• July 20, 2021

Von Willebrand disease in Dobermans

Von Willebrand disease (VWD) is a common health problem in Dobermans. It is a hemorrhagic disease, like hemophilia in humans, that can be life-threatening for a Doberman due to surgery or injury. Although it exists in other breeds, such as Poodles, Shelties, Scottish Terriers, and Pembroke Welsh Corgi, it is more common in Dobermans. In a study of 15,000 Dobermans examined, 70% were carriers. Most of these dogs were clinically unaffected.

Some of the symptoms of Von Willebrands disease are excessive bleeding, nosebleeds, bleeding gums, and bloody stools or urine. This requires special consideration before surgery and special attention to injuries. Physical and emotional stress can make bleeding worse. The treatment for a bleeding episode is a blood transfusion. Certain medications should be avoided in dogs with von Willebrand disease. These include aspirin, antihistamines, sulfur-based antibiotics, ibuprofen, and amoxicillin. Your vet will know how to handle your dog.

There are 3 types of VWD. Type I is the mildest form of the disease and is the most common type in Dobermans. Type 2 is more severe and is more common in German shorthaired pointers. Type 3 is the most severe form and is generally found in Scottish Terriers and Shelties, although as mentioned above, there are several other breeds that can carry this gene.

In addition to surgery or injury, Dobermans are at risk of excessive bleeding during delivery and during tail docking of puppies. It is very important to know that your Dobermans and their breeding line are tested and they do not have Von Willebrand affected breeding dogs.

One way to test for Von Willebrand disease is a blood titer test called Elisa. This test is not very accurate. One of our dogs tested positive for Elisa, but it was clear on the DNA test. The only true way to detect this genetic disease is through a DNA test, which is done with a swab and costs about $ 140.00. There are 3 levels of results for DNA testing: clear, carrier, or affected. What this means in terms of breeding Dobermans is somewhat complicated. It is safe to breed a non-vWD Doberman with a vWD carrier. It is estimated that the bad gene would be eliminated in a period of 2-3 generations.

Breeding 2 Dobermans that are affected (who actually suffer from excessive bleeding) will always produce 100% affected puppies. Raising an affected dog with a carrier will result in half of the puppies being affected and half being carriers. Breeding 2 VWD carriers will result in 25% of the puppies being affected, 50% will be carriers, and 25% will be normal. Breeding a VWD carrier with a normal Doberman will produce a litter of half carrier and half normal puppies.

You might be wondering why a breeder or anyone would breed a Doberman that has any signs of VWD. Why not only breed dogs without VWD, affected or carriers of the disease? This would be the ideal situation, but only 1/3 of Dobermans are normal, which means that they are not affected or are carriers of the disease. Using only normal dogs for breeding would greatly reduce the gene pool, negatively impacting the breed. Doberman breeders have worked for so long to perfect the Doberman’s temperament and health after the problems of the 1970s. Removing 2/3 of the breeding population would result in the same problems that we work to correct.

It is important to purchase a Doberman puppy from a reputable breeder who has tested their dogs for Von Willebrand disease. Be an informed buyer.

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