This just happened to my Topher a couple of weeks ago. He tore his toenail and I didn't realize how bad it was until I took him to the groomers a week later and she told me that it was hanging off!! (I felt so bad that I didn't know....he never favored it or complained)
I took him to the vet and they froze his foot and 'amputated' (their word) the nail and wrapped his foot in gauze and tape for a week and a half. I had to go back every few days for them to change the dressing. Once the gauze was removed he wore a baby sock on his foot for about a week.
Until you get to the vet I would try to keep it covered so it doesn't bang on something or get dirty. According to my vet, she said that it would be like a human having their fingernail hanging off so it is a bit painful, so keeping it covered would help with that I would think. I am not an expert by any means, just going by what my vet told me.
Personally, I don't know if I'd want to remove it myself. When they removed Topher's she said that it bled quite a bit and I was amazed at how much flesh was open on his little toe! Your little one will be fine....I'm learning that these little guys can be quite tough...lol...though keeping the sock on his foot without him trying to take it off was a challenge! He did get used to it after a while, though.
__________________  VAL, TOPHER AND SOPHIE |