Buccal Mucosa Bleeding Time Is Prolonged in Canine Models of Primary Hemostatic Disorders

Bleeding times are reported in many studies using canine models, with a variety of techniques employed to adapt these tests for dogs. We evaluated a canine model of template bleeding time, the buccal mucosa bleeding time (BMBT), by examining the test's sensitivity and specificity for defects of primary hemostasis. We examined thirty-five dogs having defined defects of either primary hemostasis (Types I, II, III von Willebrand's disease, thrombasthenia, thrombopathia) or secondary hemostasis (hemophilia A and B, Factor VII deficiency). Comparisons of BMBT and cuticle bleeding time were made in a subset of these dogs. All dogs having primary hemostatic disorders had long BMBT, and all factor deficient dogs had BMBT within normal range. The BMBT in canine models appears to be a specific and sensitive test of primary hemostasis; suitable for evaluating factors affecting template bleeding time and potential efficacy and thrombogenicity of treatment regimens.