Will baking soda stop a dogs nail from bleeding?

How To Stop Dog Nail Bleeding (5 Ways Quick Home remedies)

So your pup just had paw accident and there’s blood! Now you need to quickly find out how to stop dog nail bleeding. A quick answer would be styptic powder, but if it is not readily available, you can mix cornstarch and baking soda to apply to the affected area with pressure until the bleeding stops.

Occasionally, my pup gets into an incident while out on a nature walk, digging in the dirt, or jumping off of something in the yard that causes a nail injury and bleeding.

Often pet parents might also give a pet a doggie pedicure and during nail trimming cut its nails just a tad short because the nail quick wasn’t visible.

Regardless of the reason, a bleeding dog nail isn’t usually serious—but I still hate even just a slight sight of blood on my dog! To help pet parents like me, I’m sharing below how you can treat it with some home remedies, lots of encouragement, and a few treats.

Things that Cause a Dog Nail to Bleed

It’s unsettling to see your dog walking or limping while leaving a trail of bloody paw prints behind. Canine nail injuries happen pretty often and for a variety of reasons. Although some may cause your pup to feel pain, most cases are relatively benign and can be treated quickly and effectively.

Why do dog nails bleed? Following are some of the more common causes of a bleeding dog nail or claw.

Rough Walking Surfaces

Your dog’s nails consist of a keratin substance, and they constantly grow, just like human nails. Dog nails wear down from daily walking, which doesn’t hurt them and can keep them relatively short. However, if your pup is running on a rough patch of pavement, for example, it can get a nail caught in a crack or torn and sustain a bleeding injury. If the nail tears most of the way off, the hanging part can be very painful for your dog and might require a vet visit.

If your pet did not have its dewclaws removed as a puppy, it could also catch one of them on something and cause tearing and injury.

Take care to keep your dog’s nails trimmed so that you don’t hear any clicking when it walks on the floor. This maintenance allows the canine to use its claws for traction when needed but keeps the nails out of harm’s way otherwise.

Brittle Claws or Nails

If you have seen blood on your dog’s nails after a typical walk in the neighborhood, your pooch might have a vitamin deficiency rather than an injury. If your pup isn’t getting the nutrients it needs from its daily food, the keratin in its nails can become weak and brittle. Your vet should be able to diagnose any nutrient deficiencies and give you a treatment plan to help your pup get better.

Chewing or Biting

Just like humans, dogs bite their nails too. Several things can trigger biting or chewing, so you might need to observe your dog for a bit or see your vet for a canine checkup.

One of the more common causes of biting or chewing is pain from overgrown nails. As a dog’s nails grow, they curl under and, if not trimmed, can place painful pressure on the paws when a dog walks. Your canine might chew the nails down but could do a poor job of it, leaving rough edges to catch on the rug or draw blood from chewing too much. If this seems to be the culprit, it’s best to trim your dog’s overgrown nails to prevent further issues from developing.

Dogs can sometimes develop tufts of compacted fur growing between their nails or paw pads, which becomes uncomfortable or painful over time. This condition prompts the pup to chew at its nails, sometimes causing bleeding, while trying to pull out the uncomfortable fur from between its claws.

Keeping your pup’s nails trimmed and cutting away excess fur between the nails or paw pads can keep Fido from this type of chewing.

Other causes of nail chewing include boredom, anxiety, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, or allergies, possibly from grass or other walking surfaces. You can work with your vet to rule out these causes and find the proper treatment to help Fido’s paws feel better.

Clipping Nails Too Short

Your pup’s nails have something inside called the quick, which is like your dog’s cuticle. It contains nerves and blood vessels, and it bleeds easily if cut. If a canine has light-colored nails, you can see the quick, which looks like a darker core in the nail, and know-how far you can trim the nails.

However, darker nails make it harder or impossible to see where the quick starts, and even professional groomers can sometimes trim too far and cause the dog’s nails to bleed. Some groomers use a dog nail grinder, rather than dog nail clippers, to trim nails so that they can see if they’re cutting into the quick before causing any bleeding.

Also, note that the longer a dog’s nails, the longer the quick, usually. If you don’t do dog nail trimming until they’re pretty long, the quick will also become long, making it almost impossible to cut the dog’s nails without any bleeding.

If you cut into the quick, your dog will probably jump or wince because of the pain and try to lick its injured nail. This incident could create a fear response and make your pup more reluctant to have its nails trimmed in the future.

Trimming nails short regularly keeps the quick short, keeps the nails healthy, and makes the nail trims experience less traumatic for your pet.

How to Stop A Dog’s Nail From Bleeding

Whether your pup has a bleeding nail because of something you’ve done or another cause, to stop a dog’s nail from bleeding, you must stay calm so that you can keep your pet from becoming anxious while you treat its injury. Your canine might struggle to get away because of the pain, so it also helps if you have a second person to assist you.

Clean and Apply Pressure

Before trying any treatments, clean your dog’s paw and nails so that you can assess what has happened. Don’t use alcohol, hydrogen peroxide, or any of the typical medicines you might use for a human. Your dog could have an allergy or sensitivity, and all you need is a paper towel to wipe its paw and another towel so that you can wrap the paw and apply pressure until the bleeding stops.

Applying pressure might be all your pup’s injured nail needs to stop the bleeding. You can also try holding your pet in a position where you can keep its paw elevated, which uses gravity to help stem the blood flow, along with the applied pressure.

Use a Styptic Pencil or Powder

This standard remedy works by causing the blood to immediately clot and stop flowing. You can find styptic powder or styptic pencils at any drugstore, and each works the same. The formula contains silver nitrate, which also works as an antibacterial agent. You might have heard of styptic pencils as a remedy to stop the bleeding after nicking yourself from shaving.

Using styptic powder, you can apply it directly to the bleeding nail, which should stop the blood flow immediately. If using a styptic pencil, you might need to wet the tip before applying it to the wound. Applying the pencil or powder might sting, so be ready to keep your pup still and soothe or distract it with treats and a calm voice.

Use Common Kitchen Items

In a pinch, when you don’t have any styptic products and your dog’s nail keeps bleeding, a few kitchen items can work almost as well as a styptic powder to stop the nail from bleeding. Basically, you want to use substances with highly absorbent qualities and are safe and edible if your dog licks its paws. Try cornstarch, which can absorb large amounts of liquid. If you don’t have any on hand, try white flour or baking soda.

Use these powders by pouring a small pile of the ingredient into your hand and then applying it to your dog’s paw. Apply pressure and hold the paw for a minute or two. You can also add some water, make a paste, and then apply this to your dog’s paw. After applying, wrap with a paper towel and apply pressure.

Use Soap or Glue

If you happen to be someplace without kitchen items, and you can’t get to a vet or a store, there are a few more options to try if you have them on hand.

Bar soap can be used to stop blood flow and hasten blood coagulation in the case of a minor wound. Don’t use this if your canine has a more severe injury. Try to use only unscented soap, as you could trigger a reaction in your dog if using scented or perfumed soap. Moisten the bar of soap, and once it’s softened, use your nail or a knife to scrape off some of the soap and apply it to the dog’s nail. Then wrap the nail and apply pressure.

Super glue sounds like an odd treatment, but it works, and doctors use the active ingredient in super glue to close surgical wounds. That nail glue in your purse or superglue in your camping kit has another use! Once you locate the injury on your dog’s nail and wipe it clean, apply glue and hold the nail together while it dries. Make sure that your dog cannot lick the glue while it’s bonding. Once dry, the nail has a chance to heal, and the glue will fall off within a few days.

Use a Compression Bandage

If your dog’s nail is still bleeding, you can wrap it with a compression bandage and keep it in place for an hour or two. Even if you apply styptic powder or kitchen items to clot the blood, applying compression with a bandage will help keep the wound from bleeding again once your dog starts walking on its paw.

You don’t want to wrap the bandage so tight that it cuts off your pup’s circulation, though. Just wrap the wound with enough compression that it’s pressed together, and the blood has a chance to coagulate and seal the injury.

What to Do After the Bleeding Stops

Keep your pet calm and quiet, and try to prevent it from walking on its injured paw for at least 30 minutes. This action gives the wound a chance to seal itself so that once your canine puts its weight on the paw, the nail won’t have any further bleeding.

Depending on the severity of your pet’s injury, its nail might still bleed after you’ve applied pressure and used the methods above. Your dog could have torn its nail further up or have a wound that’s too large for home treatment and requires attention from a vet. If the nail still has blood flowing after about 20 minutes, call or visit your local vet for diagnosis and treatment.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. How long does it take for a dog’s nail to stop bleeding?

If the wound is superficial, you should be able to stop your dog’s nail from bleeding within five to 10 minutes. First, apply pressure and elevate your pup’s paw if possible, then try a substance such as styptic powder to help the blood clot. If the wound takes longer to bleed, or if it’s still bleeding freely after applying pressure for 10 to 20 minutes, it would be best to take your pet to the vet for treatment.

2. Can you use flour to stop a dog’s nail from bleeding?

Yes, you can use flour to absorb the blood and stop the bleeding. You can also use cornstarch, which has even more absorbent power, or baking soda. Whichever you choose, after applying the powder, wrap your pet’s paw in a towel and apply gentle pressure to help the blood clot and seal the wound against further bleeding.

3. What happens if you cut a dog’s nail too short and it bleeds?

In most cases, while this might cause your pup pain, you can stop a dog’s nail from bleeding in short order if you take care of it right away. Start by wrapping the dog’s paw and applying pressure. Next, use a substance that can absorb the blood and help speed up coagulation. You could try styptic powder or a styptic pencil, cornstarch, flour, or baking soda. Don’t use any powder that isn’t safe for your pet to lick. Once the bleeding stops, the nail should heal and cause no further problems.

4. What do you do when a dog’s nail is bleeding?

First, stay calm and keep your dog relaxed and off its feet. To stop a dog’s nail from bleeding, use a towel to wrap the affected paw and apply some compression to see if this is enough to stop the blood flow. Check on the nail in a minute or two, and if you still see any active bleeding, use a styptic pencil or styptic powder to help clot the blood. You can also try gently pressing your dog’s nail into a small mound of cornstarch, flour, or baking soda for the same effect. If you see that the blood flow has not stopped after several minutes, the wound might be more serious. In this case, call or visit your vet so that your dog’s nail can get proper treatment.

How to Avoid a Bloodbath When Trimming Your Dog’s Nails

If you’ve ever torn or cut your fingernail or toenail down to the quick, you know that can be painful. Just like in your nails, your dog’s nails have blood vessels feeding the nail bed, so if the broken nail or dog split nail is too short, it can cause bleeding as well. That can cause dog owners to become quite frightened.

You don’t usually think of nail injuries as being that serious, but even if they’re not, they can be painful for your best friend . Of course, the nail will regrow but it can be painful for a few days as it does.

That’s not something you want for your dog if you can avoid it, so let’s look at some nail care techniques pet owners can use that can prevent broken toenails and what to do as a pet parent if your dog does have a nail injury.

Why Dog Toenail Care Is Important

Before we discuss toenail care, it’s important to understand the anatomy of your dog’s toenails. There are actually five toes on your dog’s front foot, and normally only four on the back foot. The extra nail on the front foot is called the dewclaw, and it’s located a little higher on the foot.

Except for the dewclaws, all of your dog’s nails get worn down as the dog walks on hard surfaces like the sidewalk. The dewclaws are non-weight bearing so they don’t come in contact with those same hard surfaces. That makes them likely to become longer than the other toenails.

The longer a dog’s nails become, the more likely they are to split, break, or crack. Just like human nails, they can also become ingrown. How often your dog needs a nail trim depends on how much exercise they get.

Dogs that are doing a lot of walking or running on hard surfaces may not need to have their nails trimmed as often as those who get less exercise.

Without trimming, a dog’s nails can become long enough that walking is uncomfortable which only compounds the problem.

Long nails also can easily snag on items like carpet, upholstery, or clothes, and these snags can then lead to a tear in the toenail that can bleed and be very painful . Dog owners are often afraid to do nail trims themselves since they fear cutting the so-called ‘quick’ which is just your dog’s nail bed.

The nail quick is what bleeds and hurts because it is full of nerves and blood vessels. In dogs with white nails or clear nails, you can see the blood vessels and where they end, so it’s easier to avoid the nail bed, but if your dog’s nails are black nails or dark-colored, it’s more difficult to see. Still, you can usually cut the longer, narrower part of the dark nail safely without cutting the nail bed.

If you do cut the nail bed, there are easy ways to stop the blood flow, promote coagulation, and decrease the pain. Read on.

How to Trim Your Dog’s Nails

To trim your dog’s nails, you want to make sure that you have help restraining your dog and your dog’s feet if possible. That way you can keep him from moving around.

If that’s not possible, you can also do it by yourself, you’ll just need to set your dog on your lap or sit next to him on the floor and reach across his body to keep him from moving around too much.

Once you’ve got him stabilized, you can grab the paw on the opposite side of his body and press on the nail to expose it, and position the dog nail clipper on the nail. Then, only clip when you’ve got the clipper in the right position and you can keep him from moving suddenly. During dog nail trimming, have a paper towel handy to collect the clipping debris.

Tips for clipping your dog’s nails:

• Use a guillotine nail clipper or dremel that is specifically designed for dogs : Dog’s nails are not flat like a human’s nails, so human nail trimmers just don’t work well on your dog.
• Reassure your dog : Nail trimming can make your pet very nervous, but if your dog hears your calm, reassuring voice, it can make it a pleasant experience instead of a fearful one.
• Look out for the dog’s quick : Check to see if you can see the nail bed and where the blood vessels end. If you can, it makes it easy to avoid cutting them, but if not, just trim your dog’s nails back a little bit. You want to cut enough so they don’t click on the floor.
• Trim the dewclaws too : The dewclaws are your dog’s fifth toes, or at least they’re remnants of fifth toes. They are located on the inside part of your dog’s paw and up in the area of their ‘wrist.’ Dewclaws are sometimes removed shortly after birth so your dog might not have them, but if he does, you’ll want to trim those too because they can get torn as well.
• Finish with positive reinforcement : After you’ve finished trimming your dog’s nails, you’ll want to finish with a reward like dog food, a dog treat, a peanut butter-stuffed puzzle, or their favorite toy. That positive reinforcement will help your dog learn that nail trimming is a fun and positive experience. He’ll be more cooperative the next time you have to do it.

If you don’t feel comfortable nail cutting, you can also take your dog to a groomer and have them trim the nails for you. It’s usually less expensive than taking your dog to the veterinarian, and you won’t have to worry about trying to restrain your dog or cutting his quick. Professionals deal with dog nail bleeding all the time.

These are useful tips for trimming your dog’s nails, but what happens if you cut the nail bed and the nail starts bleeding? What should you do? Let’s talk about some tips to stop the bleeding and when you might want to check with your veterinarian. Let’s begin with why broken nails are a problem.

Why are Broken Nails a Problem?

As we’ve already discussed, there is a nail bed in your dog’s nails where a central collection of blood vessels and nerves are located. On top of the nail bed is a hard substance called keratin. It’s the same substance your nails are made out of, and it’s also the same substance that a rhinoceros’s horn is made from!

The keratin is not a living substance, and that makes it a great protective cover for the nail bed. The keratin is what you want to trim when you’re trimming the nail because it doesn’t cause your dog any pain.

On the other end of the nail — where the nail attaches to the paw, the nail bed actually also attaches to the bone. That’s one of the biggest reasons that a broken bleeding nail, dog split nail, or really a damaged nail of any kind can become a problem.

If your dog’s broken nail gets infected, that infection can spread into the bone, and if that happens, it’s a serious threat to your dog’s health.

When to see the vet

If your dog has a broken nail that has become infected, it’s a good idea to take him to the vet to ensure that the infection hasn’t spread into the bone. Your dog’s DVM will also be able to give you some antibiotics to prevent the infection from spreading.

A dog split nail can also be very painful which is another reason you might want to take him to the vet. You don’t want to give your dog any kind of human pain medication , because some of those can be deadly for your best friend.

Instead, if your dog is limping and experiencing a lot of pain, take him to the vet who can give your dog some appropriate pain medication for dogs to help him feel better.

Most of the time you wouldn’t have to take your pooch to the vet for cutting its nail too short, but how can you stop the bleeding if you cut the nail bed when you’re clipping his nails?

First Aid for Treating Your Dog’s Broken Nails

You’ll want to take your dog to the vet to stop the nail from bleeding if you cut the quick and the bleeding doesn’t stop or if the broken toenail looks particularly serious. If it seems minor, however, you may be able to successfully administer first aid treatment for your dog’s toenail at home to stop bleeding. Grab the dog first aid kit!

The first thing to do is remove any remaining pieces of the broken toenail that might still be attached. If your dog is in too much pain for you to do this, you will likely need to take him to your vet so they can give him some sedation and pain medication.

How to Stop a Dog’s Nails From Bleeding: Styptic powder is your best friend

Stay calm. Once you’ve removed the remaining pieces of the dog’s nail, you can now apply gentle pressure to help stop the bleeding (your pup might yelp). You can also use a styptic pencil if you have one or styptic powder. A common brand of styptic pencil and styptic powder is called Kwik Stop, and it lives up to its name. You can find Kwik Stop for clotting at many pet stores or online.

Styptic pencils and styptic powder are completely pet-safe and will stop the bleeding almost immediately. If you don’t have that on hand, there are home remedies. You can also apply flour or cornstarch with baking soda or baking powder to stop the bleeding. Another method is to scrape the nail along a bar of soap until the bleeding stops. After that, you can compress the nail with a towel for a few minutes, and it should be good.

The next thing to do after you’ve got the bleeding stopped is to clean the wound and disinfect the area around the broken nail to prevent any infection from getting started. For that, you can just use warm water and a spray antiseptic. If the wound reopens and starts bleeding again, you can just apply more pressure to the affected nail.

If the bleeding just won’t stop, you may want to bandage your dog’s paw, but if you decide to do that, contact your vet since you don’t want to apply a bandage too tight and you’ll need to change it if it gets dirty or wet. Your dog’s DVM can give you some guidance on how to do that.

How the DVM Treats Broken Nails in Dogs

Your vet will follow a similar procedure to that described above to treat your dog’s split nail, but they might also sedate the dog and/or give him some pain medication. They often also follow up routinely with antibiotics to prevent or treat any infected areas.

Your vet will also let you know if you need to follow up with them and what you might want to watch for as your dog is healing. For example, if the toenail isn’t growing back as it should, then you might need to have a recheck visit.

Final Thoughts on Dog Split Nail

Nail clipping is an important routine task for taking care of those longer nails in your dog. And now you know how to do it! The first time you attempt to trim your dog’s nails, it’s important to make it a positive experience so you can do it without problems the next time.

It’s important to keep your dog’s nails trimmed since you don’t want their long nails to snag on something and tear or become cracked. This can be painful and possibly cause a serious health problem if the nail bed and underlying bone were to become infected.

You can clip your dog’s nails yourself or if you’re among those pet owners who are a little worried about doing that, you can take him to a groomer. If all else fails, make an appointment with your dog’s veterinarian to make sure those long nails are kept trimmed and clean. You might even get them painted to match your own — then you can both be stylish together!

9 ways to stop your dogs nail bleeding (FAST)

You just cut your dog’s nail too short, it started bleeding, now what?

Can I tell you a secret? I hate cutting my dog’s nails. The fear of hitting the quick of their nail is constant. I’ve cut them too short more than once.

You know the feeling, right? Panic, blood, panic more. I know I’m not alone.

So what is the best way to stop your dog’s nail from bleeding? Your first and best option is to use Miracle Care Kwik-Stop Styptic Powder. Your second best option is to use all-natural Yarrow styptic powder.

If you don’t have either of those handy, then reach for one of these:

• Cornstarch
• Flour
• Baking Soda
• Cayenne pepper
• Bar of soap
• Towel and pressure

Let’s get into the details:

Don’t panic if you hit the quick

All the experts will tell you the first thing to do is not stress out. And they’re right, but it’s hard not to panic when you hear your dog yelp and see her bleeding.

So take a deep breath, give your dog a couple of treats and reach for one of these solutions to stop the bleeding fast:

1 . Miracle Care Kwik-Stop styptic powder for dogs

Kwik-Stop is the easiest, fastest way to stop your dog’s nails from bleeding. I have this jar sitting next to me every time I cut my dog’s nails…. Just in case.

Kwik stop is usually what groomers and vets use when cutting dogs’ nails because it does work fast.

And it’s cheap. You can find it online or at most pet stores. Check the price of Kwik-Stop on Chewy.

How to stop your dog’s nail bleeding with styptic powder:

Apply the styptic powder with a moistened cotton ball to the nail using moderate pressure for at least 10 seconds. Repeat if necessary. If the bleeding doesn’t stop in 20 minutes or so, call your vet for assistance.

2. All-natural Yarrow styptic powder

It’s fascinating to me that Mother Earth has supplied us with so many natural remedies. A wildflower commonly called the Yarrow (Achillea millefolium) has many medicinal benefits, including a natural way to stop bleeding. Plus, it’s safe for dogs and humans!

Making your own Yarrow Styptic Powder is simple:

1. Harvest the Yarrow leaves
2. Dry them in a dehydrator or hang them to dry for about a week
3. Grind the leaves to a fine powder texture
4. Store in a sealed glass jar and label

Don’t have a yarrow plant in your yard? You’re in luck because Amazon carries the dried herb ready for you to use.

And maybe you can plant some Yarrow for next time with these seeds.

How to stop your dog’s nail bleeding with Yarrow styptic powder:

Apply the Yarrow styptic powder with a moistened cotton ball to the nail using moderate pressure for at least 10 seconds. Repeat if necessary. If the bleeding doesn’t stop in 20 minutes or so, call your vet for assistance.

3-7. Simple one-ingredient DIY styptic powder

If you’re in a panic and you don’t have Miracle Care Kwik-Stop Styptic Powder, then here are a few at-home ingredients you can use to make a quick DIY Styptic Powder or paste:

1. Cornstarch
2. Flour
3. Baking soda
4. Cayenne pepper
5. Bar of soap

How to use cornstarch, flour, baking soda, or cayenne pepper to stop the bleeding

Any one of these simple solutions will help stop the nail from bleeding. You can try them individually dry or make a paste out of it to make it easier to apply. Simply add a few drops of water and you have a homemade styptic paste.

Put a small amount of the powder/paste on a moist cotton ball or paper towel. Wrap your dog’s nail and apply pressure for a few minutes until the bleeding stops. Reapply as needed. If the bleeding doesn’t stop in 20 minutes or so, call your vet for assistance.

In my experience, these DIY ingredients don’t work as fast at the store-bought Styptic Powder, but they do help.

If you are trying the bar of soap method, you’ll need to get the soap soft enough for the nail to dig into the bar. This solution is not practical in my opinion… for a bar of soap to get that soft will take a few minutes, and by then your dog’s nail should have stopped bleeding.

8. Apply pressure

When in doubt, and you have nothing else, simply apply pressure to the nail.

Grab a towel, your t-shirt, whatever you have on hand… although it’s best to make sure it’s clean… wrap it around the nail and hold it for a few minutes until the bleeding stops.

If the bleeding doesn’t stop in 20 minutes or so, call your vet for assistance.

9. Use a Dremel to cut your dog’s nails

Next time don’t hit the quick of your dog’s nails by using a Dremel to trim your dog’s nails.

It’s not going to help your right now at the moment your dog’s nail is bleeding. But if you can train your dog to allow you to use a Dremel… you will never cut your dog’s quick ever again. You won’t have to worry about his nail bleeding ever again! Does that sound like a dream? It’s not.

I started using a Dremel instead of the traditional dog nail cutters a couple of years ago. It’s a game-changer. It’s one of the best investments we made.

I have the Dremel 8050, which is no longer available. So I recommend the Dremel 8100 or the Dremel PawControl Dog Nail Grinder.

It takes some time and patients to train your dog to like the Dremel, but it is possible. Slow and easy… and a ton of treats. Our dog, Bear, now comes running when I say, “do you want to cut your nails?”

In conclusion

Cutting my dog’s nails is still not my favorite thing to do, but it’s helpful knowing that if I do hit the quick, I am prepared to stop the bleeding right away.

Accidentally cutting your dogs nail too short and hitting the quick is not the end of the world. They will recover. But it is possible you and the dog will be a little more hesitant next time.

Staying calm when trimming nails is key. Being prepared is imperative. I recommend having your styptic powder of choice within arms reach anytime you are trimming your dog’s nails. Pick your choice of these options:

• Miracle Care Kwik-Stop Styptic Powder
• Yarrow styptic powder
• Cornstarch
• Flour
• Baking Soda
• Cayenne pepper
• Bar of soap
• Pressure
• Dremel

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• Dog dewclaw removal – to remove or not remove?
• 21 Secrets To Keeping My House From Smelling Like Dog