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Epistaxis in dogs, commonly known as a dog nosebleed, is the acute bleeding from the tissues lining the nostrils, nasal passages, or upper throat. It can occur on one side or both (bilateral bleeding) and can be either mild or severe. Although nasal bleeding is uncommon in dogs, it causes worry to pet parents when it occurs in their dogs.
Let's look at eight possible reasons why a dog might have a nose bleed, and what to do about it.
1. Snout Trauma
This is a common cause of nosebleeds as they are very active animals. Like cats, dogs experience zoomies in a day and can, during one of their energy outbursts, experience trauma to their nostrils by bumping into things.
As a pet parent, it's your responsibility to keep your dog safe by limiting the possibility of all forms of injury to your dog. Doing so reduces the chances of your dog ending up with a bloody nose each time they play.
However, if an accident happens and you are faced with an active nosebleed, remain calm, and get your dog calm too. Then, hold an ice pack over the bridge of their nose for a few minutes.
2. Foreign Body
If your dog gets a foreign object stuck in their nasal cavity, they may have a nosebleed due to the damage to the inside of the nose. While most foreign bodies are too large to enter a dog's nose, grass seeds are a seasonal threat that should be considered with a dog who has nasal discharge or a nosebleed.
3. Periodontal Disease
Dogs' nasal and oral cavities are only separated by a thin plate of bone. Periodontal (dental) diseases and tooth root abscesses can lead to bone loss beneath the dog's gums, which can cause a dog to have a bloody nose. If concerned consider scheduling a veterinary dental appointment.
4. Fungal Infections
Fungal infections such as aspergillosis can cause nosebleeds in dogs. Typically, the bleeding will be from one nostril and may be recurrent. Lethargy and sneezing are also common symptoms of this infection.
5. Blood Clotting or Coagulation Disorders
Blood clotting abnormalities are another cause of dog nosebleeds to consider. Normally, when bleeding occurs, the blood changes from liquid to a gel-like solid, which helps to plug the blood vessels. However, if the dog has a clotting abnormality, blood clots can't be formed in the usual way, and your dog's nosebleed could lead to severe blood loss.
These blood coagulation disorders can be caused by inherited conditions like hemophilia A and Von Willebrand Diseases or as a result of eating rat poison which interferes with the blood clotting pathway.
6. Canine Immune-Mediated Thrombocytopenia
Immune-mediated thrombocytopenia, ITP, is an autoimmune disease where the immune system attacks the platelets in the dog's body, thus causing low platelet counts. Platelets' primary function is to clot the blood, so IMT often causes clinical signs of blood loss, like:
- Bloody stool, urine, or vomit
- Pale gums
- Loss of appetite
IMT can be primary or secondary. Primary immune-mediated thrombocytopenia in dogs mainly occurs due to a defect in the immune system, while secondary IMT usually results from an underlying cause, like tick-borne diseases (e.g., Rocky Mountain spotted fever), cancer, chronic infection, or autoimmune diseases.
7. Liver Failure
Liver failure causes an increased risk for blood clotting problems in dogs as the liver creates most of the blood clotting factors. Hence, spontaneous bleeding of the dog's nasal passages can occur when the liver fails. Severe liver failure may also cause other health problems like high blood pressure, which may be a risk factor for severe epistaxis.
8. Nasal Tumors or Cancers
Canine epistaxis is a common symptom of nasal tumors, which should be considered as a potential cause if an old dog is bleeding from the nose. These tumors are caused by the production of abnormal cells lining the nasal airway. One common example of nasal cancer in dogs is nasal adenocarcinoma, which develops from the glandular cells.
Other than a nasal tumor, other cancer types like leukemia, multiple myeloma, and hemangiosarcoma can also cause a dog's nose to bleed.
What Should I Do if My Dog's Nose is Bleeding?
If your dog's nosebleed is heavy or accompanied by concerning symptoms like difficulty breathing, remain calm and call the veterinarian at once. You should also get your dog assessed if they have frequent or recurrent nose bleeds, even if they seem mild.
The veterinarian will likely take a thorough history from you, check your pet’s vitals (blood pressure, temperature, gum color, etc.), perform blood tests (such as complete blood count), bone marrow analysis, clotting tests, and in some cases, advanced imaging. Your dog might be placed under general anesthesia to conduct certain examinations.
The treatment your veterinarian will recommend depends on the results of the tests and may involve treating an infection, surgery to remove foreign bodies, or other treatment to address the underlying cause.
Conclusion
The causes of nosebleeds in dogs vary greatly. As a pet parent, get your dog evaluated by trustworthy veterinarians at least once a year to keep their health optimal. If you're concerned, book a home vet visit now to get immediate professional advice.
Should My Pet Be Seen by a Veterinarian?
1. Have you noticed changes in your pet’s appetite?
2. Does your pet have diarrhea or loose stools?
3. Have you noticed changes in your pet’s thirst/water consumption?
4. Is your pet having accidents in the house?
5. Is your pet pacing and unable to settle?
6. Is your pet panting more than usual?
7. Is your pet whining or vocalizing more than usual?
8. Is your pet shaking more than usual?
9. Is your pet hiding or avoiding physical contact more than usual?
10. Is your pet more lethargic and sleeping more than usual?
11. Are you concerned about changes in your pet’s behavior?
12. Is your pet scratching their ears?
13. Is your pet licking their paws more than usual?
14. Does your pet have a rash?
15. Is your pet moving more slowly than usual or having a harder time getting up or down?
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Should My Pet Be Seen by a Veterinarian?
1. Have you noticed changes in your pet’s appetite?
2. Does your pet have diarrhea or loose stools?
3. Have you noticed changes in your pet’s thirst/water consumption?
4. Is your pet having accidents in the house?
5. Is your pet pacing and unable to settle?
6. Is your pet panting more than usual?
7. Is your pet whining or vocalizing more than usual?
8. Is your pet shaking more than usual?
9. Is your pet hiding or avoiding physical contact more than usual?
10. Is your pet more lethargic and sleeping more than usual?
11. Are you concerned about changes in your pet’s behavior?
12. Is your pet scratching their ears?
13. Is your pet licking their paws more than usual?
14. Does your pet have a rash?
15. Is your pet moving more slowly than usual or having a harder time getting up or down?
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Frequently Asked Questions
How long does a dog nosebleed last?
Nosebleeds typically last under 30 minutes in dogs. If a dog nosebleed exceeds 30 minutes or seems to be getting worse, it is strongly advisable to bring them to the emergency clinic.
Should I worry if my dog's nose is bleeding?
It is natural to worry, as nose bleeds are uncommon in dogs. However, it is important to remain calm as you administer first aid. Know that you have resources to help you determine if your dog requires emergent veterinary care: being aware of any concurrent abnormal clinical signs your dog may be exhibiting, calling the clinic for teletriage, setting up a telehealth appointment, etc.
How do you stop a dog nosebleed?
This depends on the causes of the bleed. As a first-aid measure, you can use an ice pack to reduce blood flow and try to stop your dog's nose bleeding, but some causes require veterinary intervention.
Can allergies cause nosebleeds in dogs?
Although rare, severe sneezing from allergies may cause a dog's nose to bleed. Other courses are fungal infection, bleeding disorder, dental disease, internal bleeding, foreign body in nasal cavities, chronic infection, and nasal tumors.
Are certain breeds more prone to nosebleeds?
No. However, certain breeds are more prone to some diseases that cause the nose to bleed.
