Von Willebrand's Disease, Canine - contd.
The primary treatment for von Willebrand's disease is the administration of blood or blood products to patients with active or anticipated bleeding episodes. A blood product called cryoprecipitate contains large amounts of von Willebrand factor, but it is seldom available. More commonly, the veterinarian will use fresh plasma, or plasma that was frozen immediately after collection and then thawed. Whole fresh blood may be used if hemorrhage has been severe.
The administration of a drug called DDAVP may be helpful in preventing hemorrhage in some affected animals if it is given prior to the time that bleeding occurs. This drug increases levels of von Willebrand factor available for the clotting process. DDAVP can also be given to dogs donating blood prior to blood collection, so that samples with high von Willebrand factor activity can be obtained. Not all dogs respond to DDAVP.
