Haemophilia A/ Factor VIII
Hemophilia A is one of the most common severe inherited coagulation disorder in animals and human beings and is most commonly reported in the German shepherd dog, although it has been reported in most breeds.
In dogs, as in other species, the disease arises as the result of spontaneous mutation. Once hemophilia appears in a family, the defect can then be transmitted through many generations.
It is an X-linked recessive trait, which means it is almost always seen in male dogs (as they carry only one copy of the X chromosome). Many different genetic mutations can lead to haemophilia A, as occurs in people, making development of a DNA test across breeds very difficult.
Factor VIII is a clotting factor that is essential to the normal clotting of blood. The amount of factor VIII in the blood of an affected dog can vary quite a lot, and depending on this amount signs may be mild, or severe enough to cause neonatal death (due to the trauma of the birthing process). In general however, severe episodes of bleeding may be seen following trauma, bleeding may be seen into joints or body cavities, and profuse bleeding may be seen following even minor surgery. Treatment of bleeding in the haemophiliac dog is via transfusion of blood or plasma, in order to provide adequate amounts of factor VIII for normal clotting to take place, and hence for bleeding to cease. There is no cure for haemophilia A.
Current testing identifies the activity of factor VIII in the blood, and is generally performed at a specialised laboratory.
In dogs, as in other species, the disease arises as the result of spontaneous mutation. Once hemophilia appears in a family, the defect can then be transmitted through many generations.
It is an X-linked recessive trait, which means it is almost always seen in male dogs (as they carry only one copy of the X chromosome). Many different genetic mutations can lead to haemophilia A, as occurs in people, making development of a DNA test across breeds very difficult.
Factor VIII is a clotting factor that is essential to the normal clotting of blood. The amount of factor VIII in the blood of an affected dog can vary quite a lot, and depending on this amount signs may be mild, or severe enough to cause neonatal death (due to the trauma of the birthing process). In general however, severe episodes of bleeding may be seen following trauma, bleeding may be seen into joints or body cavities, and profuse bleeding may be seen following even minor surgery. Treatment of bleeding in the haemophiliac dog is via transfusion of blood or plasma, in order to provide adequate amounts of factor VIII for normal clotting to take place, and hence for bleeding to cease. There is no cure for haemophilia A.
Current testing identifies the activity of factor VIII in the blood, and is generally performed at a specialised laboratory.
