A bloody nose

Nosebleeds may be more of a visual shock than anything else, but they can also be a sign of something serious. Sara Kent MRCVS explains

- Sara Kent

NOSEBLEEDS are always alarming and tend to look dramatic, especially on horses with light coats. In many cases, they are not serious and will stop rapidly. However, if the blood is streaming rather than dripping, or does not stop in 10 to 15 minutes, contact your vet as an emergency.

Smaller bleeds should be discussed with your vet as soon as is convenient, as they can act as a warning for a more serious developing issue and further investigation may be warranted.

There are a myriad possible causes of a nosebleed (more properly known as epistaxis). Blood seen at the nostrils can originate from damage to vessels within the lungs, airways, throat or nasal passages. Sometimes the cause is obvious from the history and clinical examination, but in many cases further investigation may be required.

This could include blood tests, X-rays or computerised tomography (CT) scans. An endoscopic exam (a flexible camera up the nose) is often the most useful way to find the source of the bleeding.

In the case of a nosebleed, the vet will want to know:

The quantity and appearance of the blood

If it was coming from one or both nostrils

What the horse was doing at the time of the bleed

If there is any history of trauma, previous epistaxis or other ill health

HOW IT HAPPENS 

MOST commonly, a nosebleed is caused by trauma, such as a fall, a knock or a kick to the head. These bleeds can be dramatic, are often from just one nostril and tend to be self-limiting. If there is a possibility of other damage to the head or the bleeding does not stop rapidly, the vet should be called.