A dog nose bleed can be upsetting (and messy). To help you feel prepared should your dog’s nose ever start bleeding unexpectedly, integrative veterinarian Dr. Julie Buzby explains how to stop a nose bleed at home and discusses 13 causes of dog nose bleeds.
Nose bleeds in people can be common occurrences. If you’ve ever accidentally been hit in the nose, you may have experienced a nose bleed. And some people may develop them in the wintertime due to the presence of dry air. But what does it mean when your dog has a nose bleed? And how do you stop a dog nose bleed?
What is a dog nose bleed?
As the name would indicate, a nose bleed involves blood or bloody nasal discharge coming from your dog’s nose. The technical term for a nose bleed is “epistaxis.” Depending on the underlying cause, the blood can come out of one or both nostrils. The source of the blood may be the nostrils, nasal passages, or nasopharynx (back of the throat adjacent to the nasal passages).
Nose bleeds can be very mild and short-lived, or they can be intense and result in severe blood loss. Some nose bleeds will not be very noticeable until the dog sneezes and little droplets of blood come out of his or her nostrils. Other times the blood may be steadily pouring out onto the floor.
How do you treat a dog’s nose bleed at home?
If you notice your dog is having a nose bleed, the first question on your mind is probably how to make it stop. You might not have to worry about doing much if there is only a drop or two of blood. But if there is more blood, follow these steps to help stop a dog’s nose from bleeding:
1. Remain calm
Try to bring your furry friend away from any noisy, busy areas. Look for somewhere quiet, especially if you’re at home. Stress and excitement can raise your dog’s blood pressure and make him or her bleed more.
2. Apply an ice pack to the bridge of the nose
Grab an ice pack (or a Ziploc bag filled with ice will do in a pinch), wrap it in paper towels or a washcloth and then gently apply it to the bridge of your pup’s nose. The cold will slow the bleeding by constricting local blood vessels.
Word of warning—if you have a short-nosed dog, ensure that you are not making it hard for your dog to breathe by obstructing the nostrils with the ice pack.
3. Avoid sticking anything in your dog’s nose
Don’t stick anything up your dog’s nose to stop the bleeding. I know it might be tempting because people do it for their nose bleeds. But stuffing gauze, tissues, etc. up a dog’s nose is irritating and may make him or her sneeze, which can worsen the bleeding.
4. Follow up with your vet
If your dog is bleeding heavily, the bleeding lasts longer than a few minutes without showing signs of stopping, or your dog is showing any other signs of illness or injury, your may need to make an emergency vet visit to get the bleeding under control and find and treat the underlying cause. Even if you get the bleeding to stop and your dog seems fine, it is usually still a good idea to check in with your vet during his or her regular business hours. That way your vet can run any needed diagnostic to help get to the bottom of why your dog had a bloody nose.
What can cause nose bleeds in dogs?
There are times when the cause for a dog’s nose bleed can be very obvious and times when it is not. If your pup has a nose bleed after he or she went excitedly careening across the room and ran face-first into the wall or doorframe, you can probably put two and two together. However, there are other situations where the cause may not be so clear. That is when it will be up to your veterinarian to help you look for it. Some of the causes of a nose bleed in dogs include:
#1: Trauma
We might as well start with trauma because, according to a 2007 study in the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association (JAVMA), trauma and nasal tumors are the top two causes of nose bleeds in dogs.
Sometimes trauma can be as simple as your excitable canine companion not being able to “hit the brakes” fast enough when doing zoomies in the house or not noticing that the clear sliding glass door was closed and hitting his or her head. Examples of more intense trauma include falling from great heights or being hit by a car. If the nose was traumatized in these examples, a nose bleed is very likely to occur.
#2: Nasal tumors or cancer
The other top cause of epistaxis in the 2007 JAVMA article was nasal tumors. Nasal adenocarcinoma, a locally aggressive kind of cancer, is the most common type of nasal tumor. It can affect one or both sides of the nose.
This means a dog nose bleed on one side may be more indicative of a local tumor (or other local issue) instead of other body-wide causes of nose bleeds that would affect both sides.
There are also many different non-nasal cancers that can increase the risk of epistaxis. These include:
- Lymphoma in dogs
- Hemangiosarcoma in dogs
- Multiple myeloma
- Leukemia
#3: Medications and drug reactions
The use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) may increase the risk of nose bleeds because they can inactivate blood clotting factors. This makes it easier for bleeding to occur from the delicate mucous membranes within the nose. There are several different NSAIDs that are made specifically for dogs (e.g., firocoxib, carprofen). Thankfully, nose bleeds tend to be a rare side effect of these drugs.
Adverse reactions to other medications are also rare but possible. Certain hormone therapies and chemotherapeutic drugs have been known to cause nose bleeds. A specific antibiotic drug class known as the sulfonamides (aka sulfa drugs) can also result in epistaxis.
#4: Toxin exposure
There are any number of toxic chemicals that have been known to affect an animal’s blood clotting abilities. This in turn could lead to nose bleeds as well as bleeding from other locations in the body.
Rat poison (i.e. rodenticide) works by decreasing a rodent’s ability to clot blood, leading to fatal internal hemorrhaging. Unfortunately, many commercially available rodenticides can cause the same terrible death in dogs and cats. It is important to keep these poisons far out of reach of your dog.
#5: Foreign bodies
It is possible for a foreign object to find its way up your pup’s nose. In the Western United States, spiky plant material known as grass awns can be a big problem. Some examples of grass awns include foxtails and cheatgrass. These sharp, stiff pieces of grass are barbed in such a way that pulling them out of a dog’s nasal passages can be extremely painful. It is no wonder they can irritate the tissue and cause nose bleeds.
#6: Dental disease
In the average dog skull, there is a thin plate of bone that separates the nasal cavity from the oral cavity below. When periodontal disease (i.e. dental disease in dogs) is present, it can lead to significant bone infection or even bone loss beneath the surface of the gums.
Thus, dental disease affecting the teeth in the upper portions of the mouth can lead to problems within the nasal cavity. One such example is an oronasal fistula, a tiny open communication between the nasal cavity and the oral cavity. This communication can result in infection and nose bleeds.
#7: Fungal infections
While transmission of certain bacterial and viral infections through nasal inhalation of particles is possible, the inhalation of fungal spores tends to be much more devastating. Fungal infections such as Aspergillus fumigatus, Blastomyces dermatitidis, and certain Penicillium species can invade the nasal cavity as well as other parts of the upper and lower respiratory tracts.
The end results of these fungal infections are pneumonia-like symptoms, nose bleeds, and various other clinical signs. It can take months for a dog to undergo treatment, and some infections may be lifelong.
#8: Tick-borne illnesses
Tick-borne diseases in dogs such as Ehrlichia canis and Babesia gibsoni can cause several clinical symptoms such as fever, lameness, and lethargy. Because these types of infections can affect a dog’s blood-clotting abilities, tick-borne diseases can also cause nose bleeds.
#9: Autoimmune diseases
If a dog has an autoimmune disorder, it means that the immune system is mounting an inappropriate response to the dog’s own cells. In other words, immune system complexes that would normally attack foreign invaders are attacking normal parts of the dog’s body instead.
Patients with immune-mediated thrombocytopenia (ITP) suffer from low platelet counts. This is because the immune system attacks and destroys platelets, a type of cell that helps to form blood clots. Without enough platelets to help the blood clot, nose bleeds are possible.
#10: Bone marrow disorders
Your dog’s bones do a lot more than just form his or her skeleton. In the center of the bones, there is a spongy, vascular tissue called bone marrow. Among other things, bone marrow is responsible for the creation of platelets. It houses large precursor cells called a megakaryocytes, which eventually break down to create hundreds of little platelets.
Certain diseases and drugs that inhibit or suppress the bone marrow can lead to overall decreased platelet production, thus increasing the risk of epistaxis.
#11: Hyperviscosity syndrome
Hyperviscosity syndrome occurs when there are very high levels of protein in a dog’s blood. It is difficult to know the true reason this happens. But certain diseases like amyloidosis (i.e. a condition where the body deposits a protein called amyloid in various locations) and monoclonal gammopathies (i.e. a condition where the body makes too much of one type of immune system protein called immunoglobulins) are thought to be factors.
When there is too much protein in the blood, there isn’t enough room for the fluid component (i.e. plasma) so the blood becomes very thick or viscous. The increased pressure from this thicker fluid results in blood vessels rupturing, which leads to blood loss. Nose bleeds are one way the body may lose blood.
#12: Blood clotting disorders
Blood clotting is controlled by the interplay of numerous proteins known as coagulation factors. If one of those factors is deficient, it can cause a bleeding disorder.
Various inherited conditions can negatively impact clotting ability. For example, hemophilia A results in a deficiency of coagulation factor VIII. This causes anything from a mild nose bleeds to extreme blood loss. As another example, Doberman Pinschers are at an increased risk of inheriting von Willebrand disease. This condition causes platelets to lose the protein that makes them “sticky” enough to form blood clots. Affected dogs are at a higher risk of abnormal bleeding.
Clotting issues can also be acquired. When there is serious damage to the internal organs—due to things like infection, inflammation, or heat stroke in dogs—the body can enter a state called disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC). In DIC, the clotting system, which normally regulates how clots form and break down, goes haywire. Thus, a dog with DIC might suffer from clots in all the wrong places or bleeding from anywhere, especially the nose.
#13: Liver failure or kidney failure
When important internal organs like the liver and kidneys can no longer function properly, there can be problems that lead to bleeding. The liver creates the majority of the coagulation factors, so understandably, liver disease in dogs can lead to decreased coagulation factor production. Without coagulation factors, blood cannot clot and the dog is prone to spontaneous bleeding like nose bleeds.
Chronic kidney failure in dogs may lead to high blood pressure (i.e. hypertension in dogs). The increased pressure in the vessels may make the capillaries more fragile and therefore, prone to rupturing. This can cause bleeding in various locations, including the nose.
What other symptoms go along with a nose bleed?
As you can see from this list, there are many different reasons a dog may get a bloody nose. Sometimes you might only see the bloody nasal discharge. Other times there are additional clinical signs such as:
- A firm swelling that appears over the bridge of the nose or next to the eyes, eye discharge or a protruding third eyelid, and/or more frequent sneezing in dogs with a nasal tumor.
- Pale gums, black/tarry stools, unexplained bruising under the skin, difficult or heavy breathing, dog is breathing fast, and/or becoming a pot-bellied dog if there are issues with clotting factors or platelet numbers.
- Sudden onset sneezing and pawing at the nose in dogs who have a nasal foreign body.
- Bad breath, old dog losing teeth, dog tooth abscesses and/or oral pain if the dog has dental disease.
- Increased thirst in dogs, increased urination, vomiting, and/or weight loss in a dog with kidney disease.
If your dog is having nose bleeds, please also report any other symptoms to your vet. That will make it easier for your vet to get to the bottom of why the nose bleeds are happening.
What diagnostics might the vet run?
In addition to gathering your dog’s history (including travel history, symptoms, etc.) and doing a complete physical exam, your vet may suggest several other tests. Often, he or she will start with some blood tests. This may include a complete blood count (CBC) and blood chemistry profile. These tests are a useful way to evaluate red blood cell and platelet numbers, measure proteins and globulins (for hyperviscosity syndrome), and look at liver and kidney enzyme levels. Urine testing is also a part of this minimum database of information.
Additionally, the vet may decide to run tick titers to look for the presence of tick-borne illnesses or coagulation tests to check for blood clotting issues or DIC. The vet might also suggest basic imaging like X-rays and ultrasound to look for evidence of cancer, fungal infections, and internal bleeding.
If the vet suspects a nasal tumor, he or she will probably recommend advanced imaging such as a CT and MRI. These modalities are better at detecting nasal tumors than X-rays alone. The vet also may suggest a thorough oral exam under general anesthesia (including dental X-rays) if he or she thinks dental disease may be contributing to the nose bleeds.
Some dogs will end up needing a rhinoscopy to figure out why they are having nose bleeds. Rhinoscopy is a procedure where the veterinarian inserts a special scope into the nasal cavity to look for signs of trauma, tumors, fungal infections, or foreign bodies. In some cases, the vet may decide to take biopsy samples during the rhinoscopy. However, you should be aware that local inflammation and the tendency for nasal tissue to bleed easily can make it hard to get good samples.
What is the treatment for nose bleeds?
Once your vet reaches a diagnosis, he or she will work with you to come up with a treatment plan. The vet will need to address issues like infections, inflammatory conditions, and organ damage with additional therapy. If the epistaxis resulted from the use of certain medications, the vet may advise you to stop giving those medications.
A dog with a nasal foreign body requires surgical removal of the offending object before it causes further damage. If there is a nasal tumor, the vet may recommend referral to a board-certified oncologist for surgery and/or radiation.
Your veterinarian may also recommend a Chinese herbal supplement called Yunnan Baiyao for dogs if your dog suffers from chronic nose bleeds. Yunnan Baiyao seems to have almost magical clotting properties.
What is the outlook for dogs with nose bleeds?
As you can imagine, the prognosis varies depending on why the dog is having nose bleeds. Most dogs with minor nose bleeds due to trauma or a mild infection have a very good prognosis. However, chronic illnesses like liver failure and kidney failure will have guarded to poor prognoses. Locally aggressive nasal cancers also carry a poor to grave prognosis, especially if left untreated.
Don’t let nose bleeds get you down
I know it can be alarming to see your dog’s nose suddenly dripping blood or to have him or her sneezing blood. But if your dog starts to have a nose bleed, remember to remain calm, apply ice to the bridge of the nose, and then get in contact with your vet.
There are a wide range of reasons for a nose bleed, and some are worse than others. Regardless of what the cause may be, work closely with your veterinarian and follow his or her advice. Together you can hopefully reduce or maybe even eliminate your dog’s nose bleeds. That way you and your dog can keep enjoying life together without nose bleeds getting in the way.
Has your dog ever had a nose bleed?
Please share your experience below.
I have a 14 year old beagle and he went outside to use the bathroom and when he came back and i saw some blood spots on the ground. I wiped it up thinking he might have scratched his nose and it was fine after i cleaned it up. Hours layer like 5/6 hours he came o we to the door and blood was splattered on the found in the kitchen. His nose was running with blood and then he sneezed and a big chunk came out. After wiping it as best i could it stopped and seemed fine but I’m worried because this has never happened. He’s has allergies but in the 14 years of having him this has never happened.
Hi Christina,
I am sorry you experienced this scary situation with your senior boy. I agree this bleeding is cause for concern and think it would be best to contact your vet. They can perform an exam and then give you options for testing and treatment. Hoping you can get some answers quickly and praying for a positive outcome.
Same here. Beagle, around 14 years old. Sneezed blood 4 weeks ago, and again today. Also increased reverse sneezing and snorting. Ugh. I have a bad feeling about this and have a vet appt. tomorrow. Good luck, @Christina Wong.
Curious what did your vet say it was I’m having the same issue with my dog?
Hi Denise,
Our vet is conservative and prescribed antibiotics/follow up appt. That said, factors that weigh in favor of something more serious is our Beagle girl’s age and that she is bleeding only out of the right nostril. Bleeding only out of one nostril suggests a problem affecting that particular nostril, as opposed to a systemic problem, like anemia, allergies, etc.
Vet will refer her to our animal diagnostic center if she continues to slide downhill and should we decide to pursue a dx. Hate to put her through that at her age. I know (all too well) how this chapter ends. ): Best of luck to you and your pet.
Our six yo beagle started having nose bleeds from exterior tip of her nose about almost two weeks ago. They were pretty bad and hard to stop, even spurting at times. Did research, and thought it might be Lupus of the nose type. Vet confirmed and gave her four meds plus ER vet gave her vitamin K for clotting. We have a cone on her so she doesn’t rub her nose. Question is, is there anything else we can do to stop bleeding? It still bleeds if she exerts herself or rubs it on carpet. We do the usual, hold ice on her nose, slight pressure with a soft tissue. It does stop eventually and hasn’t been as bad as it was. ER vet was talking about cauterizing it of an operation to tie off blood vessels. Would that be a viable option? I know this Lupus can take a while to clear up.
Hi James,
I am sorry your Beagle is having issues with her nose bleeding due to the changes in her skin from Lupus. Cauterization surgery may end up being necessary. But prior to pursuing that I would suggest you ask your vet about a few other options. Your vet may be willing to prescribe epinephrine drops. This medication helps to constrict blood vessels and is very useful for a variety of superficial bleeding issues. Also, you can ask about Yunnan Baiyao. This is an herbal supplement that helps to stop bleeding from external and internal causes. Laser therapy may also be helpful in encouraging the tissue of the nose to heal. I hope you can find a way to maintain your girl’s quality of life. Wishing you all the best of luck!
Hello, My 7 1/2 year border collie had a nose bleed in the middle of the night. Now she has what looks like a dried clot on the left nostril and snorting occasionally. She just had a vet check up and vaccines last month and is known to be healthy. I do have wood heat and currently two of my cats have sinus infections. Her appetite has decreased slightly. I travel with work and had someone watch her for three days. I have taken that into account that the person that watched her feeds her lots of treats and ususally when they home their appitite isn’t the greatest for a few days then goes back to normal. That person lives in the country and took her for several long walks in the woods. I also live in the coutry and have a hobby farm. I have noticed she is laying around more. I also have a 2 year doberman that she plays with,
Hi Wendy,
I am sorry your girl is having these worrisome bleeding issues. From what you describe, I do think she needs to be evaluated by your vet. I like to err on the side of caution and make sure there is nothing serious or life-threatening contributing to the situation. I hope your girl is doing well and pray the bleeding has resolved. Best wishes and good luck to you both!
we have an almost 5-year-old male Dachshund. He has so many things wrong with him: Atlanto Axial Subluxation; cryptorcid, enlarged heart. Tonight his nose started bleeding. He takes Vetmedin for his heart. He’s pretty much a bag of bones at this point.
We did buy him a cart to use and while initially he used it a little bit, the past 3 years he’s refused. I don’t know if all of his issues, now including bloody nose, is worth hanging on to him…not for our sake, but for his. Any thoughts are appreciated.
We are taking him to the vet tomorrow, but tonight I am in a state of anxiety.
Dear Liz,
I understand your concern for your Dachshund with all of the issues he is facing. I am glad you took him to your vet for a thorough evaluation. What did you find out? If your boy is suffering, it is ok to consider saying goodbye. Sometimes letting go is the most loving option and only way to offer freedom and peace. Hoping you can get the answers you need to make the best decision for everyone involved. Praying for comfort and a clear path forward.
My pup got kicked in the face this morning by a donkey. His nose did not start bleeding until a few minutes later. There is a small cut and some swelling just to the left of center, right between his eyes. There is still bleeding … three hours later now. He seems fine otherwise, behaving normally. I gave him some ice cubes to eat (his favorite treat!) which seemed to slow it down … but he lost interest in the cubes. Is there anything else I can do? How long can this go on before it becomes a serious problem? Thank you!!
Hi Sherrie,
I am sorry your pup has endured this traumatic event! With possible head trauma I would highly recommend you have him evaluated by your vet right away. There could be hidden issues that are only apparent with x-rays or other testing. Hoping all is well today and your sweet boy is resting and healing. Feel free to leave an update if you have a chance.
We have a 13 year old working cocker
For about 18 months he’s been making noises from his nose as if it’s bunged up. Earlier this year we would see occasional bleeding.
In August it he bleeding got worse so we went to the vet. He gave us some options for tests and we went away to think.
Meanwhile the bleeding stopped.
Then it came back and he was sneezing bloody and mucus all the time. The vet prescribed antibiotics and anti inflammatory tablets which helped for a week and seemed to clear the infection.
Today the nostril is just dripping blood continuously.
the vet set a CT scan is recommended but the cost is high. I’d pay for it all day long if I thought the outcome would be something treatable. As an old dog I’m wondering what’s the best thing.
Before jumping to a £2k scan, what steps would you recommend to try to get more of an idea of the issue?
If anyone else has similar experience please let me know. He seems fine in himself. When out walking his tail is happy and he is running around as normal.
Dear Lorna,
I am sorry your senior guy is having these worrisome health issues. There are other tests that can be done that may offer some additional information, but they will probably not be enough for a definitive diagnosis. So, you might spend money on preliminary tests just to end up still needing the CT to get answers. If you are thinking you just want to pursue palliative care, then getting a diagnosis may not be in your best interest. But if you think there is a chance you would want to pursue treatment (surgery, radiation, etc.) then getting a diagnosis early in the disease process is best. I don’t know that your boy has a nasal, but in case that is what you are facing here is a link to another article with more information: Nasal Tumors in Dogs: A Dog Parent’s Guide
I hope this will offer some guidance and help you navigate the unknown path you are walking. Wishing you all the best and praying for a positive outcome.
My dog is experiencing similar issues but he’s only 9 and finding the money for veterinary specialty testing is proving to be a challenge, sadly. it’s sad to not be able to afford treatment for our long time pets.
Dear Carolyn,
I am sorry you are in this situation with your boy. My thoughts are with you during this difficult time. ♥
My 14yr old spayed dog started bleeding from right nostril. Vet couldn’t find anything wrong.
A few months ago she developed lumps on her stomach, which opened into nasty sores. Surgery to remove the lumps which were cancerous. Now she is snorting and her nostril is bleeding again .She is otherwise happy and eating well. Could the skin cancer and nose problems be related.
Hi Annette,
I am so sorry your senior girl is having these bleeding episodes. It is possible for cancer to spread and affect separate parts of the body. Without knowing the type of tumor the lumps were, it is hard to say for certain if these two issues could be related. I encourage you to talk to your vet and see if they have a diagnosis based on the pathology report from the surgery. With this information, you could ask for a consultation with a specialist and get more definitive answers. I am glad your girl is feeling good and eating well. Hoping she has many more happy days ahead!
Our 11 year old had the same thing. We did all kinds of tests and ultimately found out he has multiple myeloma. He seems fine, happy and energetic. We tried Chemo but it showed no difference and it was very expensive, mostly because of the constant appointments and bloodwork. It did not help the nose bleeds. We have been using Yunnin Baio but also doesn’t seem to be helping. Came here for hopefully some other preventative remedies. He’s a happy dog but we can’t keep coming home to a bloody mess everyday.
Hi Harley,
I am sorry your boy has received this difficult diagnosis. I am not sure I have any great advice but hope others will see this and be able to offer suggestions from their own experiences. I know your pup does not have a nasal tumor, but I am attaching a link to an article on that topic just because it also has lots of great information about how to deal with nosebleeds (good advice in the comments section too). Hoping you can find a way to give your boy some relief and restore the quality of life for everyone involved. ♥
Nasal Tumors in Dogs: A Dog Parent’s Guide
My 1 yr old DDB mastiff has been dealing with allergies for last couple months and they are now calming down. But yesterday I came home to my boy with a mild nose bleed. It stopped and isn’t heavy but every once and awhile he has a couple drips of blood.
On way to vet later today..
fyi. he is completely normal with eating drinking playing etc.
Hi Tim,
I am sorry your pup has been dealing with allergy issues. Glad you have an appointment scheduled to have him evaluated by your vet. Hoping you get some answers and wishing your sweet boy the best for a positive outcome!
Thanks so much for this article as it gives me an idea what my lab could be dealing with. My lab (10 yo) has been bleeding from his right nostril for more than a week now. The first vet did a blood work and said it’s likely because he has blood parasites so he prescribed antibiotic and some iron. It’s been 7 days since, my lab is still dripping blood on and off especially when he sneezed. I took him to see another vet and he did another blood work which shows that my lab has high CRT (2.3mg/dL), borderline high GLOB (4.5g/dL), low BUN (6mg/dL), high MON# (1.3), low HGB (10.8. ), low HCT (34.9), high PLT (497). The vet said we need to bring down his CRT and high CRT is indicative of tumor, hence recommending a rhinoscopy.
I’d highly appreciate anyone could share some insights and advice here:
1. whether what his blood work indicates
2. whether his age (10 yo) is suitable to undergo general anesthesia for rhinoscopy.
Thanks you so much all.
Hi Lee,
I am sorry your Lab is having these bleeding issues. It is hard to say if the benefits of getting a diagnosis outweigh the risks of anesthesia in this situation. If you are interested in pursuing treatment for a possible nasal tumor then I think the rhinoscopy is the way to go. If you are leaning toward palliative care, then obtaining a diagnosis may not be needed. Here is a link to another article with more information: Nasal Tumors in Dogs: A Dog Parent’s Guide
Hoping you were able to find the answers you needed to navigate this difficult path. Feel free to leave an update if you have a chance. Best wishes and good luck!
hi – my 10 year old Old English Sheepdog has been having nosebleeds for the last month. Initially i took himto the vet and did bloodwork and x-rays and they came back normal. I went to an internist who did a MRI and a rhinoscopy and put him on Yunnai Baiyao and Clavacillin (amoxicillin). The MRI came back clear as did the biopsy (biopsy’s seemed to be good as they got some bone fragment). We are still waiting on the fungal results, but there were no plaque deposits visible on the rhinoscopy results. that being said, he is still having some terrible nosebleeds. The last few days have been much better (very little blood), but this morning he had a horrible nosebleed – bright red and very thick. He still has an appetite and loves to go on walks. at this point, i just want answers. i know you haven’t seen him, but are you familiar with any cases similar to this? i know there is a new dog disease going around, but i have another dog too who isn’t sick from being around him 24/7 and i don’t think nosebleeds are associated with it. thanks in advance.
Hi Stacy,
I understand your concern for your big guy and wish I had some answers. Unfortunately, I hear of cases like this often, but am just as puzzled as to what the cause could be. It sounds like you have done everything you can, and I commend you for taking such an active stance with advocating for your boy. It could be worthwhile to reach out to a holistic vet in your area. They may have suggestions for therapies (such as acupuncture) or herbal supplements that could be beneficial for him. Praying you are able to find a way to offer relief from these worrisome bleeding episodes. Please keep us updated on how things are going with your sweet boy.
My 11 month old Staffy suddenly got a nose bleed it is in her right nostril and she was overexcited when it happened, I took her for a walk at the beach today and she was running around with the zoomies then her nose started bleeding again it lasts for a few minutes then stops, apart from that she is her usual happy self I am going to take her to the vet tomorrow to get checked out but I’m worried as it’s come out of the blue any recommendations?
Hi Anita,
I am sorry you are facing this worrisome situation with your young pup. I understand your concern and think it is good you are planning a visit to the vet. Unfortunately, without knowing the cause of these nosebleeds, it is hard to make recommendations. If they are occurring when your dog is excited, they may be happening when her blood pressure is higher than normal. To try and avoid another issue while you wait for her appointment, it may be best to keep her calm and restrict activity a bit. Hoping all is well and you get some answers soon. Best wishes to you both!
What did the Vet say was the course of the dog’s nose bleed?