These animals are giving me wrinkles!

February 25, 2010 7:08 AM

Do small facial cuts on dogs relatively bleed a lot, similar to humans?

Yesterday very late, we noticed our dog licking compulsively. I noticed a little blood on his tounge. After some investigation, it looked like a nose bleed, or more accurately, like the side of his nostril might have been caught. This isn't all that surprising since I have three big dogs that play rough.

I cleaned him and crated him. This morning, there was no blood on him or the crate, but after running around outside, eating, drinking, etc. His nose was dripping blood.

I wresteld all 95 lbs of him enough to get a good long look at his muzzle and it looks like he was two small cuts or scratches on his nose. (Probably delivered by the cats and probably well deserved) I am assuming this will take care of its self, but I've never had an injury bleed like this. He likes his nose, drip drip, it gets on his foot, he leans down to clean himself, drip, drip. The volume is pretty low, but it is definetly dripping. We crated him for the day, hoping he would sleep and leave it alone. E-collars wouldn't work because he could still lick his nose!

I am like a frantic new mom with my dogs sometimes, so excuse me if this is long and rambling. Is there anything else I should do for today? He has a comprehensive exam on Monday. Is this normal?

posted by stormygrey to Pets & Animals (9 answers total)

Best answer: Dog nose cuts bleed a lot, in my experience, and his licking is just opening it up again. I might wrestle him down, put some diluted Betadine or peroxide on it to clean it, and apply some compression to the cut for a few minutes, in hopes of getting it to stop bleeding. You might also be able to put something bad-tasting on his nose to discourage licking (although I can't think off the top of my head of anything that would taste bad without irritating the cut). I would give the vet a call and see if they have any ideas of how to keep him from licking his nose and re-opening the cut. Obviously you don't want to have him just running around bleeding all over the place!
posted by kataclysm at 7:54 AM on February 25, 2010

If it is coming from inside his nostril, he needs to see a vet. Nosebleeds are not always just a result of a nick or cut, and even if they are, just as in people, sometimes they need to be cauterized.
posted by biscotti at 8:17 AM on February 25, 2010

Some breeds are prone to blood disorders; you should research your breed and see if it might be one. Contact the breeder (if you got it that way) and ask about blood disorders in the dog's lineage.
posted by jeffamaphone at 8:18 AM on February 25, 2010

Best answer: Yes, they bleed a LOT. Our cat scratched our dog's nose and it took FOREVER to stop. Corn starch or styptic powder (applied with a Q-tip) should stop the bleeding, if it doesn't I'd definitely take him in ASAP.
posted by desjardins at 9:29 AM on February 25, 2010

I believe styptic powder to be the correct answer, but it does sting a bit when first applied, and might sting like a bitch on a nose cut.
posted by HotToddy at 10:14 AM on February 25, 2010

Best answer: If you're worried about the styptic powder stinging, you might try plain flour first. It's commonly used to stop bleeding on chickens.

I know a dog is not a chicken. But hey, you have to share usually useless knowledge like this when the opportunity presents itself.
posted by mudpuppie at 10:34 AM on February 25, 2010 [3 favorites]

Best answer: The dog's licking to keep it open on purpose. This way it heals from the bottom up rather than seals over the top and forms an abscess, plus there is probably some antibacterial proteins in the spit (I know there are for cats and rats, don't know for sure for dogs). The dog doesn't realise all this of course, or that this cut is probably small enough to be left alone, but it's an inbuilt instinct. Given that cat scratches often have lots of bacteria I'd just let it be as long as it's not a problem otherwise (lots of blood coming out, blood getting everywhere, cuts look irritated or inflamed, never seems to stop even when he leaves it alone, etc). It should be healed by Monday and if it's not you're going to the vet then anyway.
posted by shelleycat at 11:37 AM on February 25, 2010 [1 favorite]

there is probably some antibacterial proteins in the spit

this is true.
posted by desjardins at 12:07 PM on February 25, 2010 [1 favorite]

For the future: Super glue stops bleeding and stinging on small cuts. (Actually large ones, too, but easily on small ones.) I'm not sure it would be good for him to eat, but if it stops stinging he might stop licking it anyway, also it tastes kinda yuck.
posted by anaelith at 2:47 PM on February 25, 2010