If you have noticed your dog limping but with no signs of a leg injury, it may have torn a nail. Make sure to carefully check all of the paws and nails, as there may be a torn one. However, it is usually pretty noticeable when a dog does tear a nail, as they can bleed quite a lot. While that is often very concerning for the owner, it is rarely an emergency. However, you still need to know how to treat it.
First of all, if you are concerned, the first thing that you should do is seek veterinary assistance. Depending on how bad it is, they may need to sedate the dog to remove it; it is more painful to leave it than to have it removed. Sometimes, there is only part of the nail broken, which may be able to be removed without sedation. One thing that you should be aware of, though, is that a split nail is often caused by something else such as infection or trauma. Therefore, if you have any concerns, the best cause of action is to seek professional advice as soon as you can.
