Description:  Von Willebrand’s disease (vWD) is the most common hereditary bleeding disorder in both dogs and humans. vWD is due to the partial or total absence of von Willebrand factor (vWF) or its dysfunction due to structural abnormality. von Willebrand factor is a multimeric plasma glycoprotein that plays a major role in hemostasis, in the body’s response to blood vessel damage and bleeding. The vWF protein is required for normal platelet adhesion at vascular injury sites and promotes platelet aggregation. In addition, it also stabilizes the blood clotting factor VIII (FVIII). Characteristic clinical signs of vWD are the incidence of prolonged and persistent bleeding even in areas of minor skin injuries, spontaneous bleeding from the nasal cavity, gut and gum, postoperative and post-traumatic injuries. Despite the importance of vWF in blood coagulation, the partial or total absence of vWF in the blood is not always lethal, just as vWD can remain unnoticed for years. Affected individuals may have mild, moderate, or severe bleeding since vWD is a genetically and clinically heterogeneous disease. There are three types of von Willebrand’s disease in dogs and various mutations in the VWF gene are responsible for the quantitative and qualitative properties of vWF, which are the basis for dividing vWD into:

vWD type I – partial absence of vWF,

vWD type II – non-functional vWF,

vWD type III – complete absence of vWF.

vWD type II is characterized by a moderate to a strong predisposition to severe bleeding which may be fatal.  vWDs type II are characterized by persistent bleeding episodes due to a qualitative defect of vWF caused by a deficiency in high molecular weight vWF multimers.

Inheritance: autosomal recessive

Mutation: c.4937A>G in VWF gene

Sample: EDTA whole blood (1.0 ml) or 2 buccal brushes. For official purposes, the confirmation of the dog’s identity by Veterinarian is recommended.

The analysis is suitable for the following breeds: Bearded Collie, Border Collie, German Shorthaired Pointers, German Wirehaired Pointers, Collie Rough, Collie Smooth

Notes: German Shorthaired Pointers, and German Wirehaired Pointers also have the mutation c.1657T>G (not available yet)