What Would You Do if It Was Your Dog: Buddy's Nosebleeds

Buddy

10-year-old at the time
Golden Retriever
neutered male

Dog Conditions - Real-Life Stories: Buddy's Nosebleeds

Buddy was a talkative dog; he'd communicate with whines, moans, sighs, and groans. That's why when he started snorting, everybody assumed he just expanded his vocabulary.

It wasn't until Buddy started sneezing so hard he almost blew his head off when his parents took him to a vet.


The veterinarian figured Buddy was suffering from seasonal allergies. It is possible though, in dogs, allergies typically manifest through their skin rather than sneezing.

When Buddy developed a hematoma, it fit in with the allergies theory--ear infections and allergies do often come hand-in-hand.

The hematoma continued having to be drained over and over and over.


It always filled back up. Even after surgery, the moment the stitches were removed, the ear flap filled with blood yet again.

Then, one day Buddy sneezed really hard and started bleeding from his nose. The vet technicians said they've never seen that much blood come from a dog who wasn't shot or hit by a car. Buddy bled so much that he needed a blood transfusion.

X-rays didn't show anything, but Buddy's blood pressure was high. The veterinarian figured that the high blood pressure was behind all that bleeding.

Once Buddy was put on medication, things seemed to have stabilized.


Until Buddy had another bleed. It wasn't as violent as the first time, but there was a steady gush of blood out of Buddy's nose. That's when it was decided that Buddy needed his nose properly examined with rhinoscopy.

What would you make off Buddy's symptoms? How do you feel about Buddy's initial diagnoses? What would you do if it was your dog?

Read Buddy's full story here.


Related articles:
Excessive Sneezing
Nosebleeds

What is your dog telling you about their health?


Symptoms to Watch for in Your Dog now available in paperback and Kindle. Each chapter includes notes on when it is an emergency.

Symptoms to Watch for in Your Dog is an award-winning guide to help you better understand what your dog is telling you about their health and how to best advocate for them. 

Learn how to see and how to think about changes in your dog’s appearance, habits, and behavior. Some signs that might not trigger your concern can be important indicators that your dog needs to see a veterinarian right away. Other symptoms, while hard to miss, such as diarrhea, vomiting, or limping, are easy to spot but can have a laundry list of potential causes, some of them serious or even life-threatening. 

Symptoms to Watch for in Your Dog is a dog health advocacy guide 101. It covers a variety of common symptoms, including when each of them might be an emergency. 

An award-winning guide for dog parents

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