Corn on its own, is not toxic or generally harmful to dogs. Corn is found in many dog foods on the market. If you scrape off a few kernels (don’t make corn your whole dogs meal) from the cob and offer them to your dog or allow him to clean off some corn remnants as you firmly hold on to the cob, you shouldn’t expect any major problems as long as your dog isn’t allergic to certain foods.
The main issue with eating corn on the cob is the fact that some dogs may swallow the whole cob or a large chunk of it. Often, dogs can pass many items through their digestive system, but corn on the cob is often one of the most difficult to pass because of its size. Once ingested, the cob can get stuck somewhere within the dog’s digestive tract causing a partial or complete intestinal obstruction. This means a corn on the cob stolen from the table may cause your dog to end up at the local or emergency vet getting the cob surgically removed.
While at times corn on the cob may pass uneventfully in large dogs, medium and small dogs are those at bigger risk for an obstruction. If your dog got a hold of and ate corn on the cob watch for signs of trouble such as vomiting, straining during defecation, loss of appetite, stomach pain, whimpering and restlessness. In this case, have your dog see a vet immediately and be careful next time you have corn on the cob in your home where your dog can reach it.
If you suspect your dog has eaten a cob, call your vet as soon as possible. The sooner you call the vet, the better it is for your dog.