|  | 
Category: Canine
Canine von Willebrand's disease
von Willebrand's disease
AffectedAnimals:
Dogs of many breeds can be affected with von Willebrand's disease. Some breeds have a higher incidence than others, including Doberman pinschers, Scottish terriers, Airedales, basset hounds, dachshunds, golden retrievers, German shepherds, Manchester terriers, and Shetland sheepdogs. The condition has been identified in more than 50 breeds of dogs.
Overview:
Occurring because of abnormalities involving a protein called von Willebrand's factor, von Willebrand's disease is an inherited bleeding disorder of dogs. A large number of breeds can be affected with the disease, but the breeds most commonly diagnosed include Doberman pinschers, Scottish terriers, Shetland sheepdogs, and Airedale terriers. Dogs with the illness will many times have no symptoms at all, but when symptoms do occur, abnormal bleeding results. Both spontaneous bleeding and excessive hemorrhage in response to a stimulus such as trauma or routine surgery have been observed.
Since the exact genetic manner in which the disease is transmitted is often unknown, and since reliable tests to identify carriers of the disorder are not always available, von Willebrand's disease is a very difficult condition to eradicate. When excessive hemorrhage occurs, it is best treated by careful use of physical techniques that stop bleeding, such as suturing and cautery. The administration of blood or blood components that help to replace deficient concentrations of von Willebrand's factor will also be important. In some animals, pre-treatment with a substance called DDAVP may allow for temporary increases in von Willebrand's factor concentration that will protect them during periods when they are at risk for bleeding.
|