May-Hegglin Anomaly

Body function:

Heart & Blood

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May-Hegglin Anomaly (MHA) is a hereditary blood disorder primarily affecting Pugs. It results from a mutation in the MYH9 gene and is autosomal dominant. As a result, if one parent has MHA, there's a 50% chance that each offspring will be affected. MHA is characterized by abnormalities in platelets and neutrophils, leading to potential blood clotting issues. While the condition can cause prolonged bleeding times and bruising, affected dogs often don't show any symptoms.

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List of affected breeds:

Genetic research has linked this gene and condition in the following breeds:

Pug

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What does this mean for a dog with this trait?

Most pugs with MHA require no specific treatment, as the condition is often asymptomatic. However, care should be taken to prevent injuries that could lead to prolonged bleeding.

Symptoms

The symptoms of MHA are often subtle and may go unnoticed without specific blood tests. The primary characteristics include thrombocytopenia (a reduced number of platelets in the blood), macro thrombocytes (the presence of abnormally large platelets), and neutrophil inclusions (abnormal structures within neutrophils visible under a microscope). While many dogs may not show obvious signs, some potential symptoms include excessive bleeding, especially after surgery or injury, and bruising.

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