Home » Hemophilia: Symptoms and Diagnosis
Hemophilia is an inherited disease where blood is unable to properly clot, leading to spontaneous and/or relentless blood loss.
There are two types of hemophilia diagnosed in dogs, both are inherited traits. Through the genes passed from male and female parents, male dogs are more likely to have hemophilia than females. There are two categorizations:
Spontaneous bleeding, skin hematomas, excessive and prolonged bleeding at any trauma, bleeding into joints or body cavities, swelling in joints or muscles, lameness, discolored skin, nose bleeds, blood in feces, anemia, weakness, shock, death.
Yes.
The laboratory test called APTT (activated partial thromboplastin time) is a screening test for clotting disorders. A specific diagnosis of Hemophilia A is made by measuring the activity of Factor VIII.
Hemophilia is incurable. The first treatment is lifestyle and being sure to keep your dog from situations where they are likely to injure themselves.
During bleeding episodes there are options that call for blood replacement that is higher in clotting factors, or whole blood replacement for very extreme cases.
Note: The advice provided in this post is intended for informational purposes and does not constitute medical advice regarding pets. For an accurate diagnosis of your pup’s condition, please make an appointment with your veterinarian. Or, consult a virtual vet here.