Dog Nosebleed Treatments New Haven CT

Q. #My mom's 13-year-old [mixed breed] woke up and began bleeding profusely from her nose. We rushed her to the veterinarian, but all he did was stop the bleeding and tell us bleeding like that was normal for old dogs. Since then the dog has had four nosebleeds, each one directly after she wakes up. One day I was home alone and she had her fifth nosebleed. The neighbor took me to the veterinarian when I couldn't stop the bleeding. The veterinarian and my family were annoyed with me and said I am overreacting. I am 13, and I am the one who gets Dog Fancy. I am afraid for the dog. Are this many nosebleeds normal for an old dog in the span of two weeks? The dog is otherwise healthy.

A. You are absolutely correct to be concerned about your dog's nosebleeds. Bleeding from the nose (epistaxis) is not normal in dogs of any age and can signal serious illness. Epistaxis can occur from one or both nostrils and varies from mild and self-limiting to severe and life-threatening. Some cases start with sneezing and traces of blood in nasal discharges, while others have profuse bleeding as the first sign, which you have experienced.

Any process that disrupts the nasal lining or blood vessels can result in epistaxis. Some causes are obvious, while others are more subtle. Nasal foreign bodies such as plant debris (blades of grass, foxtails, burrs) can cause violent sneezing and irritation to the delicate nasal lining. Any other cause of violent sneezing can result in nosebleed. S...

Author: Michael Abdella , DVM

Copyright 2009 BowTie Inc.

Click here to read the rest of this article from Dog Channel