Pints for Pups

Von Willebrand disease and hemophilia in dogs

Inherited bleeding disorders in dogs, the breeds most affected, and how plasma and cryoprecipitate transfusions get them through surgery and injuries.

What it is

Von Willebrand disease (vWD) is the most common inherited bleeding disorder in dogs. Affected dogs lack a protein that helps platelets stick to damaged vessels. Doberman pinschers are the classic breed, with milder type 1 disease; more severe forms occur in Scottish terriers, Shetland sheepdogs, Chesapeake Bay retrievers and German shorthaired pointers. Hemophilia A and B, deficiencies of clotting factors VIII and IX, are rarer and affect mostly male dogs.1

Warning signs

Prolonged bleedingAfter nail trims, tooth loss, spay or neuter.
Nosebleeds and gum bleedingWithout injury.
Blood in urine or stoolOr heavy bleeding during heat cycles.
Joint swellingHemophilia especially.

Genetic tests exist for many breeds. Breeders and owners of at-risk breeds can test before any surgery.

Why transfusions

Many affected dogs live normal lives and only bleed when injured or operated on. When they do, the missing factor has to come from another dog: fresh frozen plasma or cryoprecipitate (a concentrated plasma product rich in von Willebrand factor and factor VIII) is given before surgery or to stop a bleed. Desmopressin can boost von Willebrand factor for a few hours in some type 1 dogs.2 Because these dogs may need plasma more than once in a lifetime, a reliable plasma supply is what makes routine surgery safe for them.

How you can help

Dogs with these conditions survive because another dog's owner signed up. Check in one minute if your dog can donate, find a blood bank near you, or join the pack and share this page.

Research and references

Peer-reviewed sources for what's on this page. Each link runs a PubMed search for the paper so you land on the abstract, and often the full text.

  1. 1
    Brooks MB, Catalfamo JL. Current diagnostic trends in coagulation disorders among dogs and cats Vet Clin North Am Small Anim Pract. 2013;43(6):1349-1372. PubMed
  2. 2
    Callan MB, Giger U. Effect of desmopressin acetate administration on primary hemostasis in Doberman Pinschers with type-1 von Willebrand disease as assessed by a point-of-care instrument Am J Vet Res. 2002;63(12):1700-1706. PubMed

All conditions ยท Videos