Nose Bleeds?

tonitot

tonitot

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Ethel had a nose bleed today :/
Sorry .. this is quite long :o
I haven't ridden her in a month as she is on a break but we occasionally go for hacks just to get out and about. Me and some friends decided just to go for a toodle around the lanes so I free schooled Ethel before I rode her to get some freshness out of her. She normally canters around and throws in a few bucks and just seems to know that this is her time to get rid of some energy. She now has a friend now though, she was kept alone for a few months until new people moved into the house where Ethel is kept and they brought their horse with them last week. Ethel and Bob get on really well and the field is right next to the school so Ethel went a bit crazy and was cantering round for a while bucking and broncing all over the place. I left her to it as she hasn't been in the school for ages and just thought she wasn't too keen on being seperated from Bob so was having a bit a strop and also being fresh. She was snorting the whole time, like when they snort when they see something really scary (if that makes sense .. dunno how to explain it) and she makes noises that sound a bit like hiccups. Anywho .. she settled and I caught her, tacked up and walked her out of the yard to get legged up by my friend next door and as I looked to see if any cars were coming I noticed blood coming out of her nose. I called the lady whose just moved into the house to see if she could help and she said she thinks she had burst a blood vessel in her nose whilst galavanting around as it wasnt pouring out and when she wiped it away with some tissue there wasn't anymore coming out and that she'd be fine just to go for a walk. So we went for a half hour walk and I kept making sure she wasn't bleeding again and she didn't bleed at all again. But I'm not sure what to do now, do I just leave it as a one off thing unless it happens again or do I get the vet to have a look at her? Also, shall I ask the vet about the hiccup-y kind of noises and the snorting? She normally starts snorting as she tires if she's being a numpty and wont stop zooming round, but she was snorting from the start .. is it because she unfit? Just basically does anyone have any experience of nose bleeds and what can be/needs to be done about them as I've never experienced them before. Any advice/help will be very much appreciated :o Thanks in advance
 
Was it just one nostril? If it was then I wouldn't worry too much as you're probably looking at a blood vessel in the nose. If both then that would imply a bleed in the lungs which is more serious.
 
I would go with Jesstickle although I once owned an ex-racehorse that won 4 races but in his last 2 bled, retired from racing but didn't bleed again as he wasn't put under "racing pressure" again. If she does it again then I would worry a little and maybe get the vet to give her the once over.
x
 
jesstickle said:
Was it just one nostril? If it was then I wouldn't worry too much as you're probably looking at a blood vessel in the nose. If both then that would imply a bleed in the lungs which is more serious.
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It was just from her left nostril, I've kept an eye on her and she hasn't bled again so I think we're safe, but will it happen everytime now?
 
my horse had a nose bleed just last week, it scared the hell out of me as had never happened before but only lasted seconds and was gone again, haven't seen any signs of one since. Apparently it's quite easy for them to burst a blood vessel in the nose, especially if you're feeding dusty hay which irritates the nostril making them sneeze until they start bleeding, or if they've banged it on something.
 
I would think she would be ok in future. It is probably because she is unfit and was charging about which would put an extra strain on her heart and lungs compared to normal. I think, like you say, unless she does it again it is probably not a lot to worry about.
 
dont worry about it at all, a small bit of blood like that will by no means harm or hurt your horse. It may happen again but equally you may never see another one. Horses can cope with far worse bleeding (and i mean POURING out all over them selves) and still be fine for riding after it has been cleared up.
 
Rowenna said:
dont worry about it at all, a small bit of blood like that will by no means harm or hurt your horse. It may happen again but equally you may never see another one. Horses can cope with far worse bleeding (and i mean POURING out all over them selves) and still be fine for riding after it has been cleared up.
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Said by a true racing person that is! ( or at least I assume so from your siggy) That's why I've seen more than one nose bleed anyway!
 
Thanks guys, a bit more reassured now, I was nearly crying when she had it! Was worrying because I work with racehorses too, and a few of ours that have had nosebleeds now seem to get them quite a bit. Righto ... if it happens again I'll get my vet to check her out just to be on the safe side .. but do you think I should ask him about the snorting and hiccup-y type noises??
 
if you do get the vet out again, you must tell him everything that happened so he can make a clear judgement on what could have caused it. As i said before, i wouldnt be worrying about it and if it were me and it happened again i still wouldnt be worrying about it! I have been almost totally covered in blood before when a horse has totally burst then rode the horse a few days later and you would never have known anything had been wrong at all. The horse won next time out too!
 
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