Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Neurological problems linked to von Willebrand's disease in dogs
By Applewhite, A A et al.·Published in Journal of the American Animal Hospital Association·1999·Dallas Veterinary Surgical Center, United States·View original on PubMed →
PetCaseFinder translated the abstract of this peer-reviewed paper into plain English so pet owners can read it. We do not publish original research — every detail traces back to the citation above. How we work →
Original publication title: Potential central nervous system complications of von Willebrand's disease.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
Three Doberman Pinschers were brought to the emergency vet for worsening neurological problems after minor injuries. They showed serious symptoms like weakness in their legs and loss of pain sensation. Tests revealed that all three dogs had von Willebrand's disease, which affects blood clotting, and significant bleeding in their spinal areas was found. The bleeding was caused by different issues in each dog, but it highlighted how blood clotting problems can lead to serious neurological symptoms after trauma. Treatment focused on managing their neurological deficits and addressing the bleeding.
People also search for: Doberman Pinscher neurological problems · von Willebrand's disease symptoms · dog spinal bleeding treatment
Abstract
Three Doberman pinschers were presented on emergency referral for progressive neurological deficits. All three dogs had a similar onset of clinical signs associated with an apparently minor traumatic event. Each dog progressed to significant neurological dysfunction including paraplegia, tetraplegia, and/or loss of deep pain sensation. None of the animals was apparently affected by cervical vertebral instability ("Wobbler's Syndrome"). All were confirmed to have von Willebrand's disease. In all cases, significant epidural hemorrhage was identified. The etiology of each hemorrhage, however, was different for each animal. The cases presented here demonstrate a potential relationship between neurological deficits and the patient's ability to effectively coagulate blood. Hemostatic abnormalities, such as von Willebrand's disease, should be included as possible differential diagnoses or contributing factors in animals demonstrating neurological deficits. These abnormalities should especially be considered following trauma, intervertebral disk extrusion, or spinal surgery.
Find similar cases for your pet
PetCaseFinder finds other peer-reviewed reports of pets with the same symptoms, plus a plain-English summary of what was tried across them.
Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10493419/