von Willebrand's Disease (vWD) is a common inherited bleeding disorder.

Clotting is a complex mechanism. In addition to platelets, clot formation is the result of a long chain of chemical reactions carried out by individual molecules called 'clotting factors.' Each factor is numbered such that factor I leads to a reaction with factor II forming a new substance. This then reacts with factor III and so on to factor XII.

In Von Willebrand's Disease, the dog is missing a substance, which helps the platelets form clots and stabilizes Factor VIII in the clotting process. This substance is called 'Von Willebrand's factor.' Because of the deficient clotting of blood, dogs with Von Willebrand's disease have excessive bleeding upon injury. This would be similar to hemophilia in humans.

Certain breeds have a higher incidence of vWD than others. German Shepherds, Doberman Pinschers, Shetland Sheepdogs, Chesapeake Bay Retrievers, German Shorthaired Pointers, Golden Retrievers, Standard Poodles, and Scottish Terriers all have a higher than normal incidence, showing that it can be inherited.

Symptoms

Excessive bleeding is the main symptom. Bleeding generally occurs after a wound or surgery. In these cases, the blood simply does not clot in the normal time, and bleeding is extensive. Dog's with Von Willebrand's disease may also develop nosebleeds, or bleeding from the gums. Bleeding may also occur in the stomach or intestine in which case the stool may either have blood in it, or be black and tarry. Some dogs will have blood in their urine. Bleeding into the joints also occurs, which can cause symptoms similar to those of arthritis.

The diagnosis of Von Willebrand's is made through a test, which checks for the level of Von Willebrand's factor in the blood.

Transfusions with blood collected from normal dogs is the only proven way to treat Von Willebrand's disease. Some dogs with Von Willebrand's disease also are hypothyroid - meaning they have lower than normal levels of thyroid hormone. These dogs will benefit from thyroid hormone replacement therapy.

Some studies have been done which suggest a drug called desmopressin acetate (DDAVP) may help dogs with a bleeding episode. The drug can be administered intranasally (into the nose) to increase clotting. There is still some controversy over whether this treatment is effective.

There is no cure for Von Willebrand's disease. Prevention through eliminating affected individuals from any breeding program is the goal of veterinary medicine today. Tests are available to determine which dogs may have this trait. All individuals with a history of this disorder in their backgrounds should be tested.

Bloat or Gastric Torsion

This condition is caused by a twisting of the stomach and thus trapping the stomach contents and gases resulting in a rapid swelling of the abdomen accompanied by pain and eventual death if untreated. It is a true emergency, requiring immediate veterinary action. This condition is most often found in large deep chested breeds. Anyone owning a deep chested breed, susceptible to Bloat should be prepared to handle the emergency procedures necessary, including having readily available the name and phone number of emergency clinics and/or who to call after hours.

Symptoms can be subtle. You should learn to recognize them:

• Continuous pacing and/or lying down in odd places
  
• Salivating, panting, whining
  
• Unable to get comfortable
  
• Acting agitated
  
• Unproductive vomiting or retching (may produce frothy foamy vomit in small quantities)
  
• Excessive drooling, usually accompanied by retching noises
  
• Swelling in abdominal area (may or may not be noticeable)

If ANY combination of these symptoms are noticed, CALL YOUR VET and get the dog there as fast as possible. Bloat is LIFE-THREATENING.

Dilated Cardiomyopathy in the German Shepherd Dog

Cardiomyopathy refers to a disease of the heart muscle without malformation of the heart or its valves. A breed predisposition to Dilated Cardiomyopathy exists in giant breeds, Doberman Pinschers and German Shepherds.

This type of Cardiomyopathy is the most common in dogs. There is dilation of the chambers of the ventricles of the heart with some increase (hypertrophy) in the heart muscle mass, and a loss of the normal contracting abilities of the ventricles. In order to compensate for the loss of contractility, the heart works harder, eventually leading to congestive heart failure. The abnormalities in the heart muscle cells give rise to irregular heart rhythms which may cause sudden death.

In the German Shepherd breed there are three distinct stages of Cardiomyopathy:

• An irregular heart rhythm is discovered but the dog shows no clinical signs of illness
  
• Clinical signs include intermittent episodes of collapse or weakness. On examination, an abnormal heart rhythm (generally originating in the ventricles) is found
  
• Affected dogs show signs of heart failure which may include weakness, depression, exercise intolerance, a soft cough, a loss of appetite, weight loss which may be dramatic, and fainting or collapse

Episodes of fainting, collapse, or weakness are usually due to abnormal rhythms in the heart, because of the damaged heart muscle. Dogs in either of the first stages may develop heart failure at any time.

For all affected dogs, the arrhythmias that can cause fainting or collapse can also cause sudden death. Up to 50% of affected dogs die suddenly, often without having shown any other signs of the disorder. Once dogs with Cardiomyopathy develop congestive heart failure, the prognosis is poor.

Dilated Cardiomyopathy is seen in other breeds of dogs; however the arrythmias without heart failure is unique in German Shepherd Cardiomyopathy.

German Shepherd Corneal Ulceration

Corneal Dystrophy is an inherited abnormality that affects one or more layers of the cornea. Both eyes are usually affected, although not necessarily symmetrically. Chronic or recurring shallow ulcers may result, depending on the corneal layers affected.

German Shepherds 7 to 8 years of age and older can be affected by Epithelial Dystrophy which causes shallow painful erosions/ulcerations in the cornea. These ulcers are painful and hard to clear up, and they often recur.