Nosebleeds (Epistaxis) 
“Cups, Buckets… and Bathtubs”
“Cups, Buckets… and Bathtubs”When it comes to bleeding in large animals (horses and cattle), we don’t talk drops — we talk cups, buckets, and sometimes bathtubs.
A horse can lose a surprising amount of blood before it becomes truly critical.
(Sheep, goats, and alpacas are a different story — same rules, just scaled to size.)
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What you might see:
• Small trickles: often from irritation or a knock
o Can also be from dust, dry conditions, or underlying airway disease (asthma-type issues)
• Heavy bleeding or repeated episodes: 
Call straight away
Call straight away________________________________________
What NOT to do:
• Don’t pack the nostril during heavy bleeding — this can force blood into the throat and airway
• Don’t tilt the head up
• Don’t stand directly in front of the horse — you will get covered when they sneeze… ask me how I know 
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What TO do:
• Keep the horse calm and still
• Apply a cool pack to the face or nasal bridge
• Note which side is bleeding and how long it lasts
• If safe, grab a quick photo or video for triage
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Most single-sided nosebleeds are benign and settle on their own.
But heavy bleeding, bleeding from both nostrils, or bleeding after exercise always needs veterinary assessment.
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It might look like a D-grade horror movie, but stay calm.
Cups are okay. Buckets need a phone call. Bathtubs mean I need to move fast.
All bleeding stops… eventually.
This blog post was provided by Dr Lauren Jones of Kentaro Veterinary Services servicing the Coffs Harbour District in NSW
