Dog Community

Warning about corn cobs

dyan

Posted : 7/14/2010 8:30:05 AM

I think everyone here knows to watch that your dog doesn't get the much loved corn cobs.....and just to prove it was Gibby. We have always let our dogs eat some corn off the cob...we usually actually save them a little corn and love to watch the mess they make chewing it off the cob. And we know that they will always try to get the cob when they can't get anymore corn off it...so we know to watch. However on the 4th of July holiday at my sisters....DH must have not been paying attention to Gibby good enough.....and after he gave Gibby his corn said " opps...Gibby got the end of the cob off!" I was concerned for a while because who REALLY know how much " the end " really was?????? But after a day or so I totally forgot about it. Until this morning at 5 AM...when he woke me up throwing up....just a little light yellow bile and a hunk of corn cob....about an 1 inch maybe...and get this..................it still had some corn on it!! Wow...thats 10 days later after he ate it.

But gee..got to thinking... he is 100 lb dog... that was a teeny tiny piece for him....can you imagine if he ate more? Or he was a much smaller dog?

Believe me...after working at a vet clinic for 4 years...I did see my share of dogs that needed surgery becasue of blockage from a corn cob....and I know how dangerous they are.....but this incident made me decide to remind you guys!

iluvjamison

Posted : 7/14/2010 8:36:55 AM

That why I love this place. I had no idea about corn cobs. Thanks for the info !!

Deb W.

Jewlieee

Posted : 7/14/2010 8:58:51 AM

Clueless here too!

BlackLabbie

Posted : 7/14/2010 9:03:41 AM

Dyan, Apollo did the same exact thing the first year we had him. During the summer we went to a cookout and he got into the trash and I caught him gnawing on a corn cob. It didn't look like he had bitten much off (only about an inch or so) and I figured he chewed it up anyway so it should pass. Everything was normal; eating, drinking, pooping...so I forgot about it. Then, about a week later he threw up in my car yellow bile and the piece of a corn cob! I'll *NEVER* forget it because I was so sure that corn cob passed! Now, after that, I watch him him a hawk.

dyan

Posted : 7/14/2010 9:59:48 AM

iluvjamison

That why I love this place. I had no idea about corn cobs. Thanks for the info !!

Deb W.

Well then I'm glad I brought it up! Something about the butter and salt I suppose...but dogs will get into garbage for corn on the cob...I throw mine out in the garbage outside rather than taking a chance of letting them sit in the trash in my kitchen....but all of my dogs used to do the same thing...after they get the corn off the cob..they try to get the whole cob...and big mouths from Great Danes sometimes get a bite before you know it.

dyan

Posted : 7/14/2010 10:01:18 AM

BlackLabbie
Then, about a week later he threw up in my car yellow bile and the piece of a corn cob! I'll *NEVER* forget it because I was so sure that corn cob passed!

Exactly! It was out of my mind.... yet I knew that Gibby didnt' chew it up.....he got the piece off and swallowed because he knew he would have a hand down his throat getting it.

calliecritturs

Posted : 7/14/2010 11:54:37 AM

Corn is virtually ALL cellulose - it is about as absolutely UN-digestible as something can get. The outside of the kernels is heavy-duty cellulose - this is why when you feed a food with corn in it you get mega "poop" because it just goes straight thru them and isn't digested enough to have much nutritional value. Honestly, *we* don't get much more than that. Corn is yummy cos it's sweet but it's not particularly nutritious for any "body".

punkchica321

Posted : 7/14/2010 11:56:41 AM

Wow I'm glad he's okay and I honestly didn't know this either. Now I do! Thanks for informing me.

tiffy

Posted : 7/14/2010 7:10:02 PM

Just a question, but why give a dog corn at all? It doesn't digest. Goes in the exact same way it comes out. Again, just a question.

jessies_mom

Posted : 7/14/2010 8:10:29 PM

iluvjamison
That why I love this place. I had no idea about corn cobs. Thanks for the info !!

Deb W.

Same here, Thanks Dyan. Sorry Gibby got sick though.

BlackLabbie

Posted : 7/15/2010 8:42:29 PM

tiffy
Just a question, but why give a dog corn at all? It doesn't digest. Goes in the exact same way it comes out. Again, just a question.

I guess just because some dogs like it...idk. I don't give mine corn.