Von Willebrand's factor deficiency in a random population of Danish golden retrievers

The incidence of deficiency of von Willebrand's factor, the cause of von Willebrand's disease, the most common, mild, inherited bleeding disorder of people and animals was documented in a random population of Danish Golden Retrievers. Using a rabbit, anticanine von Willebrand protein antibody and a rocket immunoelectrophoretic technique, 68 dogs were examined. Eighteen percent, 12 dogs, had statistically and significantly (P less than 0.01) low concentrations of the von Willebrand protein and were considered carriers or deficients. These findings in this modest population should raise the clinical index of suspicion concerning this disease and other disease processes associated with it.