Dogs can eat sweetcorn - but there are some things to consider before you offer up a raw corn cob to your pooch (spoiler - don’t do this!). If you’re going to serve sweetcorn to your dog, it should ideally follow these criteria:
There’s no set serving size for dogs when it comes to eating corn. It depends on their size, age and breed - but as we said, it should be a treat, not fed as the bulk of a dog’s meal or as a replacement for their usual dog food. The general rule is that 90% of your pooch’s diet should come from their regular food, so sweetcorn can come under the other food and treats that make up the remaining 10%.
Sweetcorn isn’t bad for a dog’s health so long as it isn’t served dripping in butter or seasoned with any salt, pepper or other spices. That said, it is quite high in sugar and carbs, so it should still be considered a treat. When it’s cooked (ideally boiled) and served plain, corn can be very tasty and nutritious for your dog.
Not typically, but as with all foods dogs eat, there are special cases. Corn could potentially make your dog ill if you feed them too much, or if you feed corn that has been marinated or highly seasoned. Raw corn can make a dog ill, as it can be difficult for them to digest. If your pooch has an allergy to sweetcorn, this could make them sick, too.
Generally, no, corn isn’t poisonous to dogs so long as it’s fresh, cooked and clean.
Sweetcorn is a considerably healthy treat for dogs, though it is full of natural sugar and carbs, so it should be seen as a treat - not a regular food. Corn is a great source of fibre, so it can promote healthy bowel movements for your pooch. It’s also packed full of vitamins and minerals, and it’s low in fat. Not only this, but it’s satisfyingly crunchy, so it can add a bit of diversity to your dog’s palate.
You can safely serve sweetcorn to your dog by making sure the corn’s cooked, and served plain without butter or seasoning. Ideally, you’d avoid corn on the cob. Dogs love to eat everything, and are at risk of ingesting the cob completely, so serve up a small serving of loose sweetcorn instead. You can either feed it to them on its own or sprinkle it over their standard food.
Tasty corn is one of the most versatile ingredients there is, so let’s go through all the various ways you could feed sweetcorn to your dog (and whether or not you should!).
Dogs can eat tinned corn - so long as it’s preserved just in water and not salt or sauces. It could be a good idea to rinse the corn before you serve it to your hungry pooch, just to ensure it’s at its freshest and cleanest.
Yes, dogs can eat cooked sweetcorn. In fact, it’s preferable that corn is cooked before giving it to your dog! Raw corn will be tough for your pooch to digest, and probably won’t taste as good.
If the corn was cooked, then frozen, your dog can eat it frozen. It can be a refreshing, crunchy treat on a hot day, for instance. Don’t feed your dog frozen raw corn, as that would be less than delicious and will probably just frustrate your pooch.
As long as they’re cooked and served plain, baby sweetcorn is fine for a dog to eat.
Barbecued corn isn’t the best choice for your dog for a few reasons. Firstly, we usually barbecue corn as a full cob, and corn on the cob isn’t safe for your pooch. In order for the corn to hold up over hot coals, we tend to cover it in oil, salt and marinades - and that isn’t good for your dog either. Finally, the charcoal and smoky effect of a barbecue can contain compounds that wreak havoc with your dog’s gut.
It’s better to offer your pooch plain, cooked sweetcorn that’s been boiled, as it’ll sit better with their delicate digestive system. Leave it to the humans to eat the charred corn cobs!
If, for some reason, your pooch has got their paws on a corn cob and ended up eating the whole thing, you need to take action! The good news is that they’ve already ingested it, so they didn’t choke on it while swallowing.
However, it could be a struggle, or even quite dangerous, getting it to pass through your pooch’s body.
Ideally, you should contact a vet for immediate advice, as the corn cob could cause a gastrointestinal blockage. Your vet may recommend that you come in to induce vomiting.
Be sure to keep whole corn cobs away from your pooch in future - especially at barbecue time, when they could be discarded in the grass. Dogs simply don’t have the common sense to only eat the corn.
Sweetcorn shouldn’t harm a puppy, but it’s still recommended to feed them specialist puppy food for a good few months before introducing them to new foods like corn. Corn could get stuck in their small teeth, or even disrupt their still sensitive tummies.
If you love giving bright, crunchy sweetcorn as a dog treat, there are other things you could offer up alongside or instead.
Get in touch with us at Pooch & Mutt if you have any questions about healthy treats for your dog. You can also browse our selection of healthy, grain-free treats for dogs.
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