So dogs can eat corn, but not corn on the cob? Why is that?
Unlike chocolate, corn on the cob doesnt contain toxins that are dangerous to dogs. The problem here is that dogs cannot digest the cob itself.
“The biggest concern is the potential for the cob to get stuck in the digestive tract,” said Dr. Tina Wismer, senior director of toxicology at the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Animal Poison Control Center.
But corn itself — whether from the cob, a can or in dog food — can be a healthy part of a dogs diet.
Corn contributes vitamins and minerals and is a rich source of linoleic acid, an essential fatty acid that dogs must get in their diets, according to the Cummings Veterinary Medical Center at Tufts University.
Your dog just ate chocolate:Heres what to know and what you need to do first.
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My dog gnawed on and ate part of a corncob. What do I do?
Because corncobs are hard to chew and undigestible, they do not break down when passing through the digestive tract, often causing blockage and sometimes perforation, said Michael San Filippo, spokesperson for the American Veterinary Medical Association.
Depending on the size of the dog and the amount ingested, pet owners should call their veterinarian if their dog eats corncob, Wismer said.
Corncobs seem tough, but they are “quite fibrous at the core,” she said. “Some dogs will chew them into small enough pieces to pass while others will swallow them whole or in large chunks.”
How much corncob a dog could possibly consume without serious injury depends on its size and the diameter of the intestine, Wismer said. A medium to large dog has a diameter of 9-10 mm (0.35-0.39 inch), while small dogs have a 5.5 mm (0.2 inch) diameter at the smallest part of their digestive tract. “So pieces that can move out of the stomach can get stuck further down,” she said.
Can Dogs Eat Corn Cobs?
The short answer is no. Corn cobs should not be fed to a canine companion. Sweet corn kernels off the cob can be fed to dogs and are a tasty addition to a diet. However, the internal solid corn cobs are very fibrous and cannot be digested. They are also typically swallowed whole and cannot be digested. This means that they need to come back out whole, either at the mouth or the other end!
Objects like this present a high risk of bowel obstruction. They can very easily become stuck either in the stomach or the intestines. Once this happens, it can make your furry friend extremely ill quite quickly. The progressive consequences can be fatal, just like if your dog eats something that can puncture their intestines.
As it becomes stuck, it can cause a blockage of gut contents. It also irritates and inflames the gut it is stuck inside. It can also cut off the blood supply to that area of the gut. This causes the gut around the blockage to start to die. It then bursts or ruptures. When this happens, it is rapidly life-threatening for any dog. A gut rupture causes a massive infection of the whole abdominal cavity called peritonitis.
This is a very dangerous condition that can make dogs very ill and is also very hard to treat. They have just the right size, shape, texture, and strength to be a perfect bowel obstruction, hence their reputation amongst veterinarians!
Initially, many dogs will have no symptoms and seem quite happy. That is unless the corn has caused some throat irritation on the way down. After 6-24 hours, the corn cob starts to irritate and damage the gut. This is when it may possibly become a blockage.
Your dog will start to seem lethargic, sick, and flat. Dogs may start vomiting or retching and will refuse further food. Their stomach may become hard and painful. Here are your next steps.
Your veterinarian will usually discuss the problem and symptoms with you and then perform a full physical examination looking for any obvious symptoms like tummy pain and nausea.
If your canine companion has only just eaten the corn cob within the previous four hours or so, it may be possible for your veterinarian to administer a strong injection to induce vomiting. This will attempt to bring it back up that way and prevent it from moving into the bowels, where it may cause further problems.
This is not an option in all cases, as there is a risk that it could become stuck in the food pipe and cause choking. In addition, the vomiting may not be enough to cause the cob to leave the stomach.
The risks and benefits will be discussed with you for your specific circumstances by your veterinarian. Whether the risk of inducing vomiting is worth it is a decision that must be made on a case-by-case basis. Do not use home remedies to make your dog vomit unless otherwise instructed by your hands-on vet. Many home remedies suggested on the internet are dangerous and limit your vet’s options for treatment further down the line.