It's 5:55 pm, you walk in the door, and find blood all over the floor and your pup holding up a bleeding foot. What do you do now?!
One of the common injuries that can cause this scenario is a ripped or partially torn off toenail. This can be the "dewclaw" or any of the primary toes. First thing to do is grab some wet and dry paper towels, and try to find the toe that is injured.
Once cleaned up, and the problem is identified, you can wrap with gauze or a dry paper towel, then layer on an Ace bandage or sticky stretchy wrap, commonly found in First Aid Kits, or at a drugstore. You may need to put a cone or E-Collar on to prevent your dog from pulling your new bandage off. Also, be sure it's not too tight!
If this stops the bleeding, it is usually ok to wait until the morning to see the vet. Plan to come in with your pet on an empty stomach, in case the toenail needs to be removed under sedation.
If the toenail continues to bleed despite your efforts, or the blood soaks through the bandage more than once, I advise you to go visit the 24 hour vet!
Here are a few photos of what this can look like, and a good visual on a finished bandage!