What Is Von Willebrand Disease?

Von Willebrands disease (VWD) is an inherited disorder that is common in many different dog breeds..

What Is von Willebrand Disease?

Von Willebrands disease (VWD) is an inherited disorder that is common in many different dog breeds including Doberman Pinschers, Welsh corgis, German shepherds, and Scottish terriers

The hemophilia-like disorder affects the blood clotting ability of the dog’s blood. This is due to a deficiency in the VWD factor, a necessary component in blood clotting. Unlike hemophilia that is inherited by the male descendants, von Willebrands can be found in both male and female dogs. A dog suffering from VWD requires special handling and care; it is therefore advantageous to test dogs for VWD before breeding them effectively discontinuing the defective bloodline.

Symptoms Of Von Willebrand Disease

Symptoms of VWD are excessive bleeding or hemorrhaging following surgery or even after a simple toe nail clip. Other symptoms include nosebleeds, excessive and multiple bruising, and blood in feces or urine. These symptoms mostly show up as the dog ages.

VWD is divided into three types to help veterinarians treat the sick dogs. The first (Type I) which is commonly found can be seen in mild to severe forms. Type I breeds include Doberman Pinschers, German shepherds, golden retrievers, Poodles and Shetland Sheepdogs. Type II is less common causes severe bleeding and is found mostly in German Pointers. The third type (Type III) is the most uncommon type with afflicted animals suffering severe hemorrhaging because of the complete lack of the clotting factor. Dogs affected by this type VWD include breeds such as the Scottish Terriers, Shetland Sheepdogs and the Chesapeake Bay Retrievers.

Testing For Von Willebrand Disease

Testing for the condition involves a simple blood test called the VWD factor Antigen Test which measures the clotting ability of the dog’s blood. If testing is for breeding purposes it is better to use the more reliable DNA testing.

Treatment Von Willebrand Disease

Treatment for the VWD is usually directed to stopping the bleeding episodes. Preventing bleeding should also be taken into account. In an emergency situation a dog may be given a blood transfusion. Besides blood transfusion a medication known as -Deamino-8-D-arginine vasopressin (DDAVP) which increases the ability of the dogs blood to clot.