Dog with bloody mouth?

[Sunsets]

So on and off for the past few hours my poor GSD has been drooling blood all over my house.

I first thought he had cut his tongue, but upon closer inspection it looks like the bleeding is coming from his front lower teeth/gums - and I think maybe one of his incisors is broken.

I don’t think the issue is serious enough that we need to go to the emergency vet tonight, and if he still has bleeding tomorrow I plan to go to the vet first thing.

In the meantime - any advice or insight or possible treatment options? It’s cool enough tonight he can sleep on his outside bed but he’s certainly not a happy camper

[Simbalism]

Never had this happen. Maybe put ice cubes in his water so it is really cold to help slow any bleeding?

[GraceLikeRain]

Unfortunately the first thought that comes to mind when I hear blood and mouth is melanoma. Hopefully it is just a cut or worst case a broken tooth. If possible I would have someone restrain the dog and I would thoroughly flush the mouth with water. If the cut/hole/whatever is actively bleeding I would apply pressure to try and help clotting. As long as the dog did not seem to be in distress I would feel comfortable waiting until the AM for the vet.

[wendy]

GSDs are prone to hemangiosarcoma. Are you sure the blood is coming from an actual, visible wound and not coming up his throat?

[SquishTheBunny]

Or IMHA and ITP. If its not from an obvious wound I would get a CBC and clotting panel done.

Hemangiosarcomas typically don’t cause random bleeding from the gums, they are most often found in tumors of the spleen, liver or cutaneous masses.

A broken tooth can cause bleeding, but it should stop within a few minutes and not reoccur. I would pay close attention to the behaviour of your dog, look for any bruising or petechial hemorrhages on the gums, ventral abdomen or anywhere else on the dog. If you find any get your dog to a vet asap.

Hopefully it was just from a broken tooth

[Sunsets]

[QUOTE=SquishTheBunny;7121238]
Or IMHA and ITP. If its not from an obvious wound I would get a CBC and clotting panel done.

Hemangiosarcomas typically don’t cause random bleeding from the gums, they are most often found in tumors of the spleen, liver or cutaneous masses.

A broken tooth can cause bleeding, but it should stop within a few minutes and not reoccur. I would pay close attention to the behaviour of your dog, look for any bruising or petechial hemorrhages on the gums, ventral abdomen or anywhere else on the dog. If you find any get your dog to a vet asap.

Hopefully it was just from a broken tooth ;)[/QUOTE]

Well, no sign of bleeding today, so I hope it was a tooth.

I will go to thet vet posthaste if it occurs again. Those are some scary possibilities you guys listed!

[SquishTheBunny]

Good to hear. Gums with gingivitis are more common to spontaneously bleed than healthy gums. Glad it has resolved and hope that nothing recurs!!

[Sunsets]

I should make an appointment for a dental cleaning for him. His history for the first 5 (?) years of his life is unknown, but I doubt that tooth maintenance was ever performed.

Just out of curiosity, what does IMHA stand for? I got ITP, but the other one has me stumped. somethingsomething Hemophilia A???

[SquishTheBunny]

[QUOTE=Sunsets;7121953]
I should make an appointment for a dental cleaning for him. His history for the first 5 (?) years of his life is unknown, but I doubt that tooth maintenance was ever performed.

Just out of curiosity, what does IMHA stand for? I got ITP, but the other one has me stumped. somethingsomething Hemophilia A???[/QUOTE]

Immune Mediated Hemolytic Anemia

Generally ITP and IMHA are diseases of younger dogs (between 4-7) but not always.

ITP is the one that is more likely to cause bleeding from the gums.

[Sunsets]

Thanks! Always fun to learn new (to me) interesting autoimmune diseases.

No more bleeding today, and gums don’t seem tender. No weird bruising, either. Hopefully it was a tooth.

[wendy]

can’t you just look at his teeth and see if one is broken?

hemangiosarcoma doesn’t cause gum bleeding, true, but it does sometimes develop in the mouth.