My feed
Premium

Please
or
to access all these features

If you're worried about your pet's health, please speak to a vet or qualified professional.

The doghouse

Puppy has just eaten a corn on the cob

19 replies

Gorran · 01/08/2012 19:14

Having googled I see it is one of the most dangerous foods for dogs, often causing intestinal blockage.

What can I do, if anything? What should I look out for? It was totally my fault, I left it on a stool to take to the chickens and the puppy stole it. Didn't realise until I went to give it to the chickens.

Daisy's 17 weeks and is a chocolate Labrador.

OP posts:
Report
HoneyDragonSponseredByCocaCola · 01/08/2012 19:22

It's dangerous??

My vet said they were great for them to chew on Angry

Report
Gorran · 01/08/2012 19:36

I googled and found loads of threads saying it is v dangerous, causes blockages and can be fatal:-(.

I just called our vets who knew the problem as soon as I mentioned what she'd eaten. The advice she gave me is to feed her as much as I can (no prob with a greedy choc lab) and try and get it to pass through. Or I can take her in tonight for an X-ray. She advised me to go with the first option and to keep an eye on her in case she becomes unwell, vomits etc. What a worry.

OP posts:
Report
HoneyDragonSponseredByCocaCola · 01/08/2012 19:40

Well not helpful to you but my pups had a couple - she wont get them now! And no issues its passed straight through

Report
Gorran · 01/08/2012 19:54

That's good to know, Honey, I hope Daisy's as lucky.

OP posts:
Report
CaptainHetty · 01/08/2012 19:57

Perhaps slightly unrelated but does that apply to cats, as well? My cat loves corn on the cob (he's slightly odd...) and he's eaten a couple in the past. Certainly won't be letting him near it again if it's dangerous to them as well.

Report
ChickensArentEligableForGold · 01/08/2012 20:15

Is it just corn attached to the cob that's iffy? Because my dog regularly snarfles sweetcorn out of the chicken run Shock

Report
Gorran · 01/08/2012 20:30

Yes, it's just the husk (?is that what it's called?) that's dangerous. The kernels are fine apparently.

OP posts:
Report
LastMangoInParis · 02/08/2012 15:35

So be careful with corn cob husks and dogs in future... BUT - there are also masses of websites that say chewing sticks is dangerous to dogs as they've been known to cause blockages, dogs should never eat any sort of vegetables and if they do so then they'll instantly become obese and burn in hell - etc.

My dog's got through loads of corn cobs over the years - no problem. I still think she's lucky to have survived the shrink-wrapped Parma ham bone that the vet's receptionist told me would take her weeks' of nibbling at and which she then went on to munch through in 10 mins. Won't be getting her those again.

Report
Lizcat · 02/08/2012 22:48

Corn on the cob come in at number two on the list of most commonly removed forgein bodies from dogs guts just after stones. It is the husk that is the problem totally indigestible. Sticks also cause thousands of horrible injuries per year due to dogs running on to them.
Vegetables generally though I am a huge fan of dogs love raw carrots and they Are great for them to chew on.

Report
Gorran · 02/08/2012 23:03

Yes, the vet we use said the same, Lizcat. Daisy loves raw carrots.

If she's pooing ok, do you think she's out of the woods, or would you X-ray her?

OP posts:
Report
Lizcat · 03/08/2012 16:14

Sadly corn on the cobs are notorious for not showing up on x-ray. If she is well no diarrhoea or vomiting. Then fingers crossed, corn on the cob after often food when we finally open dogs up to investigate ill thrift so she loses weight down the vets.

Report
TheReturnoftheSmartArse · 03/08/2012 16:28

I had no idea about corn on the cob either. Puppies (well, dogs, really) are so much like small children: you really can't let them out of your sight for a moment. I hate leaving mine with the kids because I always come home and find he's chewed something he shouldn't and they haven't noticed.

I hope Daisy's ok.

Report
Puppypanic · 03/08/2012 21:26

Gorran I can't believe this has happened to you as exactly the same thing has happened with my pup this evening!!

Have just fed him a huge bowl of scrambled egg as he never eats that much kibble and he wolfed that down.

Guess you and I have the waiting game now to see if they are both ok. All fingers and toes crossed for Daisy and my boy .....

Report
Gorran · 03/08/2012 21:33

Oh PP, really? Oh no. Remind me what breed? Dalmatian? So it's not just my greedy lab that will eat anything then. She seems fine, touch wood, but am still on my guard. Hope your boy is ok. How's it all going otherwise?

OP posts:
Report
Puppypanic · 03/08/2012 21:38

Yes Dalmatian well remembered!

What time did Daisy eat her corn cob? Think mine was about 4 hours ago and he is normal sleepy now.

Apart from that he is fabulous! I still struggle with the enormity of owning a dog but not quite as panic stricken as in the first week or so. He sleeps all night, great with house training, lovely on walks - my only problem is trying to keep them to the allotted 15-20 mins as so tempting to go further! He does jump up at the kitchen surfaces a lot which is very annoying plus pulls like a train on the lead despite all my efforts to keep him close by.

How is Daisy coming along? They are such a worry aren't they, a joy to of course but oh god the worry!

Report
Gorran · 03/08/2012 21:45

This happened on Wednesday. We immediately fed her lots of extra kibble and half an apple, she's been fine since, pooing normally (and it's had corn in, but obviously it's the husk that's the problem, no telling if there's any of that in there!).

Generally she's really good. Has started pushing boundaries a bit, having been fantastically easy to train until now. We've been doing puppy training classes and socialising lots, her recall is great. We're going to be doing Gundog training with her as she seems to love the whistle, immediately responded to it and seemed to know what she was supposed to do straight away. So yah boo sucks to the woman I met last week who told me she was destined to be one of those 'stupid fat chocolate labradors' - not my dog, oh no!

Anyway, we love having her and I'm over the anxiousness I felt initially. That was horrid! Good to hear you're getting on well:-)

OP posts:
Report
Puppypanic · 03/08/2012 22:08

Ah bless her she sounds and looks so sweet!

Can I just ask re the corn (sorry fretting here) does the husk mean the outside sort of cover of the inside core? Being dim but so worried!

Report
Gorran · 03/08/2012 22:26

Yes, it's the core bit - I call it the husk, I think that's it? I think it's a concern if it appears the dog may not have chewed it well - we know Daisy does tend to chew things, not just gulp so that reassured me somewhat. What about your pup?

OP posts:
Report
Puppypanic · 03/08/2012 22:31

I think he chewed it and it was only half of one. I'm so angry with myself because I didn't try and take it from him as I didn't realise it was dangerous until I came on here this evening. He was chewing it into lots of little pieces so am praying he is ok.

I took a snail off him last night, don't think I can cope with the stress!

Report
Please create an account

To comment on this thread you need to create a Mumsnet account.