👃 Nosebleeds in Pets: 2025 Vet First Aid Guide for Epistaxis & Emergency Nose Care 🐶🩸

By Dr Duncan Houston, BVSc 🩺

Seeing blood come from your dog or cat’s nose can be frightening, but not all nosebleeds are emergencies. In this first aid guide, I’ll help you determine when a nosebleed is urgent, how to stop the bleeding safely, and what steps to take to protect your pet’s health in 2025. 🐾👃

🧠 What Is a Nosebleed (Epistaxis)?

Epistaxis is the medical term for bleeding from the nasal passages. While the bleeding itself may look dramatic, it’s often easy to control—but figuring out what caused it is just as important. 👀

🚩 Causes of Nosebleeds in Pets

• 🌾 Foreign object (e.g., foxtail awn, grass seed)
• 🤕 Trauma to the face or snout
• 🧬 Tumors or nasal polyps
• 🦠 Infections of the sinuses or nasal cavity
• 🧪 Poisoning (e.g., rodenticide)
• 🩸 Clotting disorders or immune disease

Even a mild bump or excessive sneezing can rupture a blood vessel in the nose. 🩸

🛟 First Aid: What To Do Right Away

1. 🧘 Stay Calm

• Your pet will mirror your emotions—stay composed
• Keep your pet in a quiet space with minimal stimulation

2. 🧊 Apply a Cold Compress

• Wrap an ice pack in cloth and gently apply to the bridge or side of the nose
• Ice helps constrict blood vessels and slow bleeding

3. 👃 Observe and Monitor

• Check whether the bleeding is from one or both nostrils
• Look inside the mouth for signs of blood (this could indicate more serious bleeding)

4. ⏱️ Time the Bleed

• If the nose is bleeding heavily for more than 5 minutes, seek immediate veterinary care

5. 💗 Keep the Pet Calm

• Encourage lying down and avoiding exertion or head shaking

🚫 What NOT to Do

• ❌ Do NOT insert anything into the nostrils
• ❌ Do NOT allow sneezing or sniffing—this may dislodge clots
• ❌ Do NOT give aspirin or NSAIDs—these can worsen bleeding

📞 When to See the Vet

Call or visit your vet if:

• 🩸 Bleeding lasts more than 5 minutes or is severe
• 💉 There’s blood from both nostrils or mixed with saliva
• 🤧 Your pet is sneezing blood repeatedly
• 🧬 Nosebleeds occur frequently or for no clear reason

🧪 What Your Vet Might Do

• 🔬 Examine the nasal passages for obstructions
• 📸 X-rays or CT scans for tumors or fractures
• 🧫 Bloodwork to test clotting ability or toxin exposure
• 💊 Prescribe antibiotics, anti-inflammatories, or clotting agents

📦 Nosebleed First Aid Kit Essentials

• 🧊 Ice pack or gel wrap
• 🧣 Clean cloths or gauze
• 📞 Emergency vet contact info
• 📄 Notepad to record timing, nostril, and symptoms

🛡️ Prevention Tips

• 🏞️ Avoid areas with foxtails or sharp grasses
• 🏡 Pet-proof your yard and remove hazards
• 🧪 Keep rodenticides and toxins locked away
• 📆 Regular wellness checks to catch illness early

📲 Unsure What’s Causing It? Ask A Vet

If your pet is having a nosebleed and you’re not sure why—or how bad it is—the Ask A Vet app connects you with a licensed vet 24/7:

• 💬 Chat live and get first aid tips
• 📸 Share video of sneezing or nose behavior
• 📋 Know when to go to the vet or wait it out

Visit AskAVet.com or download the app today. Nosebleeds may look dramatic—but staying calm, applying cold, and knowing when to get help can keep your pet safe. 🐶👃🩺