Have you noticed that your dog bleeds excessively from the gums or nose for no apparent reason? Or does it take a long time for a small wound to heal when you get it by accident? Well, if your answers are affirmative, your pet may have this blood pathology that we are going to explain below, especially if it belongs to one of the more than 50 breeds that are more likely to carry it.
Discover with this article on our site how it affects Von Willebrand Disease in dogs, the most common inherited blood coagulation disorder common in canids. What is this anomaly, what symptoms does it cause, how is it diagnosed, what treatments are there and how it can affect your pet's routine, all this and more is what you will learn if you continue reading.
What is Von Willebrand Disease?
Von Willebrand Disease (VWD) is a blood pathology caused by a lack of Von Willebrand factor (VWF), a glycoprotein that exists in the blood and is essential for the coagulation of vascular lesions. Also, this protein is responsible for transporting coagulation factor VII, so its deficiency causes an abnormal union of blood platelets, thus causing bleeding excessive even in very minor injuries. This abnormality is the most inherited blood clotting disease in dogs and is comparable to hemophilia in humans. It is caused by a genetic mutation and can develop in both male and female dogs, although some breeds are much more prone to it.
There are 3 types of Von Willebrand Disease known according to the function and concentration of the VW factor in the blood verified in more than 50 breeds and they are distinguished by the following characteristics:
- Type 1: This is the most common form of the disease and causes mild to moderate symptoms. The breeds that are most likely to suffer from this type are Dobermans, Airedale and Manchester terriers, golden retrievers, poodles or poddles, German shepherds, Akita inus, miniature schnauzers and Pembroke welsh corgis. Dogs affected with this type of VWD can lead normal lives except when bleeding from trauma or surgery.
- Type 2: Causes moderate to severe symptoms and the breeds most likely to suffer from it are German Shorthaired Pointers and the German wirehaired.
- Type 3: Causes severe to very severe symptoms and is more likely to occur in Chesapeake Retrievers, Shetland Sheepdogs and the Scottish terriers. Dogs affected by type 2 and type 3 VWD often experience repeated bleeding episodes.
In addition, several studies have shown that dogs with von Willebrand Disease are at increased risk of hormonal imbalances and becoming hypothyroid dogs.
Symptoms of Von Willebrand Disease in Dogs
The most severe symptoms of Von Willebrand Disease may become evident after the dog is one year old of age and are:
- Bleeding from the mouth or gums
- Excessive bleeding when you lose baby teeth
- Nosebleeds or epistaxis
- Bleeding in the stool
- Excessive vaginal bleeding during heat or calving cycles
- Bleeding in the urine or hematuria
- Anemia
- Excessive bleeding after surgery or trauma
- Excessive bruising of the skin for no apparent reason
Luckily, most of the dogs that suffer from this pathology have much milder symptoms such as delayed healing of vascular lesions due to poor adherence of blood platelets caused, perhaps, while they are playing or simply by cutting their nails a little more than it should. But these symptoms are very difficult for dog owners to detect as we are generally not medical doctors and we are not into the blood plasma issue, so often goes undiagnosed. Von Willebrand until the dog has to be operated on for some routine surgical injury,castration, etc… and the doctor notices. The good news is that the symptoms usually improve as the dog gets older, but even so, you should go to a veterinarian as soon as you detect any abnormality in your pet's blood coagulation.
The way to diagnose VWD in dogs is with a blood test known as buccal mucosal bleeding time (BTMB), which consists, as its name indicates, in measuring how long it takes for a small wound to performed on the gums in the animal's mouth to coagulate In addition, a complete blood test is also performed to determine the amount of VW factor present, as well as a DNA test to identify dogs that have symptoms and carriers of the pathology. The latter is the most reliable to diagnose the disease.
Treatment of Von Willebrand Disease in Dogs
Unfortunately, Von Willebrand Disease in dogs There is no cure but it can be controlled and treatments are aimed at alleviating the amount of hemorrhages, control bleeding and correct any underlying cause that may affect our pets.
For milder symptoms caused by external wounds, we can use bandages, pressure bandages, skin glues or various sutures to control bleeding until the vascular injury ends up coagulating.
In case of surgery, doctors will give the animals medications containing coagulation factors, and it may be necessary to transfuse them with fresh blood or fresh plasma once or several times in order to restore the clotting factors. VW factor levels during operation.
What life should a dog with Von Willebrand Disease lead?
Dogs that have type 1 VWD with mild or moderate symptoms can lead a normal life but always watch out and supervise their activities, especially when small wounds are made to heal them immediately, and prevent them from playing roughly with us or other dogs in order to avoid bruises, joint injuries or more serious bleeding. We should also avoid giving dog toys with sharp corners or edges, and hard bones or treats to prevent bleeding from the mouth or gums.
For dogs with types 2 and 3 of Von Willebrand Disease that suffer from more severe symptoms, as mentioned above, the administration of clotting medications and blood transfusions will be necessary or fresh plasma during surgical interventions, as well as the supervision and limitation of some physical activities to alleviate the greatest possible damage. And obviously, we should never administer anticoagulant, antiplatelet or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) to these dogs regardless of the form of the pathology; or certain high-dose dietary supplements such as vitamins C and E, omega-3 fatty acids, and those containing proanthocyanidins (natural antioxidants).
