Contrary to what many people may think, a dog nosebleed is not foreign to dogs. This is normally manifested by blood exiting the nostrils. The causes for this are wide and varied in severity as seen below. Apart from exploring the triggers for a nose bleeding dog, we go a step further to distinguish this from a bloody nose and propose various treatment options that you can use to stop it.
Contents
Dog Nose Bleed
Can dogs nosebleed? This is a common question when people are trying to figure out various dog conditions. It is possible for a dog to nosebleed. This kind of bleeding in dogs is known by the medical term epistaxis. At no time is nasal bleeding normal or to be ignored. This is because the causes can be simple or a sign of something more serious conditions. Before taking any action, it is important to scrutinize what is causing the bleeding. This will ensure that the most appropriate solutions are offered.
Causes of Dog Bleeding from Nose
The causes may be directly related to impact on the nose or the nosebleed may be a secondary symptom of some other serious condition. They include:
Direct Trauma on the Nostril
A dog may suffer trauma from disagreements with other dogs, getting hit by static objects, getting involved in accidents such as falling or being hit by a car among others. In most cases, this kind of nosebleed will be accompanied by scratches and punctures outside the nose. Where you observe trauma abrasion accompanying the nasal bleeding, the situation will be a reflection of an internal injury.
Additionally, the cracked skin of a dry nose may result in bleeding.
Presence of a Foreign Body in Nose
At times, dogs will sniff and breathe in unfit objects into their nasal passageway. The most common objects are grass blades, wild millet, and burseeds. These may cause not only pain but localized infections as well. Seeds can migrate from the nose and travel down only to get lodged in internal organs such as the spine and lungs. In some cases, these may be life-threatening.
When the nasal bleeding is as a result of foreign objects, it may be accompanied by sneezing. The pet may also snore and may have trouble breathing. It may also constantly reach for the nose to try and get out whatever is bothering it. In case you can see the foreign object, you could carefully try and pull it out using tweezers. If you cannot, have it checked by a veterinarian.
Nasal Mites
When a dog has these, it will sneeze while nose bleeding. This though is not common in any dogs that are on heartworm prevention medication. The mites are quite common in old canines and can really stress the pet.
Rodenticide Poisoning
This refers to the ingestion of any products used to kill rodents including rats, gophers, and mites. Where there is accidental exposure and the dog ingests any of it that has poisonous ingredients, the clotting process of the dog is affected causing hemophilia. In case you suspect this as the cause of nosebleed, contact your veterinarian immediately. Dogs taking aspirin regularly tend to have thin blood and problems with blood clotting.
Nasal Tumors
When a dog is suffering a nasal tumor, one of the symptoms that manifest is nasal discharge, nose bleeding and sneezing. Though this rarely happens, the presence of a tumor may be life-threatening where it is a symptom of cancer. Take your dog to the vet so that it can be determined whether it is benign or malignant.
Blood Disorders
In some cases, the causes for the nosebleeds are blood-related conditions. Platelet disorders cause an inability for blood clots. An absence of the Von Willebrand’s factor cased deficiency in blood clotting causing easy bleeding. This is the equivalent of hemophilia in human beings. Dogs with chronic leukemia are also likely to bleed easily.
Dog Bleeding From Nose – Dog Nose Bloody
Do dogs get bloody noses from other things other than nose bleeding? Can a dog bleeding from nose be a sign of physical injury on the part? When a dog nose is bloody, it is not always that this is a sign of nose bleeding. A bloody nasal area can be as a result of bloody mucus nasal discharge. This could be caused by sinus infections or upper respiratory problems.
Apart from the dog having a bloody nose and sneezing, it can be painful for the dog where the cause is a foreign body trapped within its nasal system. Puppies are the most affected by this kind of a condition due to their exploratory nature. They should, therefore, be carefully monitored and a veterinarian visited so they are offered appropriate medication.
In other cases, external dog bleeding from the nose may occur as a result of an injury. With this, it is likely that a trauma wound will be the reason why the snout appears bloody. Where the injury is severe, treatment offered may include cauterization to stop the bleeding. In other cases, surgery and medication may be most appropriate.
In some cases, a dog may vomit blood. When this happens, at times it may try to ingest or sniff the food. When throwing up the dog may also end up messing itself resulting in various blood tinged parts. When this happens, the pet ends up having a bloody snout. Blood vomit is a severe condition that should not be ignored. Check around and see if the dog could have vomited and seek professional help if it has.
Another reason for a bloody nasal area is when the dogs suffer sunburns or excessive dryness due to heat from artificial sources. This is best-taken care of by ensuring that proper treatments are done before allowing the dog outdoors. Also, try and keep them away from direct heat.
Most cases contributing in a bloody nose are serious. Unless you are certain that it is resulting from minor traumas, you should see the veterinarian immediately. This will help treat the underlying causes immediately.
Nose Bleeds in Dogs Treatment
Once the dog starts bleeding, the most immediate concern would be how to stop a dog nosebleed. To begin with, you should strive to stop the bleeding. To do this:
- Start by making the dog remain calm and still. This is a very important step because if the dog is anxious and keeps moving, the blood pressure remains up and thus stopping it may be hard.
Keep the dog calm after a nosebleed to avoid recurrence - After it has calmed down, apply a cold compress or an ice pack on the bridge of the nose. This helps to constrict the nasal blood vessels and thus stop the bleeding from the nose.
- With the above measures, the bleeding should keep reducing and stop with time.
Where the nasal bleeding won’t stop despite administering appropriate first aid care, a veterinarian should be seen immediately. Also see a vet where the nose bleeding is recurrent and occurs without any trauma, where there is heavy bleeding and snorting as well as when there are unilateral nose bleeds which only happen from one nostril. These could result from tumors and foreign objects which are serious.
Once at the veterinarian’s office, they will scrutinize your pet for the symptoms it is exhibiting. They can recommend various tests be carried out on it. These include clotting tests, blood tests, and urinalysis. The treatment for the bleeds will depend on the underlying cause.
In some cases, you may be taught how to keep the dog calm. This is in such cases where the dog is found to be suffering from a hemorrhage. With this condition, it is very important for the dog to stay calm. You will also receive necessary instructions on what to do when the dog exhibits serious hemorrhage symptoms such as lethargy, excessive bleeding and collapsing.
Where necessary, especially where the cause is as a result of reactions to allergies, a nasal spray will be issued for use when the dog is exposed to allergens. Ensure that you follow what they recommend to alleviate the symptoms and keep the dog healthy.