My dog ate a whole corn cob — what's the actual risk here?
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mark_pdx·about 3 hours·871 views
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Ten minutes ago my Lab (2 years, 65 lbs) stole a full corn cob off the counter and ate it before I could stop him. He ate pretty much the whole thing — I found one small piece he left behind.
I'm seeing conflicting info online: some sources say this is a vet emergency, others say it depends on the size of the dog. He's acting totally fine right now. Should I go to an emergency vet now or wait and watch?
2 replies
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dr_yamadaVET· about 2 hours
Go to the emergency vet now — this is a genuine emergency, not a watch-and-see situation. A whole corn cob is one of the most common causes of GI obstruction in dogs, and Labs specifically. It doesn't digest and it's exactly the right size to block a Lab's intestine. At 2 hours post-ingestion your vet may be able to induce vomiting to retrieve it before it moves into the intestine, which is the best outcome. Waiting for symptoms (vomiting, lethargy, not eating) means the cob has moved further and surgery becomes the main option. Time matters here — go now.
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vet_tech_alex· about 1 hour
Confirming — corn cob obstruction is serious and the 2-hour induction window is real. Please don't wait for symptoms. This is one of the actual emergencies, not an 'it'll probably be fine' situation.
