Von Willebrand Disease Type III, Type III vWD

Affected dogs bruise easily, have nose bleeds, and excessively bleed from small wounds. Affected puppies may bleed excessively from their mouth when teething or when adult teeth come in. There may be bright red blood in their vomit, stool, or urine, or bits of black digested blood in the stool.

This disease is typically diagnosed in puppies or young adults when they are spayed or neutered and have a problem with clotting. However, it can be diagnosed at any age.

vWD is diagnosed through genetic testing and blood testing at a laboratory. Veterinarians may also nick a dog’s lip with a sterile needle and time how long it takes for clotting to occur. Although carriers of the variant are not expected to have a high rate of clinical signs and do not bleed excessively following trauma or surgery, bleeding may occur if a carrier co-inherits another blood disorder. If there are any concerns, a blood test should be performed on carriers as well.

vWD cannot be treated, only managed. Preventing injuries is goal number one. If your dog requires surgery, your veterinarian should be warned that excessive bleeding may occur, and blood products should be on hand in case a transfusion is required.

Talk to your vet about your dog’s genetic result, as it could impact upcoming surgeries or procedures.

Be cautious with activities that could lead to injury, like rough play at dog parks or off-leash hikes.

To help stop minor bleeding, such as from a broken nail, keep basic first-aid supplies on hand, including bandaging material and styptic powder.

If your dog is injured, apply gentle pressure with gauze or a clean cloth to the wound. Keep your vet’s contact information handy in case the bleeding doesn’t stop within a few minutes.

This variant was first identified in the Nederlandse Kooikerhondje.

Penetrance: vWD Type III is inherited in an autosomal recessive manner, meaning a dog must have two copies of the variant to be affected by it.

Gene

VWF Intron 16

Inheritance type

recessive

Clinical category

Hematologic

Citations

1. van Oost et al 2004
2. Rieger et al 1998
3. Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine EClinPath nd

• Nederlandse Kooikerhondje