My dog ate a corn on the cob. Is it dangerous? What symptoms to watch?

I am sorry to hear about your concern for Lincoln! Hopefully he chewed it into small pieces before he ate it (they often do) or it is somewhere else, but we do sometimes see dogs develop obstructions if they ingest a whole corn cob. You will want to watch him for the next couple days for signs of obstruction which can include vomiting, decreased appetite, lethargy, abdominal pain, and straining to defecate. If he experiences any of these issues, please get him in to a veterinarian ASAP.

A corn cob poses a serious risk of gastric or intestinal obstruction. Simba should be seen by your veterinarian today. Abdominal x-rays will be needed to determine where the cob is and if it is stuck. If he cannot pass it on his own, surgery may be required.

This can be serious and need surgical removal if it causes an obstruction. Usually if it's becoming a problem Stella would vomit or not eat well, she could have stomach pain, or not be able to poop. With surgery if it's not gone on too long there should be minimal problems and she should recover fine, and be back to her normal self in a few days. If you wait too long if she has symptoms then she could get sick before the surgery which would make it more of a risk. Another option is to wait another day or so then take her to your regular veterinary for an X-ray to see if it's still in the intestinal tract and then if it is still inside you could repeat the X-ray in another day or two to see if it has moved. If it's still whole and not moving I would have the corn cob surgically removed before it causes a medical problem. If Stella is perfectly normal with eating, drinking and pooping then hopefully it was chewed up enough and will pass out without an issue. As long as you are monitoring her and take action soon if a problem develops she should be fine. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for Stella.

You have basically two options. Corn cobs are usually visible on X-ray, so you could head to the vet and figure out if there are any big pieces left. Or, if Bear is otherwise happy, eating, and active, you can continue to monitor. If he ever starts vomiting, stops eating, or becomes lethargic, it’s time to head to the ER vet immediately. Best wishes to you and Bear!

If Gracie just ingested the corn cob I’d recommend heading to the closest emergency vet. They can either induce vomiting to hopefully retrieve the corn cob or use a scope for the same purpose. Corn cobs usually cause an obstruction when ingested.

If she ingested a cob, she should be seen by your vet as the cob may cause a GI obstruction. Moldy corn poses risk of aflatoxin toxicity and requires veterinary attention. If was regular, fresh corn off the cob then large quantities can cause GI upset such as vomiting and diarrhea. Withhold food for 12-24 hours. Allow small amounts of water or unflavored PediaLyte. Resume feeding a bland diet (1:1 ratio of plain boiled boneless chicken and plain white rice). Feed in small, frequent amounts waiting at least one hour between feedings. If the vomiting stops, transition slowly to the regular diet. If not, see your veterinarian.

A wooden stick might pass without any problems but could also cause irritation to the stomach and intestines or even a perforation. You would see decreased appetite, vomiting or diarrhea as symptoms of a problem. If you see any of these signs you should see a vet right away for an exam and x-rays.