P2Y12 Receptor Platelet Disorder in Dogs

Category: Blood
Breeds documented: 1
Published sources: 5

Overview

A faulty platelet receptor can interfere with the early steps that stop bleeding. Platelets are tiny blood fragments that gather at an injured blood vessel and help form a plug. In this inherited disorder, described in Greater Swiss Mountain Dogs, they do not respond properly to one of the signals that activates them. Bleeding may be slight in everyday life but become excessive after an injury or surgery.

Signs to watch for

Excessive gum bleeding during teething
Nosebleeds
Small areas of bleeding in the skin
Unusually heavy bleeding after an injury or surgery

Bleeding may become apparent during teething or after an injury or operation.

Emergency Go to an emergency vet now if your dog is bleeding heavily.

Diagnosis and tests

Routine platelet counts and standard clotting tests can be normal despite this disorder. Specialized platelet testing can show an impaired response to ADP, a chemical signal that normally activates platelets. A DNA test for the known P2Y12 receptor variant is available for Greater Swiss Mountain Dogs and can identify affected dogs and carriers.

Breeds with documented risk

1 breed

By breed size

1 Giant

Greater Swiss Mountain DogGiant · Working Group

Inheritance

Not yet known
None of the sources we use states how this is inherited in dogs yet.

We've gathered what published sources say about this condition, so you can talk it through with your vet. It isn't veterinary advice: you and your vet know your dog best.