Treatment

The primary treatment for von Willebrand's disease is the administration of blood or blood products to patients with active or anticipated bleeding episodes. A blood product called cryoprecipitate contains large amounts of von Willebrand factor, but it is seldom available. More commonly, the veterinarian will use fresh plasma, or plasma that was frozen immediately after collection and then thawed. Whole fresh blood may be used if hemorrhage has been severe.

The administration of a drug called DDAVP may be helpful in preventing hemorrhage in some affected animals if it is given prior to the time that bleeding occurs. This drug increases levels of von Willebrand factor available for the clotting process. DDAVP can also be given to dogs donating blood prior to blood collection, so that samples with high von Willebrand factor activity can be obtained. Not all dogs respond to DDAVP.

Care and Prevention

Provide soft padded areas for your dog to lie on. Minimize the chance of injury by observing and fixing any sharp corners, such as on doggie doors. It is usually not necessary to limit activity as spontaneous bleeding is not common. If your dog should begin bleeding, seek veterinary assistance immediately.

Because it is a hereditary disease, an animal born with vWD cannot be cured.

Minimize the chance of injury by keeping your dog confined either in a fenced area or on a leash when outdoors. If your dog should begin bleeding, seek veterinary assistance immediately.

Inform any veterinarian treating your dog about his vWD. This is especially important prior to surgical procedures. Inform any groomer handling your dog about his condition; they will use extra care in clipping and trimming nails and can be prepared if a cut occurs.

Since the disease is hereditary, the ideal way to eliminate it would be to avoid breeding affected dogs. However, not all dogs with low von Willebrand's factor concentrations have significant bleeding. The mere fact that the concentration is low does not always mean that clinically significant problems will occur, even in breeds in which a significantly high number of dogs have reduced von Willebrand's factor. If all dogs that tested low for the factor were eliminated from breeding, then breeding programs would be quite restricted. Certainly, though, it makes sense not to breed dogs that have had clinically significant episodes of bleeding due to von Willebrand's disease, no matter what their breed.

In an affected dog, problems may be avoided prior to elective surgeries by remembering to screen for this condition, especially if previous bleeding episodes have occurred or if there is a familial history of bleeding. Pre-treatment with DDAVP may help avert disastrous consequences, as will having blood products on hand in case they are needed.