Von Willebrand disease is a bleeding disorder. It is caused by a shortage of von Willebrand factor, a protein in the blood that helps platelets stick together and seal a wound. When the factor is low or does not work properly, bleeding lasts longer than it should.
What it is
Von Willebrand factor is not an enzyme. It is a glycoprotein, and its main job is to bind to other proteins and help platelets clump at the site of an injury. Without enough of it, small vessels that see fast blood flow tend to bleed.
The disease can be inherited or acquired. In the Coton de Tulear, the form that appears is type I. This is the most common and the mildest form. It is inherited in an autosomal recessive way. Dogs with type I have a low level of the factor in their plasma, but the protein itself has a normal structure.
Symptoms
Many affected dogs show few signs, if any. Dogs with a mild or moderate form may go undiagnosed for years. Severe cases usually become clear by about one year of age and can include one or more of the following:
- Repeated bleeding from the gums or mouth for no clear reason.
- Repeated nosebleeds for no clear reason.
- Bleeding in the gut.
- Blood in the stool or urine.
- Bleeding that lasts too long after tail docking, ear cropping, dewclaw removal, a small wound, surgery, a heat cycle, or whelping.
- Anaemia that the body is trying to correct.
Even a light injury during play can make a joint bleed, and the dog may go lame. Owners may notice that nail trims bleed for a long time, even when a clotting powder is used.
Treatment
The main treatment for a dog with vWD is a blood transfusion. In an emergency, this is what stabilises the dog. Your veterinarian will decide what else is needed based on the situation.
Testing
The test is a DNA test, done from a blood sample or a cheek swab. VetGen offers the test, and the OFA can record the result if the owner asks. Results should be read together with the dog's health history and any bleeding episodes.
Breeding advice
Because the mutation is autosomal recessive, a dog only has the disease if it inherits the mutation from both parents. A dog with one mutated copy is a carrier and shows no signs. Two carriers can produce affected puppies, which is why testing matters before a litter is planned.
If you are buying a puppy, ask the breeder whether the parents were tested and whether you can see the results.
What the numbers say for our breed
Only eight vWD test results have been filed with the OFA. That is not enough to say much about the true status of the disease in the Coton de Tulear.
These figures are old. As of 2026 the club encourages breeders to test and to share results, so the picture keeps improving. If you have questions about vWD or about a test result, please write to us, call us, or come and visit us at a club event.
Sources: Genomia and PetWave.
