Knowledge Hub
Access valuable information to help pet owners and veterinarians improve canine health and quality of life.
Blood Disorders Research
The AKC Canine Health Foundation (CHF) supports research to understand and treat blood disorders in dogs.
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Canine Blood Donation
Introduction Canine transfusion medicine is an important, life-saving tool. Whole blood transfusions are used to treat anemia such as blood loss following an accident or during surgery, conditions where the body does not make enough red blood cells, or immune-mediated destruction of the red blood cells (known as immune-mediated hemolytic anemia or IMHA). Plasma transfusions […]
Read More02148-A: The Prevalence of the Dal-Negative Blood Type and Its Mode of Inheritance in Doberman Pinschers and in Dalmatians
Grant Status: Closed Grant Amount: $12,376.8 Marie-Claude Blais, DVM; University of Montreal February 1, 2015 – November 30, 2015 Sponsor(s): Doberman Pinscher Club of America Breed(s): -All Dogs, Doberman Pinscher, Dalmatian Research Program Area: Blood Disorders Donate to Support this Research Program Area Project Summary Blood transfusions have become an integral part of advanced veterinary […]
Read More03098-A: Genotyping for the Canine Dal Blood Group
While 98% of the canine population is Dal-positive, Dal-negative dogs are common in Dalmatians (11.7%), Doberman Pinschers (42.4%) and possibly Shih Tzu (57.1%), for whom finding compatible blood may be challenging given the rarity of Dal-negative blood donors and limited access to Dal blood typing. The genes controlling blood group antigens have been genetically identified […]
Read More02348: Whole Blood Transcriptome Profiling of Dogs with Immune-Mediated Hemolytic Anemia (IMHA)
Immune-mediated hemolytic anemia, or IMHA, is a common autoimmune disease in dogs in which the body’s immune system attacks its own red blood cells. Red blood cells are critical for transporting oxygen. Many dogs affected by IMHA require extensive hospitalization and blood transfusions, and often have fatal disease-related complications. While dogs of every breed can […]
Read More01924-A: Creation of Platelet Function Testing Guidelines to Enhance Diagnosis and Prognosis of Bleeding Disorders in Dogs
Platelets play a primary role in maintaining blood flow. Platelets normally circulate in an inactive state to avoid inappropriate blood clot formation (thromboembolism), and are able to immediately activate to arrest blood loss in the event of blood vessel injury. Abnormal platelet function can result in serious and fatal clinical complications. Decreased platelet function leads […]
Read More02988: Plasminogen-activator Inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) and Impaired Fibrinolysis in Immune-Mediated Hemolytic Anemia
Immune-mediated hemolytic anemia (IMHA) is a common, and often life-threatening, blood disorder in dogs where the dog’s immune system attacks its own red blood cells, leading to a severe anemia that is treated with immunosuppressive drugs. However, affected dogs suffer from more than just anemia. They also have over-active clotting systems that lead to abnormal […]
Read More0002244: Quantitative, Functional and Morphologic Characterization of Platelets in the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
Platelets are cells that circulate in the blood and function in blood clotting. Unusually large platelets and slightly low platelet counts have been reported in Cavalier King Charles Spaniels (CKCS), estimated to affect up to 30 percent of the breed. However, whether these abnormalities are inherited or pose a problem in the normal functioning of […]
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Hemophilia B in German Wirehaired Pointers
Introduction If you’re a dog owner, especially of a German Wirehaired Pointer (GWP), understanding inherited health conditions can make a big difference in your pet’s wellbeing. One such condition is Hemophilia B, a bleeding disorder that affects blood clotting and can lead to serious health complications. This research breakthrough focuses on identifying and managing Hemophilia […]
Read More02343-A: Recognizing and Removing Lipemic Interferences for Accurate Laboratory Testing
Grant Status: Closed Grant Amount: $9,113 Unity Jeffery, VetMB; Texas A&M University May 1, 2017 – April 30, 2018 Sponsor(s): Breed(s): -All Dogs Research Program Area: Blood Disorders Donate to Support this Research Program Area Project Summary Over thirty percent of Miniature Schnauzers have primary hyperlipidemia, a disease in which fats (also termed lipids) are […]
Read More00411-A: Incidence and Characterization of Anemia in Critically Ill Dogs
Anemia is a clinical manifestation of an underlying disease process. Clinical symptoms associated with anemia include weakness, collapse, elevated heart and respiratory rates, and inappetance. There are many clinical conditions that cause anemia including but not limited to: Immune Mediated Hemolytic Anemia (IMHA), chronic renal disease, rickettsial disease, some drug therapy, blood loss, toxicities, nutritional […]
Read More02238-A: Effect of Platelet Count on Platelet Function Tests in Dogs
Platelets are small blood cells that function to stop excessive bleeding by forming blood clots when injury occurs. Diseases can affect both the number of platelets in the blood stream, as well as how well these platelets work. Both types of disease can cause bleeding which can be life threatening in any dog. Tests that […]
Read More02536-MOU: Immunoprofiling to Combat Canine Immune Thrombocytopenia
Autoimmune disease develops in dogs when their immune system destroys normal healthy cells in the body. Immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) is a serious bleeding disorder that results from immune destruction of platelets, small blood cells that play a critical role in preventing bruising and bleeding after injury. Old English Sheepdogs and Cocker Spaniels appear to have […]
Read More01495-A: Comparison of cellular function in two canine platelet concentrates
Platelets are small cells present in blood that play a major role in clot formation in order to stop bleeding. In human medicine, platelets are transfused to patients with multiple bleeding disorders: either because they have a low number of platelets in their blood stream or because their platelets do not function properly. These conditions […]
Read More02515-A: Investigating the Role of Interleukin-17-producing Cells in the Pathophysiology of Canine Immune Mediated Hemolytic Anemia
Canine primary immune-mediated hemolytic anemia (IMHA) is an acute and severe disease of dogs, with a mortality rate ranging up to 70%. IMHA is caused when the immune system produces abnormal antibodies that attack and destroy the dog?s own red blood cells. It is not known how or why these abnormal antibodies form in the […]
Read More00683-A: Evaluation of Laboratory Methods to Improve Characterization of Dogs With von Willebrand Disease
Von Willebrand factor (vWF) is a glycoprotein which plays an integral role in primary hemostasis (blood clotting). It interacts with various receptors on both the damaged blood vessel surface and the circulating platelets in order to form a platelet plug. In the absence of sufficient vWF concentration or function, primary hemostasis is impaired creating clinical […]
Read More02355-A: Hyperlipidemia in the Miniature Schnauzer: A Combined Metabolomic and Genomic Approach
Miniature Schnauzers can be affected by a condition causing too much circulating lipid (fat) in the bloodstream, known as hyperlipidemia. The problem appears to worsen as dogs get older and may affect up to 3 in every 10 dogs. Affected dogs are more likely to suffer from other serious health conditions including pancreatitis and diabetes, […]
Read More00845-A: Platelet Surface Glycoprotein Function in Related and Unrelated Newfoundland Dogs
Dogs with abnormalities of platelet function may have bleeding complications post-operatively. The ability to evaluate platelet function and to test dogs prior to surgery could prevent morbidity and mortality due to bleeding complications. An index case (16 month old female spayed Newfoundland) presented to our hospital with a blood-filled abdomen following an uncomplicated spay operation. […]
Read More02987: It’s All In The Genes: The Mutational Landscape of Acute Myeloid Leukemia in Dogs
Acute myeloid leukemia is a cancer of the blood. Although uncommon, it is a highly aggressive form of cancer and often kills dogs quickly, particularly because there are not many drugs that can treat leukemia. Great strides have been made in humans with acute myeloid leukemia, which is similar to the disease seen in dogs, […]
Read More0001440: Evaluating the Causative Mutation for von Willebrand’s Disease in the Doberman Pinscher and Its Possible Role in Other Breeds
This research was responsible for the development of five genetic tests for von Willebrand’s disease (vWD). vWD is an inherited bleeding disorder that is seen frequently in Doberman Pinschers. In Dobermans, it is autosomal recessive (affected dogs receive one mutated gene from each parent). Researchers determined that Dobermans have a very high frequency of this […]
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