Epistaxis in Dogs

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Epistaxis (Nose Bleed) in Dogs

By: Dr. Douglas Brum

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Epistaxis refers to bleeding from the nose. It is usually from damaged vessels in the nasal mucosa but can also be due to an increased fragility of capillaries or bleeding tendencies. Any breed can develop epistaxis and there is no gender predilection. Dogs with long noses (so-called "dolichocephalic" breeds such as Collies) may be at greater risk for some causes of epistaxis (e.g. nasal tumors).

The bleeding may be acute (sudden) or chronic (long standing). How ill the animal becomes often is determined by the underlying cause of the nasal bleeding. It is important to determine if the bleeding is unilateral (one-sided) or bilateral (both nostrils) because some causes of epistaxis are associated with unilateral bleeding whereas others are associated with bilateral bleeding.

Epistaxis may be caused by:

Trauma

Nasal foreign bodies

Dental disease, like tooth root abscess

Nasal tumors

Infections (bacterial, fungal, parasitic)

Certain blood disorders, such as clotting abnormalities, excessively viscous blood, tick-borne diseases that can cause low platelet counts

What to Watch For

Sneezing, accompanied by a large spray of blood

Nasal swelling

Severe dental disease

Fractured teeth

Black, tarry stool (caused by swallowing blood)

A foul odor from the mouth or nose

Noisy breathing

Loss of appetite

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