Dog von Willebrand Disease: Breed Screening and Management

Von Willebrand disease causes abnormal bleeding in affected dogs. Genetic testing enables informed breeding decisions that reduce the prevalence of this heritable disorder.

Key Facts

vWD is the most common inherited bleeding disorder in dogs
Dobermann Pinschers have over 70% prevalence of the Type 1 variant
Affected dogs bleed excessively from minor wounds, after surgery or whelping
Genetic testing identifies carriers, affected and clear individuals
DDAVP (desmopressin) can temporarily increase vWF levels before planned procedures

Welfare Considerations

Dogs with vWD face potentially life-threatening bleeding episodes during routine procedures such as spaying, dental extraction or even nail trimming. Without prior testing, a surgical crisis may be the first indication of the disorder. Ethical breeding programmes use genetic testing to avoid breeding two carriers together, progressively reducing disease prevalence in affected breeds. For known affected dogs, pre-surgical DDAVP treatment and blood product availability allow safe management of planned interventions.

What You Can Do

Test your Dobermann or other at-risk breed for vWD before any planned surgery
Alert your vet to a known vWD diagnosis before any procedure, however minor
When purchasing a dog from an at-risk breed, request parental vWD test results
Support kennel clubs that require vWD health testing as a breeding prerequisite
Discuss emergency protocols with your vet for managing unexpected bleeding events