Epistaxis in two horses with dacryohemorrhea.

The research study discusses two cases of “epistaxis” i.e., nosebleeds, occurring due to an inflamed lacrimal system in two horses, which was caused by bacterial infection leading to dacryohemorrhea. The horses were successfully treated with systemic antibacterial drugs and through direct lacrimal system instillation.

Introduction and Case Presentation

• In this study, the authors present two clinical cases of unilateral epistaxis, a medical term for nose bleeding, in horses.
• The nose bleeding was due to inflammation in the lacrimal system – the biological system that produces and drains tears, situated in the distal portion of the horses’ system.
• This inflammation caused dacryohemorrhea, which refers to bleeding from the lacrimal system (tear ducts) including nasal opening of the nasolacrimal duct, leading to the nosebleeds.

Diagnosis and Identification

• For both cases, the origin of the epistaxis was identified through a physical examination. The hemorrhage or bleeding was observed to be emanating specifically from the nasal opening of what’s known as the nasolacrimal duct. This duct is responsible for draining tears from the eye into the nasal cavity in many animals.
• It was found that a bacterial infection was the cause of the dacryohemorrhea, resulting in the observed inflammation and subsequent nosebleeds.

Treatment and Conclusion

• In order to treat the affected horses, antibacterial drugs were administered. This was done both systemically (through the bloodstream to affect the whole body) and directly instilled into the lacrimal system.
• Given the successful outcomes, it appears that this dual-method approach of treatment effectively combats dacryohemorrhea caused by bacterial infections in such cases.