Canine Von Willebrand’s Disease (vWD) is a hereditary disorder that affects dogs’ blood clotting process. It’s caused by an inherited deficiency in the von Willebrand factor, which is a protein that helps platelets stick together to form clots and stop bleeding. vWD can cause excessive bleeding during surgery as well as spontaneous bleeding from their nose, gums, and other parts of their body.
Symptoms of Canine Von Willebrand’s Disease
The most common symptom of Canine Von Willebrand’s Disease is excessive bleeding. The excessive bleeding can be seen in the form of nosebleeds, gum bleeds, and other types of spontaneous bleeding from their body. In some cases, dogs might also have blood in their urine, vomit blood, and cough up blood.
Dogs with vWD may have prolonged bleeding during surgery or after injury.
Diagnosing Canine Von Willebrand’s Disease
The diagnosis of Canine Von Willebrand’s Disease can be made through a combination of physical examination, medical history review, and laboratory tests. During the physical exam, your veterinarian might look for signs of excessive bleeding or other abnormal findings related to the disease. In addition, they may ask questions about your dog’s medical history, including any previous surgeries or injuries that could have resulted in excessive bleeding.
In order to confirm the diagnosis of Canine Von Willebrand’s Disease, your veterinarian will likely recommend laboratory testing. Common tests used to diagnose vWD include a complete blood count (CBC), clotting time test, and DNA test.
Effects of Canine Von Willebrand’s Disease
Canine Von Willebrand’s Disease can vary from mild to severe, depending on the amount of von Willebrand factor present in your dog.Dogs that have a mild form of vWD may experience some spontaneous bleeding but will likely not require any special treatment. Dogs with more severe forms of vWD may need medications to help control their bleeding episodes.
Treatment for Canine Von Willebrand’s Disease
In cases of mild vWD, treatment is not usually necessary and your dog can live a relatively normal life. Dogs with more severe forms of the disorder may need medications to help control their bleeding episodes. These medications can include desmopressin acetate (DDAVP), antifibrinolytic drugs, and vitamin K. Blood transfusions might be necessary in some cases.
Preventing Canine Von Willebrand’s Disease
The best way to prevent Canine Von Willebrand’s Disease is through responsible breeding. Dogs that are known to be carriers of vWD should not be bred and those with the disease should not be used for breeding. It’s important for potential pet owners to research a dog’s health history before adopting or purchasing them in order to ensure that they have not inherited vWD.