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Carol DeAngelis
Member
Username: Cometcar
Post Number: 9
Registered: 7-2003
| | Posted on Sunday, Jan 25, 2004 - 5:03 pm: |   |
I run a horse rescue in northern Michigan and am currently caring for two older draft mares (either sisters or mother/daughter), probably in their early 20s.
Over the past few weeks, one of them has had an occastional bloody nose; not a lot of blood, just a trickle from one nostril to the mouth. I've been keeping an eye on her and have read your article on bloody noses.
During the past two to three days, I've noticed her lip has been a bit droopy and am wondering if there could be any relationship between the two symptoms. The mare has had no recent meds or vaccines and otherwise seems happy and healthy. It is very cold here (mid-teens during the day and single digits or colder at night). They are stabled during the night and during the day as well if the conditions are very cold and windy. It has been suggested that the cause of the bloody nose could be as simple as the cold dry air.
What is your feeling? As always, many thanks for your great site! |
Christine Holmes Bukowski
Member
Username: Canyon28
Post Number: 52
Registered: 8-2003
| | Posted on Sunday, Jan 25, 2004 - 6:14 pm: | |
the bloody nose is unrelated to the droopy lip. Many older horses will allow their lower lip to droop when they are at rest. I have several myself! It looks kind of comical. I dont know what is causing the nose bleed. |
Robert N. Oglesby DVM
Moderator
Username: Dro
Post Number: 9845
Registered: 1-1997
| | Posted on Monday, Jan 26, 2004 - 7:52 am: | |
Christine is probably right but there are possibilites. The motor nerve to the lips travel through the skull over the nasal sinuses. What if there is some errosive process in the sinus that is causing the bleeding and has effected this nerve. Such a process would probably result in swelling in the head, purulent discharge from the nose and the droop would be assymetrical with the lips pulled in a direction away from the effected side. Since you mention none of these it does not seem likely. I assume the Mare can return her lips to a normal position when eating?
DrO |
Carol DeAngelis
Member
Username: Cometcar
Post Number: 10
Registered: 7-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, Jan 27, 2004 - 7:32 am: | |
Yes, the lip appears normal during eating. The "droop" is on the side of the mouth, like a pocket of skin that is hanging lower. There is no head swelling.
What do you think about the cold air causing occasional nose bleeds? I am not adverse to having the vet come out to check her. |
Robert N. Oglesby DVM
Moderator
Username: Dro
Post Number: 9857
Registered: 1-1997
| | Posted on Tuesday, Jan 27, 2004 - 7:52 am: | |
We have an article explaining the possiblities and the diagnostic steps to rule them out, Equine Diseases » Respiratory System » Nose Bleeds: Epistaxis.
DrO |
