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Can Dogs Eat Corn?

Reviewed by Petco’s Animal Care, Education and Compliance (ACE) Team

Few menu items represent summertime barbecues better than corn. It’s refreshing, colorful and makes a tasty side dish , when drizzled with melted butter. And if you’re having a backyard cookout, your dog is most likely hoping to get some leftovers. Now the big question is, “Can dogs eat corn?”

While some of the foods on the barbeque grill may be unsafe for your dog, corn—off the cob—can be an occasional tasty treat for them. However, there are a few precautions you should take before letting your dog eat corn, so read on to learn more, and remember to always. consult your veterinarian before feeding your pup any new foods.

Health benefits of corn for dogs

Many pet parents wonder, “Can dogs have corn?” The answer is a resounding yes, if it’s properly prepared and offered in small amounts as an occasional treat. Even small amounts of corn in dog food can meet several key nutritional needs.

Corn can be a healthy treat if offered once in a while to your dog in small amounts. Corn offers many nutritional benefits, including:

  • It’s packed with protein for strong bones and muscles
  • It’s an excellent source of fiber that helps with digestion
  • It provides linoleic acid, an important component of fat which dogs can’t produce on their own
  • It’s an excellent source of inflammation-fighting antioxidants
  • It contains many energy-packed carbohydrates to help maintain your dog’s stamina if they are active and running

While corn contains several beneficial nutrients for your dog, it contains a large amount of high-calorie starch that can contribute to obesity in dogs if fed too frequently or in too large amounts. When cooked properly and offered in small quantities, corn can be an enjoyable nutrient-rich treat for your dog. Be sure to consult your veterinarian first before offering your pet corn or any other new food.

» MORE: Learn about fruits and vegetables that dogs can and cannot eat.

How to feed corn to your dog

  • Boil or steam Boiled or steamed corn can be a delicious treat for your dog on occasion. Raw corn is hard to chew and to digest and is not recommended for dogs

  • Don’t include the cob or husk Can dogs eat corn husks? What about the cob? Never feed the cob or the husk to your pet. These parts of the corn plant are not only difficult, if not impossible, for your dog to digest, but also they pose a significant choking hazard and can potentially obstruct their gastrointestinal tract. If you let your dogs eat corn, be sure to remove the husks and take the kernels off the cob.

  • Serve it plain Can dogs eat corn kernels with seasoning? While cooking corn with butter and tasty spices—like salt, pepper or chili—can make corn a delicious side dish for humans, these flavorful ingredients can be detrimental or even deadly for your dog. Fats and cholesterol can lead to obesity and pancreatic inflammation, while easoning can cause gastrointestinal upset. Salt can upset your dog’s fluid balance and lead to dehydration. Dogs and corn seasoned with flavorings meant for humans aren’t a good match

     

FAQs about feeding your dog corn

Unless your dog has a sensitivity to corn, your pup should be fine after eating a small number of plain cooked kernels. If they’ve eaten the cob and/or husks, too, you have more to worry about. Contact your veterinarian—or an emergency vet—immediately, and monitor your pet for signs of gastrointestinal distress such as vomiting, diarrhea, bloating, and abdominal pain.

Plain cooked corn is generally mild on your pet’s stomach, but dogs and corn with seasonings don’t typically mix well. Butter, salt, and other spices can upset your dog’s stomach, , so it’s best that you only serve plain corn to your dog. Consuming the husk and/or cob can cause your dog to have digestive problems. If your dog eats those, contact your vet or an emergency veterinarian immediately.

When asking, “Can my dog eat corn?” The answer is, as long as it is cooked without spices, salt, or high fat butter and oil. Steaming and boiling are the best methods for preparing this vegetable before serving it in small amounts to your dog. When dogs eat corn, grilling it first can remove some of the moisture that can be beneficial for them—especially in warmer weather when they need added water in their diets. Baking corn kernels also removes moisture and can make them too tough for your dog to easily chew and digest.

The answer is that it depends on your pet’s size, age and breed, it can take up to 72 hours for a canine to pass a corn cob—assuming it doesn’t get stuck in the stomach or intestines. Due to the high risk for developing life-threatening gastrointestinal tract obstruction, dogs should never be offered corn on the cob. Simply put, dogs and corn cobs don’t mix well.

If you suspect your pet has eaten a corn cob, some signs and symptoms of possible gastrointestinal obstruction include:

  • Lethargy
  • Reduced energy
  • Repeated vomiting
  • Diarrhea
  • Loss of appetite
  • Weakness
  • Bloody stool or straining to pass stool
  • Obvious abdominal pain or bloating

If you notice any of these symptoms, contact your veterinarian or an emergency vet immediately.

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Reviewed by Petco’s Animal Care, Education and Compliance (ACE) Team

Petco’s ACE team is a passionate group of experienced pet care experts dedicated to supporting the overall health & wellness of pets. The ACE team works to develop animal care operations and standards across the organization and promote proper animal care and education for Pet Care Center partners and pet parents, while also ensuring regulatory compliance.