Epistaxis (Nosebleed / Nasal Hemorrhage)
Hemorrhage originating from the nasal cavity, nostrils, or nasopharynx, manifesting as unilateral or bilateral bleeding.
💬 In Plain English
Epistaxis is the medical term for a nosebleed in a dog or cat. While human nosebleeds are often caused by dry air or minor picking, a nosebleed in a pet is almost always a sign of a serious underlying medical condition. It can be unilateral (coming from just one nostril) or bilateral (coming from both nostrils). Common causes include foreign objects lodged in the nose (like grass seeds/foxtails), severe fungal infections (Aspergillosis), tooth root abscesses, nasal tumors, high blood pressure, rat poison ingestion (anticoagulant rodenticides), or immune diseases causing low platelets (thrombocytopenia).
🔬 Clinical & Technical Depth
For Vets & TechniciansFormal Clinical Definition
Acute or chronic hemorrhage originating from the mucosal vasculature of the nasal cavity or paranasal sinuses, categorized as local or systemic based on vascular and coagulative etiology.
Why Veterinarians Use It
Veterinarians assess whether epistaxis is unilateral vs. bilateral and perform emergency platelet counts and clotting panels to rule out life-threatening systemic coagulopathies.
Clinical Context Encountered
Seen when an owner notices blood dripping from a dog’s nose or blood spatters on walls following sneezing fits.
Clinical Reference Guide (Clinical Symptom)
Continuous active streaming blood, pale white gums, collapse, or bruising on the belly.
What to Look For
- Active dripping or streaming blood from one or both nostrils, blood splattered on walls from sneezing, swallowing blood (causing black tarry stool)
Home Care Do’s & Don’ts
- DO apply a cold compress or ice pack wrapped in a cloth to the bridge of the nose; DO NOT pack cotton or gauze inside pet nostrils
- •Sudden bilateral nosebleeds accompanied by bruising on the gums or belly indicate rat poison (anticoagulant rodenticide) or immune-mediated thrombocytopenia—an immediate life-threatening emergency.
❓ Questions to Ask Your Veterinarian
Take these actionable questions with you to your next clinic visit or appointment:
- 1Is the bleeding unilateral (from one nostril) or bilateral (from both)?
- 2Could my pet have ingested rat bait, or does bloodwork show low platelets or prolonged clotting times (PT/PTT)?
- 3Is a skull CT scan and rhinoscopy needed to inspect the nasal turbinates for tumors or fungal disease?
Academic & Clinical References
- ACVIM Diagnostic Approach to Epistaxis in Dogs and CatsOrganization: American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (ACVIM) • Accessed: 2026-01-10https://www.acvim.org