Nose Bleed in Dogs

If your dog suddenly begins to bleed from the nose, remain calm. It is important to keep your pet quiet and relaxed in order to prevent the nose from bleeding more intensely. You may put an icepack on the bridge of your dog’s nose to slow down or stop the flow of blood. Contact your veterinarian promptly to have your dog seen. Trauma to the snout or an upper respiratory infection can cause the nose to bleed. Your pet may also have an underlying problem such as a tumor; taking your pet to the veterinarian is important.

Nose bleed in dogs (epistaxis) is an outflow of blood from the nostril, nasopharynx or nasal cavity. Immediate veterinary care is recommended to diagnose the cause quickly.

• Slow drips or a continuous flow of blood from your dog’s nose
• Continuous pawing at nose
• Vomit (unusual dark color)
• Swelling
  
• The appearance of the skin around the nose
• New, unusual behavior, such as increased whining or crying but on most occasions, a bloody nose may be the only noticeable symptom and should be better inspected by a veterinarian.

There can be numerous probable causes for epistaxis, which must rule out to ensure the health of your dog:

• Mild or severe trauma to the snout
• High blood pressure
  
• Dental disease
  
• Presence of a tumor
• Coagulation problem
• The presence of a foreign body lodged in the nose
• Certain cancers
• Ingestion of rat poison
  
• Fungal infection
  
• Certain tick-borne diseases
• Issues with blood proteins

Your veterinarian will begin to diagnose the reason why your pet has bleeding from the nose after acquiring and evaluating your dog’s recent medical history. She will inquire about medications your pet may be taking and whether you have noticed any unusual bleeding prior to this event. If there has been a trauma to your dog’s nose, advise the veterinarian. Other information to relay would be if you have used any poisons or pesticides in your yard, or whether your dog has been exposed to any rodents recently. Your veterinarian will also want to know if the stools have been normal.

An examination will include checking the appearance of the area around the nose and the gums. Your veterinarian will look for evidence of pain or facial swelling, and check the condition of the eyes, looking for redness or abnormalities.

Your veterinarian will likely order a CBC, blood chemistry and clotting profile to check for anemia along with other potential issues, such as organ damage. She may want to do a radiograph (x-ray) to look for evidence of internal bleeding. Other tests, such as MRI or bone marrow analysis may be required, depending on findings from the initial examination.

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Treatment will begin with returning your pet to a better immediate state of health. Ensuring that your dog can breathe properly and has not lost too much blood are two important considerations. Treatment for blood loss may be required. Upon leaving the clinic, you will be asked to carefully monitor your pet’s activity levels, appetite and general demeanor over the coming days.

Treatment will vary depending on the underlying cause of the nose bleed. If your pet is suffering from a fungal infection, nasal aspiration and antifungal medication may be necessary. If a foreign object is lodged in the nose, the prognosis is typically good once the object has been removed. Other illnesses such as a tumor, cancer or tick borne illness will require more invasive investigation and treatment.  Infections will likely require antibiotics.  

Successful recovery and management for your pet depend upon the origin of the nose bleed. Complete cessation of the bleeding, continued normal vital signs, and the return to usual behaviors are the desired goals.

Dental issues, infection, and the removal of a foreign object all allow for a favorable recovery. If there is the diagnosis of an underlying illness that continues to progress, the recovery will be more difficult and treatment will be more extensive. The possibility of an illness progressing to an untreatable stage exists also. For example, the presence of a tumor or cancerous growth in the nasal cavity or skull would result in a poor prognosis for recovery.