Nosebleeds, or epistaxis, are fairly common in horses of all shapes and sizes! However, this doesn’t mean that they can’t appear quite dramatic and cause concern for any horse owner.
WHAT TO DO WHEN YOUR HORSE HAS A NOSEBLEED
While any equine nosebleed might seem like a big deal, don’t panic! Most of the time, epistaxis is minor and should settle within ten to fifteen minutes, during which, do your best to keep your horse quiet and calm in that time.
..WHAT NOT TO DO
Don’t try to pack your horse’s nose in order to stop the bleed, as horses are obligate nasal breathers. This means they have to take in air through their nose, so if this is blocked, they will be unable to breathe.
WHEN SHOULD YOU CALL THE VET FOR A HORSE’S NOSEBLEED?
If, after fifteen minutes, the bleeding hasn’t stopped, or if it’s particularly profuse, you should contact your vet immediately. Serious bleeds that result in a lot of blood loss could be fatal. You should also speak to your vet if your horse has frequent and recurring nosebleeds, as there may be an underlying cause.
SINGLE OR BOTH NOSTRILS?
SINGLE
Blood present from just one nostril might be a sign of a bleed from the upper airways, guttural pouches (large pouches within the auditory tubes which connect the ears to the pharynx) or sinuses.
BOTH
If your horse is bleeding through both nostrils, this will usually be caused by a bleed within the lower airways. In the event that this occurs after a period of heavy work, it might be the result of exercise-induced pulmonary haemorrhage.
WHAT CAN CAUSE A NOSEBLEED IN HORSES?
There are various potential causes of nosebleeds in horses, and they can originate from different areas of the body. It’s important to establish whether the bleed is coming from one or both of your horse’s nostrils, as this can help you to identify the source of the problem.
There will almost always be an underlying cause for your horse having a nosebleed. These can include:
- Trauma to the head
- Nasal foreign bodies
- Guttural pouch mycosis (fungal infection)
- Exercise induced pulmonary haemorrhage
- Tumours
- Sinusitis
- Ethmoidal haematomas
- Iatrogenic causes (such as passing a stomach tube)
This list is not exhaustive, and there could be other issues at play that can cause a nosebleed in your horse. It’s important to discover the underlying problem, so that they can receive the appropriate treatment.
DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT OF NOSEBLEEDS IN HORSES
Finding the cause of nosebleeds in horses can be a difficult task and may require further investigation, such as x-rays and an endoscopic examination of the guttural pouches. If the bleeding is related to guttural pouch mycosis, it is important that this is identified as early as possible, as the condition can damage major blood vessels and potentially lead to a life-threatening arterial bleed.
The treatment of epistaxis will vary depending upon its cause. It could involve medical management and in some cases, surgery. If your horse has lost a significant amount of blood, they may require hospitalisation in order to see them properly stabilised.
If you have any questions or are unsure about anything, we recommend speaking to your vet for more information.
As a horse owner, you’ll want to do everything you can to help protect your horse, which is why considering taking out horse insurance could be a good idea. At The Insurance Emporium, we offer horse insurance policies with cover for Death, Theft or Straying as standard. You can then customise your policy with your choice of our optional benefits, such as cover for Vet’s Fees. You could also get up to 30% discount*. Head to our equine insurance product pages to find out more!
*The 30% discount is made up of 20% Introductory Discount plus 10% Multi-horse Discount (if appropriate). The Introductory Discount is available for the first 12 premium payments on lunar and calendar monthly policies or one premium payment on annual policies until its first review/renewal date.
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