CASE STUDIES: CANISSAGE IN PRACTICE
Mouse’s Story: Finding Comfort After a Difficult Start
After being diagnosed with complex joint conditions as a puppy, Mouse underwent multiple operations and now follows a carefully managed, multimodal care plan. His owner introduced Canissage as part of his home relaxation and post-activity routine.
At just four months old, Mouse suddenly went lame. After investigations, he was diagnosed with osteochondritis dissecans (OCD) affecting both elbows and his left shoulder, alongside bilateral medial coronoid process disease.
It was devastating news for Annabelle, particularly for such a young dog.
At six months old, Mouse underwent surgery on his left elbow and shoulder. Two months later, he needed surgery on his right elbow as well.
The operations involved significant procedures to help manage the pressure within his joints, including cutting and remodelling the ulna and elbow to help reduce pressure on the shoulder. Recovery was challenging, especially with a young puppy who needed to remain calm and restricted after major joint surgery.
“Trying to keep a puppy still and calm after major joint surgery is not easy,” says Annabelle.
Mouse needed pain relief and sedation, while Annabelle had to find new ways to keep his mind occupied without allowing him to over-exercise. Their dreams of an unrestricted, active life suddenly changed.
Annabelle explains that surgery isn’t a cure for OCD. Instead, it has helped to manage Mouse’s condition, and his lifestyle and exercise now have to be carefully controlled to help keep him comfortable.
Mouse is now cared for through a multimodal approach, with several different therapies and treatments forming part of his ongoing routine.
His care includes:
Daily pain relief
Joint supplements
Regular hydrotherapy
Ongoing physiotherapy
Home treatments
Monthly specialist physiotherapy
Laser therapy
PEMF treatments
Carefully controlled exercise
Canissage Pulse Massage treatments
Annabelle has also adapted their home and car to make life easier for Mouse, including using ramps to reduce the need for jumping.
His exercise is carefully planned too. Mouse can enjoy longer walks where he has more freedom, but these are limited to around once a week. The days in between involve shorter, controlled exercise or rest, depending on how he is feeling.
For Annabelle, managing Mouse’s pain is a constant consideration; “There is ongoing and unmeasured pain,” she explains.
Annabelle first discovered Canissage at a dog agility show. Although Mouse could no longer pursue the agility activities she had once imagined for him, Canissage gave her another option to incorporate into his wider home care routine.
Mouse uses his Canissage pad as part of his home routine, particularly after walks and exercise. Annabelle incorporates it into periods of relaxation and post-activity recovery, alongside his established veterinary care, physiotherapy, hydrotherapy and controlled exercise.
Mouse also chooses to settle and sleep on the pad.
Annabelle says she has never needed to encourage Mouse to get onto the Canissage pad. He chooses to use it independently and will sometimes settle or sleep there.
For Annabelle, this willingness to use the pad is one of the things she values most about including Canissage in Mouse’s wider routine.
Life with Mouse may not look the way she originally imagined. His walks and exercise need to be carefully managed, and he continues to require ongoing treatment and support. However, Mouse still enjoys his routines and the activities available to him.
Rather than focusing only on what Mouse cannot do, Annabelle concentrates on helping him enjoy the things he can do as comfortably as possible. Canissage is one part of that broader approach.
This case study describes one owner’s experience of incorporating Canissage into an established multimodal care routine. Mouse continued to receive veterinary treatment, medication, physiotherapy, hydrotherapy and carefully managed exercise.
The observations reported here should not be interpreted as evidence that Canissage caused a clinical change, will produce the same outcome for another dog or can replace veterinary diagnosis, prescribed treatment or professional rehabilitation.