Understanding Canine Hemophilia A: Causes and Managemen

Before a dog's illness manifests, pet owners should be wellinformed about canine genetic diseases. This knowledge can greatly enhance their ability to care for their furry companions in their daily lives.

Hemophilia A

What is Hemophilia A?

Also known as Antihemophilic Globulin Deficiency or Factor VIII Deficiency, this condition is caused by a hereditary lack of Antihemophilic Globulin (AHG). Hemophilia A is an Xlinked recessive genetic disorder.

Causes of the Disease

Investigating the dog's family history, previous bleeding episodes, living environment, and medications used are crucial. For dogs with a history of bleeding, it's important to determine the extent of the bleeding, whether it was spontaneous or due to trauma or surgery, the amount of blood lost, the duration of bleeding, the location of the bleeding, and how the bleeding was stopped. Consideration should also be given to the age at which bleeding first occurred, the frequency of bleeding episodes, and the presence of complications such as hepatitis, uremia, autoimmune diseases, systemic infections, or malignant tumors.

Main Symptoms and Case Variations

Dogs with Hemophilia A lack Factor VIII, which is essential for blood clotting. The F8 gene is located on the Xq28 chromosome and is inherited in an Xlinked recessive manner, meaning affected dogs are typically male. There is currently no cure for Hemophilia A, and affected dogs require lifelong injections of the missing clotting factor. The severity of the disease can be categorized into mild (530%), moderate (15%), and severe (