Fungus
Gangrene
Possibly diabetic feet.
It could be an emergency. Then again, their emergency could be the pure panic of not understanding what is wrong.
I’m not sure. I just know diabetics can get foot problems and not feel it. Sometimes they don’t see a doctor until it is too late, and they lose toes, part of a foot, or possibly much of the leg.
I don’t really know just what to look for in those cases. I have never known anyone personally who had it like that.
I just remembered another thing.
When I was twelve, I shut the car door on my foot. This was in the days of steel cars with heavy doors. I got an awful bruise under my big toenail. Man! Did that sucker hurt! It turned out the purple under my toenail was a huge blood clot. It was causing pressure. I took a needle and gently pulled that clot out. GAD! My toenail hung there loose. The next day it dropped off. I really hurt then. The top of that toe couldn’t stand contact with air, let alone bandage or sock.
t’s usually caused by an injury, fungal infection, or psoriasis.
However, chemicals, certain medications, and serious illness can also make your toenail fall off. Lots of factors including diet. ( Calcium deficiency?)