Factor VII is a coagulation factor involved in blood-clotting. A mutation in Factor VII has recently been discovered by researchers in the laboratory of Professor Urs Giger at the University of Pennsylvania which inhibits blood clotting in Scottish Deerhounds and Beagles. This disorder causes mild to moderate levels of bleeding. The disease is inherited as an autosomal recessive trait, and carriers (dogs with one copy of the normal form of the gene and one copy of the mutated form of the gene) do not show symptoms, although laboratory studies have suggested that they may have some decrease in clotting activity.
Since carriers are free of the disease symptoms, they can be freely crossed with dogs which have been DNA tested clear of the mutation, without producing any clinically affected pups. The litters produced will be split approximately 50:50 between genetically clear pups and carriers. The genetic status of any pups (clear or carrier) to be used for breeding can be readily identified by further DNA testing.