Why Corn Cobs and Curious Dogs Don’t Mix: King’s Story

If your dog has ever sniffed around the trash or snatched something off the counter before you could say “leave it,” you’re not alone. But some leftovers are more than just a nuisance—they’re a serious risk. One of the most dangerous (and surprisingly common) culprits we see at DoveLewis during the summer? Corn cobs.

Just ask King.

A Curious Pup and a Dangerous Snack

King is a sweet, playful six-year-old who recently helped himself to the trash. Among the scraps, he found something he couldn’t resist: corn cobs.

At first, he seemed fine. But the next morning, King started vomiting—and it didn’t stop. When his family noticed chunks of corn cob in the vomit, they knew it was serious and rushed him to DoveLewis.

Why Corn Cobs Are So Dangerous for Dogs

Corn cobs might seem like harmless table scraps, but they can be life-threatening. Unlike other foods, corn cobs don’t break down in a dog’s stomach. Their size and shape make them especially dangerous—they can become lodged in the stomach or intestines, causing painful, potentially deadly blockages that require emergency surgery.

By the time King arrived at DoveLewis, he was dehydrated and clearly uncomfortable. Imaging and exams confirmed what the team suspected: several cobs were stuck in his stomach, and one had made it into his small intestine.

There was only one option: surgery. Our emergency and surgical teams worked together to carefully remove the corn cobs from King’s digestive tract.

The good news? Everything inside looked healthy, so we didn’t have to remove any part of his intestines—a huge relief for everyone.

King spent time recovering in our ICU with IV fluids, medications to manage pain and nausea, and round-the-clock monitoring from our care team. It wasn’t long before he was up, alert, tail wagging, and ready to head home, healthy and happy once again.

What Pet Owners Need to Know

Corn cobs are one of the most common foreign bodies we surgically remove at DoveLewis each summer. Here’s how to help prevent a similar emergency:

• Never give your dog corn cobs, even supervised. The risk isn’t worth it.
• Keep trash and compost bins securely closed. Use lids or child-proof latches.
• Know the signs of a problem. Repeated vomiting, skipped meals, or signs of pain after getting into something they shouldn’t? Call your veterinarian or an emergency hospital like DoveLewis right away.

King’s story has a happy ending thanks to his family’s quick decision and the expert care he received at DoveLewis. But it could have been much worse. Corn cobs may seem harmless, but they can quickly turn an ordinary day into a life-threatening emergency. We’re so glad King is back home with his loving family—healthy, happy, and safely snacking on food that won’t land him in the ER.