A dog's nose might bleed for any of a number of reasons. Several causes of internal nose bleeding, called epistaxis, are relatively harmless, but a few can be cause for concern. All cases of a dog's nose bleeding should be checked by a veterinarian to rule out a life-threatening cause.
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Traumatic Injury
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A dog can suffer a nose bleed from a blunt force trauma, such as being hit by a car, running into a tree, catching a ball or Frisbee or fighting with another animal.
Foreign Object
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On object can lodge in a dog's nose, which can cause bleeding until the object is removed. Dogs, especially hunting breeds, can inhale a foreign object that then gets lodged in the nasal cavity. Fish hooks, bits of bone and foxtails are common objects to cause nose bleeding.
Fungal Infection
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A fungal infection can cause nose bleeds in dogs. Medication, and sometimes surgery, is necessary to eradicate the infection.
Blood Clotting Disorder
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In some cases, the dog may have coagulopathy, a disease that prevents blood from clotting. Blood tests can diagnose this cause of nose bleeding.
Bacterial Infection
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Dogs can contract a bacterial infection in the upper respiratory tract, and especially the nose and sinuses, that can cause the nose to bleed. Antibiotics can treat the infection and alleviate the bleeding.
Nasal Tumor
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Nasal tumors account for 1 to 2 percent of all canine tumors and affect males more often than females. Tumors can cause sneezing, nosebleeds and a chronic runny nose. A tumor can be treated by surgical removal, radiation and chemotherapy.
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