Von Willebrand Disease in Dogs

Category: Blood
Inheritance: Autosomal dominant, incomplete penetrance
Breeds documented: 24
Published sources: 11

Overview

Blood needs a protein called von Willebrand factor to form clots properly. In von Willebrand disease, this protein is reduced, faulty or missing, so bleeding can last longer than normal. It is an inherited disorder with three forms that differ in severity. Some dogs have no obvious signs, while others bruise easily or bleed excessively after an injury or surgery.

Signs to watch for

Bruises that appear easily
Bleeding that lasts longer after minor wounds
Nosebleeds or bleeding gums
Blood in the urine
Blood in stools, or unusually dark, tar-like stools
More bleeding than expected after surgery

Onset varies: bleeding may appear during puppy teething or only later in life.

Emergency Seek emergency veterinary care immediately for heavy bleeding or bleeding that will not stop.

Diagnosis and tests

Vets confirm the condition with a blood test that measures von Willebrand factor. Other blood tests may help rule out different causes of bleeding. DNA screening is available for certain breeds and forms of the disease. A vet may follow genetic screening with a blood test to measure this protein and help judge bleeding risk.

Breeds with documented risk

24 breeds

By breed size

3 Toy
8 Small
10 Medium
3 Large

Most popular breeds on this list

Standard PoodleMedium · Non-Sporting Group
Toy PoodleToy · Toy Group
Doberman PinscherLarge · Working Group
Pembroke Welsh CorgiSmall · Herding Group
Shetland SheepdogSmall · Herding Group
Cocker SpanielSmall · Sporting Group
WhippetMedium · Hound Group
Scottish TerrierSmall · Terrier Group

All 24 breeds, A to Z

Belgian Tervuren

Cocker Spaniel

Irish Doodle Source petmd.com

Kerry Blue Terrier

Pembroke Welsh Corgi

Whippet
Whoodle Source petmd.com

Inheritance

This condition has more than one known form, and different breeds inherit it in different ways. The sources list the form found in each breed.

Autosomal dominant, incomplete penetrance
Doberman Pinscher, Kromfohrländer
One copy can be enough, but not every dog with the variant develops the condition, and severity can vary. A DNA result shows risk, not certainty.
As stated by OMIA
Autosomal recessive
Dobermann, Kromfohrländer
A dog is affected only if it inherits two copies of the gene variant, one from each parent. A dog with one copy is a carrier: usually healthy, but able to pass the variant on. When two carriers are bred, on average one puppy in four is affected. A DNA test can tell clear, carrier and at-risk dogs apart.
As stated by ANTAGENE
Autosomal dominant, incomplete penetrance
Doberman Pinscher, Kromfohrländer
As stated by LABOKLIN
Autosomal recessive
German Shorthaired Pointer, German Wirehaired Pointer
As stated by ANTAGENE
Autosomal recessive
Scottish Terrier, Shetland Sheepdog
As stated by ANTAGENE

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.