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ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT GREYHOUNDS
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OBEDIENCE
SAGE
ADVICE:
von
Willebrand’s Disease
by
Dr. Amanda Florsheim
Von Willebrand’s disease is an inherited blood clotting disorder caused by either a decrease or lack of certain types of proteins important in a dog’s ability to form a blood clot. If there is a deficiency in the amount of von Willebrand’s protein, platelets do not “stick together” properly and prolonged bleeding can occur from any wound. The typical screening test performed by most veterinary hospitals differentiates between normal and at-risk dogs. Those at-risk are usually further categorized into probable carriers (moderately decreased percentage of proteins compared to “normal” dogs) and probable affected (severely decreased percentage of proteins).
A dog that has a moderately lower percentage of von Willebrand’s protein compared to normal dogs most likely will be a carrier of the disorder. While carriers can be mildly affected, they are more at risk to pass on the more severe bleeding disorder to their offspring than actually have problems with excessive bleeding themselves.
Those with a severely decreased percentage of proteins are considered to be more at-risk for having problems with excessive bleeding during either a surgery or traumatic event. Although there are more extensive tests that can differentiate between more specific types of von Willebrand’s, they are not generally done because it does not change how these dogs are handled either prior to surgery or when some form of trauma has occurred. Several blood products are available that can be used prior to a planned surgical procedure or during treatment for traumatic wounds that will help supplement the decreased or lack of von Willebrand’s factor.
If you would like more information on von Willebrand’s disease, please click here.
