von Willebrand Disease in Dogs: Managing a Hereditary Bleeding Disorder

von Willebrand disease (vWD) is the most common inherited bleeding disorder in dogs. Affected dogs have impaired clotting due to deficiency of von Willebrand factor, making routine surgery and trauma potentially life-threatening.

Key Facts

Von Willebrand factor (vWF) is a protein essential for platelet adhesion at injury sites; deficiency causes prolonged bleeding from even minor wounds.
Three types exist: Type 1 (mild, most common), Type 2 (moderate-severe), and Type 3 (severe, potentially fatal); type depends on vWF level and structure.
Doberman Pinschers are the breed most commonly affected, with up to 70% carrying the mutation; Shetland Sheepdogs, Scottish Terriers, and Chesapeake Bay Retrievers are also predisposed.
Clinical signs include prolonged bleeding from minor cuts, nosebleeds, bleeding from gums, bloody urine or faeces, and excessive post-surgical haemorrhage.
Type 3 vWD can cause spontaneous joint bleeds (haemarthrosis) — a very painful condition analogous to haemophilia in humans.
Diagnosis is via vWF antigen assay; DNA testing is available for breeds with known mutations.
Desmopressin (DDAVP) can temporarily increase vWF levels before elective surgery in Type 1 dogs.
Fresh frozen plasma or cryoprecipitate transfusion provides vWF for emergency bleeding management in Types 2 and 3.

Welfare Considerations

Dogs with Type 3 vWD experience significant welfare risks throughout their lives. Spontaneous haemarthrosis (joint bleeding) causes acute, severe pain and progressive joint damage if repeated. Surgical procedures that would be routine in a normal dog — neutering, dental extractions, wound repair — become high-risk events requiring careful planning and blood product availability. Even nail trims can trigger prolonged bleeding. The welfare burden is managed best through: pre-surgical planning with fresh frozen plasma or DDAVP, avoiding unnecessary procedures, monitoring for bleeding signs, and DNA testing in predisposed breeds before breeding to reduce the prevalence of the mutation in future generations. Responsible breeding is the most powerful long-term welfare intervention for this heritable disease.

What You Can Do

If you own a Doberman or other predisposed breed, ask your vet about vWD testing before any surgical procedure.
Inform all veterinary staff treating your vWD-positive dog about the diagnosis to ensure surgical precautions are in place.
Avoid giving aspirin or NSAIDs to vWD-affected dogs without veterinary guidance, as these impair platelet function.
Breeders of predisposed breeds should DNA test breeding stock and avoid breeding Type 3 carriers.
Keep emergency contact details for a veterinary blood bank or specialist centre in case of severe bleeding episodes.