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Mar 11, 2024 · 5 min read. Von Willebrand disease is a bleeding disorder that affects some purebred dogs. It causes problems with how your dog’s blood clots, putting them at risk for unusually heavy...
- Rebekah Kuschmider
- Overview
- Causes
- Breed Predisposition
- Clinical Signs
- Diagnosis
- Treatment
- Outcome
- Prevention
- Genetics
Von Willebrand Disease (vWD) is an inherited bleeding disorder that makes it difficult for blood to clot. It is the most common inherited bleeding disorder in dogs, and it can be seen more frequently in certain breeds, such as Doberman Pinschers. Dogs with vWD may show signs of bleeding, such as skin bruising, bleeding from the gums or nose, and ex...
A protein called the von Willebrand Factor (vWF) plays an important role in clot formation. For dogs with vWD, this protein can be reduced, dysfunctional or absent all together. This results in prolonged bleeding, because it takes longer for dogs with vWD to form clots. There are three types of vWD, each defined by either a lack of vWF or poorly fu...
Some of the breeds predisposed to vWD include, but are not limited, to the following: 1. Type I:Doberman Pinschers, Pembroke Welsh Corgis, Poodles, Bernese Mountain Dogs, Irish Setters, West Highland White Terriers 2. Type II:German Wirehaired and Shorthaired Pointers 3. Type III:Scottish Terriers, Kooikerhondje, Shetland Sheepdogs, Chesapeake Bay ...
The clinical signs may vary depending on the amount of functional vWF present. Some dogs may have no obvious signs. The most common signs include: 1. Easy bruising 2. Skin bleeding, even from minor wounds 3. Bleeding from gums (e.g. while teething or chewing on toys) 4. Bleeding from nose, bladder (blood-tinged urine), vagina, or GI tract (blood in...
Your veterinarian may perform bloodwork to rule out other forms of bleeding disorders, followed by a simple test that times how quickly a blood clot forms (the buccal mucosal bleeding time, or BMBT). If this test shows delayed clot formation, and the rest of the testing comes back normal, then your veterinarian will want to perform another blood te...
There are some IV medications or blood products that can be given before necessary surgical procedures or to control other types of bleeding. Examples include desmopressin acetate (not used in Type III vWD), cryoprecipitate or fresh frozen plasma. These treatments work by temporarily increasing the amount of vWF in the blood. Your veterinarian may ...
There is no cure for vWD. The prognosis will depend on the type of vWD, which correlates to the dog’s risk of bleeding. With proper management, many dogs with vWD can have a normal lifespan. Strategies can include avoiding cosmetic surgeries, giving proper medications prior to necessary surgeries and avoiding certain medications that can further af...
Because vWD is inherited, dogs suspected of having (or carrying) vWD should not be used for breeding without genetic testing and careful consideration of mate selection. DNA screening is available for several dog breeds. If genetic testing determines that a dog at-risk for vWD (e.g. carrying two copies of the variant), they may be subsequently test...
VWD can be caused by several different genetic variants in the vWF gene. Type I vWD, which is the most common, is found in many breeds, and it has one known variant in the vWF gene. This variant is recessively inherited, which means that a dog is at-risk of developing vWD if they have two copies of the variant. However, it is possible for dogs that...
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Von Willebrand's disease (vWD) is the most common inherited bleeding disorder of both humans and dogs. It is caused by a deficiency in the amount of a specific protein needed to help platelets (the blood cells used in clotting) stick together and form clots to seal broken blood vessels. The deficient protein is called von Willebrand factor (vWF).
May 2, 2022 · Prognosis for Dogs With Von Willebrand Disease . There is no known cure for von Willebrand disease. If a dog has a mild to moderate type of the disease, your pet can live a normal day-to-day life under careful watch, but requires special care if surgery or other procedures are needed.
Apr 9, 2024 · Von Willebrand‘s disease (vWD) in dogs is characterized by a deficiency in particular proteins used to help platelets stick together. This complex of proteins is called the von Willebrand...
Von Willebrand disease (vWD) is a common hereditary bleeding disorder characterized by a deficiency of the von Willebrand factor, a protein that’s needed to help the blood clot. Its symptoms can be dormant or difficult to spot and if left untreated, vWD can be life-threatening.
Dec 17, 2021 · Treatment for von Willebrand disease There is no cure for vWD and treatment usually focuses on bleeding episodes. Dogs with confirmed vWD will likely need blood plasma transfusions during surgical procedures.
