ROTT N CHATTER, January 1993, Volume 1  Number 6

 

                           VON WILLE...WHO ???

 

   VON WILLEBRAND'S DISEASE.....................

 

   QUESTION:  Why should vWD be important?  ANSWER:  vWD is the most common

inherited bleeding disorder in Rottweilers.  In fact, Rottweilers are one of

the 57 known breeds of dogs that have vWD in their familial backround and

one of the 44 of which are also affected with thyroid disease.  This disease

is beginning to increase in Rottweilers.  If that phrase is beginning to

sound familiar, it should.

 

   QUESTION:  So what if a Rottweiler is only a carrier, what are the

implications?  ANSWER:  The Rottie is not only predisposed to developing

clinical symptoms but will pass this predisposition on to off-spring.

Unually a dog will ive out a relatively problem free life, though if he/she

is placed under stress, bouts of bleeding may become worse.  According to W.

Jean Dodds, DVM, one of the foremost noted authorities on this disease and

other related diseases, some of the clinical symptoms of vWD are bloody

stool; bruising; nosebleeds; bleeding gums, vagina or penis; prolonged heat

cycle with bleeding or after whelping; excessive bleeding from umbilical

cords at birth; bleeding excessively from cut toenails, or after tail

docking, or dewclaw removal; limping, as in panosteitis and even fading

puppies or neonatal death can be possible symptoms.  One dog had bloody

diarrhea after receiving a modified live vaccination.  Others may exhibit

some blood in their urine after they've been given a MLV.

 

   Remember in previous articles about the little Thyroid gland?  Guess

what, folks.  Most dogs that have vWD will also eventually develop an

underactive Thyroid (hypothyroid) and from there the complexities are only

just beginning, as we have already learned.

 

   Our Rottweilers could be carriers of vWD and we won't know it unless we

specifically test for it.  We had better stop breeding without adequately

testing for hereditary diseases, or before we know it, there will be no such

thing as a healthy Rottweiler in the gene pool.

 

   Want a shocker?  Dr. Dodds has stated that 15-45% of our Rottweilers are

probably carrying the gene for vWD!  Do you plan on breeding a bitch or

studing a dog?  Have you tested for this disease yet, and, if not, why not?

Can you say your really love this great breed and then not do absolutely

everything in your power to save its' downfall?  These are hard questions...

how say you?

                                        jan cooper, EDITOR