dogs.
- Orthopedic surgery, implants & TPLO: Biomechanics, fracture fixation, reconstruction, bone healing, surgical planning, implant performance, and clinical outcomes.
- Musculoskeletal imaging & diagnosis: Ultrasound, MRI, arthroscopy, needle-scope evaluation, diagnostic comparison, and lameness localization.
- Rehabilitation, recovery & return to activity: Muscle physiology, gait and loading assessment, pain and mobility, post-surgical recovery, conditioning, and return to daily activity, sport, and work.
Technology Development
Our specialists have helped design, co-develop, validate, and clinically evaluate technologies used in veterinary orthopedics, arthroscopy, sports medicine, orthobiologics, rehabilitation, and objective outcomes assessment. Examples include:
- Arthroscopy, imaging & minimally invasive systems: Canine-specific arthroscopy and needle-scope systems, musculoskeletal ultrasound, integrated imaging, and image-guided care.
- Orthopedic implants & repair systems: TPLO plates, locking fixation systems, tendon-repair constructs, prosthetic-ligament stabilization, and hip and elbow reconstruction technologies.
- Regenerative & joint-restoration technologies: Platelet-rich plasma, bone marrow aspirate concentrate, adipose-derived cellular preparations, bioscaffolds, growth-factor combinations, injectable joint materials, and bone-graft substitutes.
- Functional assessment, rehabilitation & recovery technologies: Force, pressure, stance, and gait systems; orthopedic bracing and external limb prostheses; and physical-treatment devices for measuring and supporting mobility and recovery.
- Digital clinical-support & training systems: Remote diagnostic review, procedural guidance, case communication, clinical-data exchange, patient follow-up, and professional education.
Scientific Publications
Our specialists have authored or coauthored more than 100 peer-reviewed articles, book chapters, scientific abstracts, conference proceedings, and professional publications across veterinary orthopedics, sports medicine, regenerative medicine, rehabilitation, and related biomedical fields, including:
- Peer-reviewed clinical & biomedical research: Orthopedic surgery, sports medicine, regenerative medicine, musculoskeletal imaging, biomechanics, rehabilitation, functional recovery, muscle physiology, and comparative biomedical science.
- Reference books, chapters & academic works: Canine sports medicine, orthopedic diagnosis and treatment, regenerative medicine, rehabilitation, surgical complications, and orthopedic devices.
- Scientific abstracts & conference proceedings: Original findings presented to surgical, orthopedic, sports-medicine, rehabilitation, and regenerative-medicine audiences.
- Professional & public education: Clinical guidance for veterinarians, rehabilitation professionals, performance-dog communities, and pet owners.
Clinical Innovation
Beginning with one of the profession’s early canine arthroscopy programs, our specialists have translated research and technology into more precise approaches to orthopedic diagnosis, treatment, and recovery. Examples include:
- Arthroscopy & minimally invasive treatment: Arthroscopic, needle-scope, and endoscopically assisted approaches for joint assessment, cartilage treatment, ligament procedures, and other orthopedic conditions.
- Advanced musculoskeletal diagnosis: Combined musculoskeletal ultrasound, MRI, arthroscopy, needle-scope evaluation, diagnostic blocks, and image-guided procedures to define complex sources of lameness and injury.
- Orthopedic surgery & reconstruction: Advanced surgical planning and treatment for fracture fixation, TPLO, tendon and ligament repair, joint stabilization, and hip and elbow reconstruction.
- Regenerative and joint-preservation care: Clinical application of platelet-rich plasma, bone marrow aspirate concentrate, cellular therapies, bioscaffolds, injectable joint treatments, and other approaches to joint, tendon, and ligament disease.
- Objective recovery & return to activity: Gait, loading, range-of-motion, mobility, and sport-specific assessment integrated with rehabilitation, bracing, external support, and return-to-activity planning.
Veterinary Education
For more than three decades, our specialists have trained veterinarians and future specialists through mentorship, formal curricula, hands-on laboratories, and professional education in the United States and internationally.
- Specialty training & mentorship: Clinical, procedural, research, and career mentorship for veterinary students, interns, residents, fellows, specialty candidates, practicing veterinarians, and veterinary technicians.
- Curricula, courses & procedural laboratories: Recurring courses, academies, clinical rotations, wet laboratories, and training programs in orthopedic surgery, arthroscopy, minimally invasive diagnosis and treatment, sports medicine, diagnostic imaging, orthobiologics, rehabilitation, and functional assessment.
- Veterinary arthroscopy education: Helped develop and teach the profession’s first veterinary arthroscopy course at the 1996 American College of Veterinary Surgeons meeting, followed by national and international instruction in arthroscopy, needle-scope, and image-guided procedures.
- National & international professional education: Invited lectures, keynote presentations, workshops, scientific sessions, specialty symposia, and multiday programs for veterinary professionals in the United States and internationally.
- Digital, case-based & community education: Instructional video, webinars, virtual workshops, live case discussions, remote procedural guidance, and applied education for agility, sporting, service, police, search-and-rescue, and other working-dog communities.
Professional Leadership
Collectively, our specialists have built specialty practices and clinical programs, led professional organizations, and helped shape the standards, education, and partnerships advancing veterinary orthopedics and sports medicine.
- Specialty-practice & clinical-program leadership: Founded and led dedicated orthopedic, arthroscopy, sports-medicine, rehabilitation, and regenerative-medicine programs that integrated diagnosis, surgery, minimally invasive care, recovery, and return-to-function planning.
- Professional-organization leadership: Leadership roles with organizations including the American Association of Rehabilitation Veterinarians and the American College of Veterinary Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation, including founding, presidential, committee, and program responsibilities.
- Specialty standards & scientific service: Directed scientific sessions and specialty symposia; contributed to residency, credentialing, and specialty-training standards; and served as manuscript reviewers, editorial advisers, and scientific grant reviewers.
- Health-system, research & industry leadership: Board, advisory, and collaborative work with health systems, universities, researchers, medical-device developers, and veterinary-health organizations on clinical programs, research, technology, and education.
- Working-dog, public-service & international initiatives: Leadership supporting working-dog organizations, animal-welfare programs, wildlife and zoological care, and veterinary education in regions with limited specialty resources.
TPLO Specialists for the San Francisco Bay Area
The Sams Clinic specialists have performed thousands of TPLO procedures and designed TPLO implant systems widely used by veterinary surgeons.
TPLO Experience
Performed thousands of TPLO surgeries across routine, complex, revision, and second-opinion cranial cruciate ligament cases.
TPLO Innovation
Designed TPLO plates and implant systems widely used by veterinary surgeons performing TPLO surgery.
Complete Cruciate Care
Treatment may incorporate arthroscopic joint and meniscal evaluation, orthobiologic therapies, rehabilitation, and progressive return to activity based on each dog’s injury and long-term functional needs.
For Bay Area Families & Performance Dogs Around the World
Whether you're our neighbors in the San Francisco Bay Area or traveling to us from farther away, our team carefully coordinates your pet's care together with you every step of the way.
Bay Area Families
For pets whose best days mean comfortable couch time, neighborhood walks, Marin trail hikes, and family playtime, The Sams Clinic helps dogs and cats regain comfort, stability, and mobility so they can return to the moments that matter most.
Sport & Working Dogs
For dogs trained for precision, power, and control — where every stride, turn, and hesitation matters — The Sams Clinic tailors diagnostic and treatment pathways to your dog’s condition, capabilities, and performance demands. Learn more >
Our Specialists
Andrew Sams, DVM, MS, DACVS
Founder & Medical Director
Orthopedic Surgery & Arthroscopy
Sherman Canapp, DVM, MS, CCRT, DACVS, DACVSMR
Orthopedic Surgery & Arthroscopy
Sports Medicine & Rehabilitation
Dana Whitlock, DVM, MS, CCRP, CVA, DACVSMR
Sports Medicine & Rehabilitation
Patient Stories
Speedoggie
Various
Our dogs do it all. Canapp keeps them running!
Cole
Agility
“Cole is now back doing the things he loves: agility, herding and hiking. I can’t say enough good things about my experience with Dr. Canapp and his team. Their love for the animals and friendliness toward the owners made the experience very pleasant. I am so happy that this level of technology and range of treatment options were available to us.’
Owen
Dock Diving
“Owen now has four very functional legs, allowing him to excel in dock diving. More importantly, though, Owen is a happy young man who can roughhouse with his brother, go on runs with my wife, and play fetch at the park like nobody’s business.”
Tango
Agility
“About three months after Tango placed 4th in the USDAA Cynosport Steeplechase, he developed an intermittent, slight limp in his front leg. We went to veterinarians and a specialist, but no one could tell me exactly what was wrong, even after an MRI, physical therapy, laser therapy, Adequan and Metacam. On a former client’s suggestion, we flew from Seattle to see Dr. Canapp. I got an answer right away—Tango was diagnosed with bilateral medial shoulder syndrome.”