my friends dog was bleeding after his neuturing op, and he had to have a blood transfusion and she nearly lost him.The vet said he might have haemophilia.Is this a common disease in labradors as I have four and have never heard of it in labs?

I've never ever heard of it in Labradors. That is not to say that it's not in the breed but if it is then it's very unusual.

I had a Dalmatian neutered very many years ago and the tie came off of one of the major veins. (Small veins are cauterised, larger ones are tied off) I was lucky that it happened just as I was going to bed. Had the blood not started to drip until after I had gone to bed then I would have lost him by the morning!!

Regards, John

Although I haven't personally seen it, I believe both heamophillia and Von Willebrands has been noted in Labradors. Of course a dna test can be performed to detect VWD status.
Dawn.

thanks for your replies.she went to pick him up today after his blood transfusion and the vet hasn't mentioned it again, we now think it might have been a case of him covering himself for the op not being done properly, it was the same sort of case as yours john!!anyway obviuosly she has had to pay twice even though it seems like it was their mistake which they will never admit to.We were worried about the implications if it was haemophilia but now it all seems like a smoke screen for his incompetence:(

My vet was very open about it. Operated at midnight and kept him in for two days to make sure and never charged anything apart from the original fee. Needless to say I'm still with the same practise!

Best wishes, John

yeah John, your vet sounds v good and honest, but the whole business yesterday sounded very fishy to me, she asked for him to be tested for haemophilia today and the vet seemed to back down, anyway at least he's ok, and back to his naughty self already!!:)

I had the same thing with my bitch one of the major veins came untied, by the time I got to the vets 3 am the car was full of blood, luckily they saved her.

Some dogs believe in living dangerously! When Bethany went epileptic I decided to have her spayed. I collected her from the vets at about 3pm and before I could stop her she jumped into the back of my car. When we arived home she went out side, rolled onto her back to show Katy her war wound then raced her to the top of the garden and back. At that I gave up trying to help!!!

Regards, John

As I said you can get him tested for heamophillia and VWD, if a dog of mine bled like that I would want to be sure in case of any future problems. A clear status could then prove you vet was indeed covering his tracks. My Dobermann was castrated and I was told he bled heavily, we had a real game to curb the bleeding and he went into shock. He did indeed have Von Willebrands, I was then aware of any other things that could cause a problem and therefore avoid them.
Dawn.

dawns right you must have him tested.i would also contact the breeder....if he is affected you need to keep vitamin k around in case of emergency......

hi everyone, panic over:)As predicted sam doesn't have haemophilia but apparently an artery had burst.it still didn't stop the vet taking the money for stitching opening him up a second time even though he was obviously the one at fault for not doing his job in the first place.Anyway my friend is just relieved he is ok, it's me who's mad on her behalf, i hate seeing anyone being ripped off or taken for a fool:(

Glad the panic is over Miloos.

Now the panic is over I have a question. Can anyone tell me of any confirmed cases of either VWD or haemophilia in Labradors in the UK because in all my years in Labs I've heard of a single case? Are there many confirmed cases?

Regards, John

hi john, thats why i was so sceptical in the first place.i rang my breeder who had bred labs for years and he has never heard of it either, and with all your experience john it musn't be prevalent if you've not come across a case.she's a first time dog owner and was distraught at the dog even going in for an op, let alone hearing that it could have a potentially fatal genetic disease, all to cover the vets own back.... I am still mad on her behalf but he's not my vet, thank god so theres not a lot i can do.anyway thanks again for your replies:)

hi john......i haven't seen a case in labradors either but it does talk about it in the ''offical book of the labrador retriever''.......remember never say never!!!without knocking on wood!!!!

Hi Kelly.
I quite agree! That was why I was so careful what I said in my first post on this thread. A working gundog with haemophilia would, to all intents and purposes, spell the end of the breed! Anna seems to come in with a little cut almost every time I take her into the field.

Knocking on wood very hard!!

Best wishes, John

hi john....since von willebrands is an autosomal reccessive all you would need is one carrier and some linebreeding....its very common in gsd's and dobermans....though alot of times people don't know they are affected until they get them spayed or neutered.i have had a few shepherds with it.one i didn't know until i neutered him ....i acutually had to have the scrotom lasered off to keep it from filling with blood..it was a mess i always kept vitamin k after that