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Bleeding Issue And Anxiety In A Dog

by LJH - February 21, 2026 View Case Report

Hi Steve, I'm seeing a 3yr Fe Blue Merle Border Colliethat has had bleeding issues starting shortly after her first vaccines, assoc. with teething, playing with sister, chewing everything in sight, sticks, rocks, bones. No further vaccines, and she has not been spayed.
Bleeding from gums most profuse, bright red with a few sl darker clots. Gums not inflamed. No excess dental tartar. Bleeds easily if even scratches a paw, but can get it to stop with Qik Stop. Period red to purple bruises on ventral thorax/chest. Mucosal petechia in past. No bleeding issues in littermates.
At 5 months ( mid Sept.) required a blood transfusion after a small cut on gums and was referred to Vet College. Prolonged BMBT but platelet numbers, fibrinogen, PT/PTT normal. Factor VIII an Factor IX normal, neg Von Willebrands, normal platelet function testing ( neg Glanzmann's thrombasthenia, and Scott Syndrome)
Referred for behaviour consult with anxiety/ hyperexcitability, sound sensitivity, impulse control issues/ compulsive behaviours esp when overstimulated ( ex sees a squirrel)leads to grabbing objects like sticks or rocks ( biting at owner when younger) Will lick and chew rocks, concrete, plants, not actually eat them. Eats wildlife stool if finds, would dig to point of hurting her paws. Have trained her to grab a soft toy when excited, carry a ball outside, but can see her struggle to resist grabbing a stick or rock.
Spends 8 hours a day in a large kennel when owners at work, great in crate, relaxed, no issues with their leaving. Otherwise could hurt herself or bowl over her tiny geriatric canine housemate if excited. No aggression. Doesn't like going in their vehicle, if a loud noise when on leash will try to bolt. Jumoing up, very friendly, loves pets even with strangers, though distrusts some individuals. Only sleeps 1 -2 hours at a time at night, getting owner up wanting to play/ get attention.
Trazadone made her 'zombie like" Behaviourist put on Fluoxetine plus gabapentin before a storm, omega 3's andCalming Care probiotic with minimal change. Caused GI upset and reduced appetite so stopped.
On dehydrated and frozen raw diet. Big drink when has one but not a thirsty dog. Prefers fresh/cooler water. Urination Normal, Stools and appetite good No skin issues, good hair coat, no ear or anal gland issues, Dreams a fair bit, no snoring. No mobility issues. Occasional vomit liquid +/- bile.
When excited tongue dark pink, wet, lavender tinge, when calmer medium pink to very sl pale pink, moist, lavender tinge centrally. Pulse was moderate strength to sl strong, a bit deep , a bit wiry. Massage GB pts became mod strength, even sl weak, a bit deep, sl wiry.
Where to start? I see maybe some trapped heat(ST heat maybe spilling over to HT) and Stasis ( Shao Yang issue ?) With long hx licking rocks maybe started with Bl Def? Want to avoid formulas with Bai Shao, Dan Shen , Chuan Xiong that inhibit platelet agg. Wondered about Xiao Chai Hu Tang +/- Yi Guan Jian with the deep pulse.
Have dispensed Yunnnan Bai Yao. Can give 1-2 cap BID and increase to QID if a bleed? Could the right formula allow YB to be used topically on a cut on gums, and orally for a short term QID weaned to BID with active bleed? CAn San Qi be added to a formula like XCHT/YGJ like it is with CHJLGMLT in HSA formula. Owner concerned YB can increase liver enzymes.
Gave a dose of Thuja 30C with vaccine assoc. Thought of Aconite and Arnica ( or even traumeel ) but will look at Phosphorus, Hamamelis, and witht eh licking rocks Ferrum. Would love to help this very sweet dog and her owners . Any thoughts you might have are most appreciated. Huge apologies for the length of this. Many thanks, Llewanda

by naturevet

February 23, 2026

Hi Llewanda,

Looking through the case, I have some suggestions:

First, we know we are dealing with some sort of deficiency given the very young age of onset. Typically, this is Qi deficiency in young animals. Wei Qi deficiency is most likely, given the almost scurvy-like vessel fragility. Whenever we see unexplained hemorrhage in modern medicine (like a sort of diapedesis), the cause is usually Wei Qi deficiency in Chinese medicine.

Wei Qi can be tonified outright, in formulas like Yu Ping Feng San, or it can be given as Bu Zhong Yi Qi Tang if it is a part of Spleen Qi Sinking. The latter is fundamentally a Liver Qi stagnation issue, where a weak Spleen (common in the young and compensated partly for by coprophagy) leads to Liver Blood deficiency. The two things together can create a pale tongue at times, but the secondary Stasis leads to the development of purpling that you're seeing. The pulse is typically deep and Wiry, reflecting the deep interior Stasis. The shallow sleep patterns and vivid dreaming support this notion of Liver Blood deficiency.

Spleen Qi Sinking is tantamount as well to another Chinese medical diagnosis, involving the Extraordinary Vessels, known as a Chong Mai - Yin Wei Mai disharmony. This leads to a sinking of Qi and Blood to the lower burner and a vacuity in the upper burner that produces severe anxiety. In cerebral circulatory terms, there is reduced blood flow to the peripheral reasoning centers of the brain, and a 'sinking' of Qi and Blood to the brain core (as a sort of hologram of what is happening in the body). The brain core is where the limbic system and emotional centers are located.

Bu Zhong Yi Qi Tang is the usual treatment for this condition. It basically avoids the herbs you're concerned about but note that herbs do NOT have the potential to 'thin' the blood or hinder platelet aggregation. They do, however, normalize platelet function in people and animals with endothelial dysfunction, marked by increased platelet aggregation. In other words, they can assist the body in correcting the underlying cause of excess platelet aggregation but do not resolve the situation by impacting blood elements themselves. Once endothelial dysfunction is reversed, platelet adhesion is normal. Herbs cannot lessen it.

Based on all that, then, I would use Bu Zhong Yi Qi Tang for starters. Of course, when I give elaborate explanations, I seem to risk falling prey to the "lecturer's curse" where the patient does spectacularly poorly in response. But, I have a high level of certainty this dog will do well and that you'll see comprehensive improvements. If BZYQT seems too tonifying, you can balance some of its raising energy by adding CHJLGMLT, but I would start for now with BZYQT alone and see if you can get some results. Let us know how it goes!

Steve

by naturevet

February 23, 2026

Oh, and YBY (or its main ingredient, San Qi) is fine to use in addition if you like, but doesn't really address bleeding from Wei Qi deficiency, so I'm not really expecting it to contribute much.

As far as homeopathy is concerned, Phosphorus might be the best choice given the combination of excitability and hemorrhage. It also has a mineral aspect to it that might be hinted at as being needed given the licking of rocks.

by LJH

February 23, 2026

Hi Steve,
Thank you so much for your quick reply. I know you have a very busy week ahead!
Will give that a try and let you know how we make out. The owners have lived literally on "knife edge" the last 3 years and will be ecstatic if anything can help. If the YBY did seem helpful, have you ever used it intermittently for specific bleed events, or alway use it at higher dose frequency during bleed then wean down to a maintenance dose ongoing?
I need to update the forum on the case of a dog with Anaplasmosis that was having severe nose bleeds. She raised 5 beautiful healthy pups and has been doing extremely well since. Thank you greatly for your input with her as well!

by naturevet

February 23, 2026

You're very welcome! And yes, the YBY can be used on an intermittent basis. I don't think you need to use it continuously.

Continued good luck with your cases!

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