28 yr old gelding with blood dribbling out of nose...

[shewasmyshadow]

Farmers just called me to tell me that Rashad had a small stream/trickle of blood coming out of his nose this afternoon. It was inside the nostril. She wiped at it and no more came out.

This is the second real cold day. Rashad has a waterproof/windproof blanket on and a nice thick coat of his own. I'm not sure why I thought telling you all about his blanket was important to add, but whatever...:D I thought it could be the cold just drying him out up in his sinuses. I tend to get bloody noses myself in the winter. Plus, this is his first winter being outside (w/shelter) 24/7.

What do you think?

Faith is going to keep an eye on it and keep me posted if it comes back or gets worse. As of right now we are not calling a vet. However, I'm not opposed to calling one if the need arise.

[WashingtonBay]

It's also possible its an abscessed tooth that has burst into the sinus.

I've never had a horse get a bloody nose like we do.

[shewasmyshadow]

I'm running to get the equine vet book I have and I'm researching tooth abscesses... That book didn't cover it... GOOGLE!

[Remali]

Oh gosh I have no idea.....I guess if any more blood trickles out, I'd call a vet tomorrow and talk to the vet and ask them what the possibilities are. Is he eating OK and walking alright, and all that? Unless he jabbed a stick into his nostril somehow, or something like that, and just sort of scratched his nostril inside......

[WashingtonBay]

I'm running to get the equine vet book I have and I'm researching tooth abscesses... That book didn't cover it... GOOGLE!

Well, I've not heard of it in a horse myself, but I did see it happen that way with a dog.

[shewasmyshadow]

I just googled "equine, bloody nose" and I got A TON of scary finds. I'm kinda freaked out right now. I just read this:

http://www.merckvetmanual.com/mvm/index.jsp?cfile=htm/bc/121303.htm&word=equine%2cbloody%2cnose

That's just one of the awful possibilities of nasal discharge. :eek:

[shewasmyshadow]

I've decided I will call my vet tomorrow and just chat with him. It couldn't hurt, right? I think I'll feel better just hearing him yeah or neigh (lol) the possibility of it being something serious. If he needs to come out I can handle that. The older Rashad gets the more silly I get about him. I'm just so glad that Faith is doing such a nice job of caring for him. I really am very relieved she has him at her place.

[WashingtonBay]

Good idea, I'm sure that's what I would do with any of mine.

[shewasmyshadow]

I just wanted to add that if anyone has any suggestions of what it "might" be I would welcome them. I've still got all night to wonder. It won't stop me from calling the vet, but it might help me keep my wondering mind busy tonight. :D

[lovesfortune]

No suggestions, but hoping that it's just a scratch or something minor. Will look for an update tomorrow.

[shewasmyshadow]

Hey if Farmers views this thread... Can you think of anything else you'd like me to ask the Vet about tomorrow? I'm gonna call the young vet down in Red Wing-Dr. Lumbardo. He tends to take things more serious and give more extensive explanations for stuff. He can be tedious and a little too detailed sometimes, but in this case I wouldn't mind.

[PatriotsDreamer]

it could be a growth, sinus infection, or worse trauma to the skull. i assume they will probably dose him with antibiotics, possibly suggest getting him scoped if its too serious. is there any chance that he just was running around in the cooler weather to the point he made his nose bleed? alot of racers noses will bleed if they run too hard, its broken blood vessels and nothing serious.

[farmers_wife]

I don't think it is that bad but I will keep an eye on him. It happened in the morning yesterday morning and at night when I went to feed him, there was no blood. It was on the inside but real close to the tip of his nose. He could of itched it on something or the real cold could of done it too him. I am taking good care of him and keeping an eye on him.

[farmers_wife]

I just went and check on Rashad and he is doing good. I think he might of scaped it or something. But now I have problems with Dolly and loose stools again. YIKES

[JackieB]

Please keep us posted. Sending prayers to Rashad!

[shewasmyshadow]

For some reason I didn't remember you saying it was by the tip of his nose. That makes me feel MUCH better. I think I will hold off calling the vet. If it was coming from up in the nose I would call the vet for sure. To me the tip of the nose is no where near as serious.

I'm so glad that it is you taking care of him Faith. Knowing you care and that you know what you're doing makes a huge difference.

[Ryle]

Lots of things could cause bleeding from the nose---everyone else has mentioned some of them. A single episode especially on a really cold day that doesn't persist isn't something to get terribly worked up about. Definitely call your vet and chat about it because as you said it never hurts to talk to your vet about something you see. But I imagine that he will tell you to watch for repeat occurance and for any other odd symptoms.

[offgridgirl]

Yes, good advise from Ryle. My guys get nose dribbles in the am usually,On cold days or cold night. If I exercise them hard on cold days, it also happens. I don't usually worry. I check the nasal area and wipe with a 3% saline solution. I don't get any other symptoms.

[AUEquine]

Ryle took the words out of my mouth! One episode of epistaxis and one that is that small, is really not something to get concerned over. Just monitor and make sure it doesn't happen again. If it happens again, I'd definatly suggest getting the horse scoped to look for any injuries, infections, or other causes.

[JetLagaside]

Jet Lag had a small cyst (sp) that would get irritated once in a while and give him a bloody nose - not a ton but still scarry looking. We never did have to do anything about it just keep and eye on him.

[shewasmyshadow]

Well, thanks for all the advice. Rashad usually has a very slight drippy nose in winter and it would irritate the skin in the nose causing it to get raw and bleed. I am assuming it's something like that causing this.

[ownedby7horses]

My best friends horse has to go to the Vet University ever so often here to get a hemotobin. It's in his brain and his nose bleeds. I hope that's not what it is, but it's a possibility. I hope he's gonna be OK.

[Sparrk]

Any news yet?

[John Boy]

Older horses sometimes cough , just like when they warm up under saddle , and clear their throat.
If a horse has something stuck , to dislodge this throat impaction , takes a serious cough to clear the air way. In doing so , some of the area , may bleed ,and the majority of the marginal fluid will flow down ward , but maybe a slight drip or two may go through the nasal cavity and appear in the horses nostril (muzzle area)
just monitor for reoccurrances and or check the type of fiber the horse is eating.
A 28 year old horse may not be the greatest chewer , because sometimes the teeth are pretty warn down.
just my two cents.

[shewasmyshadow]

That's was a good thought John Boy. No new news. Faith would only call me if it occurred again, so no call is GOOD news. :)

[farmers_wife]

Rashad is good. No more bloody nose.

[ownedby7horses]

Well that's good. glad to hear that he's doing better.

[shewasmyshadow]

Rashad is good. No more bloody nose.

How are things in general down there? How's the paddock? Does Rashad seem warm enough in his new coat? WB said to be careful cause it's uninsulated and sometimes they will get cold without insulation since the blanket mats down the natural coat. She thought it was great for rain/snow, but not as much for real bad cold weather.

[RackinRudy]

There is a horse at the rescue that gets bloody noses sporatically.
She has a tumor in her head/brain but it's benign and is still doing fine, just causes bloody drippy nose.
She's had it for the 10 years I've known her.

[farmers_wife]

How are things in general down there? How's the paddock? Does Rashad seem warm enough in his new coat? WB said to be careful cause it's uninsulated and sometimes they will get cold without insulation since the blanket mats down the natural coat. She thought it was great for rain/snow, but not as much for real bad cold weather.

Rashad is good. I took his blanket off today and put it on him tonight becuase it was raining. Gaining some weight. Very muddy out.

[JackieB]

Oh good. Glad Rashad is doing better.