(Central USA) Severe von Willebrand factor deficiency, known as "Type 3" von Willebrand disease (VWD), was recently diagnosed in a one-year old male Australian shepherd. The sample was submitted for VWD screening from a referral laboratory from the central USA. Although VWD is often included in the differential for bleeding in Doberman pinschers, the VWD trait is found in many different breeds. Type 3 VWD refers to the complete absence of circulating VWF protein.

Clinical signs of bleeding often manifest when affected puppies are teething, with potentially fatal hemorrhage developing after surgery. Transfusion with fresh frozen plasma or cryoprecipitate will control or prevent bleeding in VWD-affected dogs. More information on VWD screening is available at the Comparative Coagulation web page https://ahdc.vet.cornell.edu/sects/coag/clinical/vonwill/labdiag.cfm