Von Willebrand Disease

This is an inherited blood clotting disorder. When a dog bleeds the platelets together with a plasma protein called the von Willebrand factor and other substances help the blood to clot. When the dog has the disease it means that there is not enough of the protein to cause the dog’s blood to clot effectively. Dogs with von Willebrand lead normal lives.

Symptoms

Dogs with this condition are prone to bruising and will bleed more in circumstances where other dogs will have very little bleeding.

Treatment

Your veterinarian can give your dog a medication prior to any procedure that may cause bleeding.