Introduction
Von Willebrand disease is one of the most commonly diagnosed bleeding disorders in dogs. This disease is very similar to hemophilia in humans, and like hemophilia Von Willebrand disease causes excessive bleeding symptoms. Some of these symptoms may not always be obvious until the dog undergoes surgery or experiences an injury, and if the disease remains hidden until an injury or surgery occurs then unexpected excessive bleeding could result in death. If you notice any of the following symptoms in your dog, schedule a Von Willebrand screening test with your veterinarian as soon as possible.
Symptoms of Von Willebrand Disease
While Von Willebrand disease will cause excessive bleeding in the event of injury or surgery, pet owners may also notice unusual and unexplainable bleeding in their dog. Dogs with Von Willebrand disease will often bleed from the gums for seemingly no reason. These dogs will also experience unexplained nosebleeds, blood in the urine, or stool which is bloody or has a black tar-like appearance. Light injuries that occur during routine play can cause the joints to bleed, and as a result the dog may appear to be arthritic or lame.
Pet owners may also notice Von Willebrand symptoms when they clip their dog or trim their dog’s nails. A light cut or scratch from the clippers may cause continual bleeding which does not stop for a long time, and if a nail is trimmed too short it may continually bleed even if quick-stop powder is placed on the nail. While most dogs will bleed some from a clipper cut or nail cut that is too short, dogs with Von Willebrand disease will bleed much more than usual in these events and for extremely long periods of time.