Canine von Willebrands Disease (VWD) and the Standard Poodle

Canine von Willebrands disease is not a disease as much as it is a condition. It is a bleeding disorder that is in fact the most common cause of bleeding. Males and females equally can suffer from the disease, as it is not gender-specific.

VWD was first discovered in humans in the 1920s (by Dr. von Willebrand, of course). With both canines and humans, the disease occurs because there's a clotting factor missing in the blood.

If a dog has vWD, it doesn't mean that he or she has fewer platelets in his blood than a normal dog does. Rather, the platelet itself is actually altered. There are 12 factors that affect platelet-making, which allows blood clotting to occur properly. With vWD, the eighth factor of the 12 defined factors is affected. With canine von Willebrands disease, the multimeric glycoprotein labeled vWF (for "von Willebrand Factor") circulates in the plasma and is required for platelets to adhere. When there is a defect in this particular gene, this particular glycoprotein is insufficiently synthesized. This, in turn, causes platelets to fail to stick together or "adhere" for proper clotting. Therefore, even though the platelet exists, it "leaks" so that the bleeding keeps happening and clotting fails to occur.

Many breeds of purebred dogs have canine vWD, among them the standard poodle. As many as 70% of purebred dogs are carriers of von Willebrands disease, with their offspring having a 25% chance of exhibiting the disease itself if both parents are carriers.

Usually, you won't know your dog has vWD disease until something happens that makes them bleed. It can be something as simple as a nail trim at the vet's, whereby the dog does not quit bleeding. Sometimes, even puppies' teething can cause bleeding, which in turn can lead to a diagnosis. Dogs with von Willebrands disease may also bleed under the skin, have mucosal membrane bleeds, or bleed from the urinary tract, for example. If a vet suspects that a dog has canine Willebrands disease, he or she will usually order a CBC (complete blood count) and urinalysis, and will also measure the time it takes for blood to clot. Normal blood clotting time is between 1.5 and 2 minutes.

There are three types of canine von Willebrands disease: type I, type II, and type III. Type I is the least severe and most common, type II is more severe and less common, and type III is most severe and least common.

If it is found that your dog has canine vWD, there is no cure. However, it does not mean that your dog is automatically sentenced to death. As the owner, you can take precautions to reduce the risk your dog has of unexpected bleeding. You should avoid drugs that can inhibit platelet functioning, such as aspirin, penicillin-based antibiotics, heparin, the tranquilizer phenothiazine, or ibuprofen. In some cases, veterinarians have given thyroid supplementation, which in turn can lower some dogs' bleeding tendencies and raise the vWF concentration. If a dog is unexpectedly bleeding such as from an accident or trauma, or if there is expected to be bleeding such as with a scheduled surgery, blood transfusion may be the only option to save a dog's life, if he or she is bleeding severely.

Of course, in many cases, dogs show no symptoms at all; alternatively, they may have no symptoms until much later in life. Regardless, there are things you can do to help your standard poodle live a full life, despite the presence of canine von Willebrands disease. If you are a breeder, you can have your dogs tested before you breed them to make sure they are not carriers. This, in turn, will help ensure that you do not produce puppies who are carriers of the disease or who actually exhibit the disease themselves.

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