Advice On A Issue With My Stafford

[pinky11]

i have 10 month old stafford who has a phobia regarding bath time, i was bathing him having to hold him by his collar ( not tightly i add) when suddenly he started to bleed from his nose and mouth. i took him to me vet and he said not to worry - so i decided to take him to a pet parlour for a bath and they told me the same thing happened( bleeding ) as they had to restrain him. And again yesterday i went to bath him some thing happened, i am going to see my vet again .sorry for long post

[WreckitWhippet]

As a groomer I've had to really restrain some dogs, but I've never come across that before.

How and where are you attempting to bath him ? what kind of surface are you putting him on ?

My suggestion would be to put a rubber mat in the bottom of your bath tub, put him in there ( no water ) hold him firmly if need be, pat and reassure him, allow him to settle there, treat and take him out again. Keep repeating this a couple of time a day. He needs to get used to being put in a bath or a hydrobath without the water and without causing him to panic.

For a dog to start bleeding from the mouth and nose there must be something physically wrong with him, I've seen some pretty stressed and worked up dogs over the years but nothing to that extent.

[pinky11]

As a groomer I've had to really restrain some dogs, but I've never come across that before.

How and where are you attempting to bath him ? what kind of surface are you putting him on ?

My suggestion would be to put a rubber mat in the bottom of your bath tub, put him in there ( no water ) hold him firmly if need be, pat and reassure him, allow him to settle there, treat and take him out again. Keep repeating this a couple of time a day. He needs to get used to being put in a bath or a hydrobath without the water and without causing him to panic.

For a dog to start bleeding from the mouth and nose there must be something physically wrong with him, I've seen some pretty stressed and worked up dogs over the years but nothing to that extent.

thanks for the advice - he was fine with bath time he loved it until recently last 2 months , he gets bathed in the normal bath. but i'll try yr suggestion- he's got me really worried - but i must add after bath time he's fine as if nothing ever happened.

[Staff'n'Toller]

Is he super stressed?

Does his nose bleed at any other time? A lot of Staffords are happy to hop in the shower with you...see if he's happier with that.

[WreckitWhippet]

I think you're dealing with two issues, one is a physical problem as it's certain not normal to bleed from the mouth and nose and the other is bathing him.

Also make sure your water is just luke warm.

[pinky11]

I think you're dealing with two issues, one is a physical problem as it's certain not normal to bleed from the mouth and nose and the other is bathing him.

Also make sure your water is just luke warm.

to answer everyone questions this only happens when its bath time , water is luke warm , i'll be taking him to the vet , he can play in water normally he has a little pool , he goes in our pool for a swim, he plays under the hose when watering garden or washing the car- he loves the water except bath time

[WreckitWhippet]

You could also try some "rescue remedy", it's a bach flower essence that is safe for dogs and people. You just put a couple of drops on the tongue , I'd give yourself a dose as well, it's pretty good for reducing stress.

[pinky11]

You could also try some "rescue remedy", it's a bach flower essence that is safe for dogs and people. You just put a couple of drops on the tongue , I'd give yourself a dose as well, it's pretty good for reducing stress.

i think we both need it

[WreckitWhippet]

when I think my dogs are stressed, I take the rescue remedy and it usually fixes it

[luckypup]

i have a schnauzer that comes to be groomed by me, who used to get bloody noses every time you dried him or went anywhere near his legs in general...owner took him to the vet and ruled out anything, saying its purely stress related.

Since then, i have tried different slower approaches to his groom and hes now pretty much fine, no muzzle barely except sometimes his legs if hes feeling particularly "fun" hehe

but so it could just be stress related...

[pinky11]

when I think my dogs are stressed, I take the rescue remedy and it usually fixes it

but thanks for the advice i've never had a stafford do this before- but i'll definilty try the mat in bath(empty) and treat and vet check up

[BigDaz]

water is luke warm , i'll be taking him to the vet ,

I dont undertsand this part, your original post indicated you had taken him to the vet already.

My two Staffy's hate the bath and get really stressed at bath time, no blood yet though.

[Erny]

I've not struck this before, ever.

Maybe because of that, I'd be highly alarmed if a dog began to bleed from the nose and the mouth and I would have expected it to take a good deal of stress and restraint for this to occur.

[Jed]

If he WAS ok to bath, something has happened to change that. Try to think what it could have been.

These ideas are probably way off, but is it possible you are restraining him tighty around the neck or muzzle, and he is struggling, causing a minor blood vessel to burst?

Or, is it possible he is holding his breath, causing a minor blood vessel to burst?

Just a thought, and probably wrong!!

[Erny]

... causing a minor blood vessel to burst?

Would it be a "minor blood vessel" if the dog is bleeding from both nose AND mouth, Jed?