Autumn farm season is one of the best things about living in the Fraser Valley, and it brings a predictable run of veterinary visits. The recurring problems are corn cobs, mouldy windfall fruit, livestock contact, and dogs overheating in crowds. A few checks before you go prevent almost all of it.
Check first, because many farms do not allow dogs
Start here, because it saves a wasted drive. A significant number of Abbotsford farms do not permit dogs at all, and among those that do, several allow them only in the parking and outer field areas rather than in the corn maze, the play areas or anywhere food is served.
Food safety rules are the usual reason, and they are not negotiable for the farm. Phone ahead rather than relying on a website that was updated two seasons ago, and ask specifically which areas dogs can enter rather than only whether dogs are allowed.
Ask about leash rules too. Most working farms require a short lead, and a retractable lead is genuinely unsuitable around livestock, machinery, crowds and small children.
Corn cobs are the number one problem
If you take one thing from this article, take this. Corn cobs are among the most reliable causes of intestinal obstruction we see, and autumn farm season is when they turn up.
A cob is the wrong size and shape to pass through a dog’s intestine, and it does not break down. It lodges, blocks the gut, and the situation becomes surgical. Dogs swallow them surprisingly whole, and they find them everywhere at this time of year: dropped in a maze, in a bin, at the edge of a field, on the ground by a food stall.
Signs of an obstruction usually appear within a day or two:
- Repeated vomiting, often bringing up food or water and eventually just bile
- Refusing food entirely
- Lethargy, and reluctance to move
- A hunched posture or a tender abdomen
- Straining without producing anything, or no stool at all
- Restlessness and an inability to get comfortable
If you know or suspect your dog has swallowed a cob, phone us straight away rather than waiting for signs. Early is dramatically better than late here, and do not try to make your dog vomit at home, because a cob coming back up can cause its own damage.
Windfall and mouldy fruit
Apple and pear farms mean fruit on the ground, and by late September a lot of it has been there a while. Two separate problems come from it.
Rotting fruit ferments and grows moulds, some of which produce substances that cause tremors and seizures in dogs within a few hours. A dog that has been grazing under trees and then becomes shaky, wobbly or twitchy needs to be seen urgently.
Quantity is a problem in itself. A dog that eats a large amount of fruit gets significant stomach upset, and the sugar load and sudden diet change can trigger more than an afternoon of diarrhea. Apple and pear pips contain small amounts of a harmful compound too, though a dog would need a great many for that alone to matter.
Practical answer: keep the dog moving, keep its nose up, and do not let it graze while you pick.
Livestock, and why it matters both ways
Working farms have animals, and a dog that chases livestock is a serious matter. Sheep and poultry can die from the stress of being chased without ever being touched, farmers are within their rights to act to protect their animals, and you may be liable. Keep dogs on a short lead near any livestock enclosure, and if your dog has any interest in chasing, do not take it near stock at all.
There is a health side too. Farm environments carry organisms that dogs pick up from soil, standing water, manure and animal contact, and some of those can affect people as well as pets.
- Keep dogs out of manure, slurry, silage and puddles in stock areas
- Bring your own water rather than letting your dog drink from troughs or ditches
- Wash your hands, and your children’s hands, after the visit
- Wipe paws and give the coat a rinse when you get home
- If your dog regularly visits farms, mention it at your next appointment, because the right prevention plan depends on lifestyle
The same broad principles apply to any Abbotsford outdoor season, and our guide to trail and outdoor safety for dogs in Abbotsford covers the preparation side in more depth.
The things people forget on the day
- Water and a bowl. Farm days involve more walking than expected and there is rarely anywhere suitable for a dog to drink.
- Heat still matters in September. A sunny afternoon in an open field with no shade, plus a crowd, plus a dog in a coat, adds up. Watch for heavy panting, bright red gums, drooling and slowing down, and get into shade early rather than late.
- Crowds are hard for some dogs. Prams, small children, tractors, music and other dogs at close quarters is a lot. A dog that is uncomfortable in crowds is not going to enjoy this, and a stressed dog on a busy site is where bites happen.
- Check the ground. Stubble, cut corn stalks and hay bale twine all cause paw injuries, and twine is swallowed surprisingly often.
- Watch food stalls. Dropped corn, chocolate, bones and skewers are all within nose reach.
- Machinery and vehicles. Tractors and trailers move on working farms and drivers have poor visibility at dog height.
- Check the microchip details are current before you go somewhere unfamiliar and busy. It takes five minutes.
When to phone us afterward
Contact our urgent care team promptly for any of these in the days after a farm visit:
- Known or suspected corn cob ingestion, whatever the timing
- Repeated vomiting, especially with refusal of food
- Tremors, twitching, wobbliness or seizures
- Straining without producing stool
- Lethargy, a hunched posture or an abdomen that is tender to touch
- Limping, or a cut paw
- Diarrhea that is not settling within a day, or that contains blood
Where the picture is unclear, imaging and bloodwork through our pet diagnostics let us tell an obstruction apart from a simple upset stomach, which is a distinction that genuinely matters and cannot be made by description alone.
Frequently asked questions
My dog ate a corn cob but seems completely fine. Do I wait?
No, please phone now. Obstruction signs usually take a day or two to develop, so a dog that seems fine the same evening tells you very little. This is one where acting early makes a real difference to how straightforward things are.
Is pumpkin actually good for dogs, or is that a myth?
Plain cooked pumpkin flesh in small amounts is fine for most dogs and is often well tolerated. What is not fine is a decorative pumpkin that has been sitting outside for three weeks growing mould, or the stalk and skin in quantity. If you want to give pumpkin, cook it plain and keep the portion small.
Can my dog get sick just from being on a farm?
Farm environments do carry organisms that dogs can pick up from soil, water and manure, and some affect people too. The risk is manageable rather than alarming. Keep your dog out of manure and standing water, bring your own water, wash hands afterward, and tell us if your dog visits farms regularly so we can tailor prevention.
What if my dog chases the animals?
Then do not take it near livestock. A dog with any chase drive should stay on a short lead well away from stock enclosures, or stay home. Chased livestock can die from stress alone, and the consequences for you and your dog can be severe.
My dog ate a lot of fallen apples. What should I watch for?
Watch for stomach upset over the next day or so, and much more importantly for any tremor, twitching, wobbliness or unusual agitation. Mouldy windfall can cause neurological signs within a few hours, and those need urgent attention rather than monitoring. Phone if you see any of them.
Is a retractable lead all right for a farm visit?
We would strongly recommend against it. Around livestock, machinery, crowds and small children you need your dog within a metre of you and under immediate control. A short fixed lead does that; a retractable one does not, and the thin cord causes injuries to people and dogs when things go wrong.
Speak to the team at Glenn Mountain Animal Hospital
If your dog has swallowed a corn cob or been grazing on windfall fruit, do not wait for signs. Call us on (604) 852-3030.
Published by the team at Glenn Mountain Animal Hospital.
This article is for general educational purposes only and is not a substitute for an in-person veterinary examination or advice about your individual pet. If you have an urgent concern about your pet, contact Glenn Mountain Animal Hospital or your nearest emergency veterinary hospital right away.
Glenn Mountain Animal Hospital
#106-2596 McMillan Road, Abbotsford, BC V3G 1C4
Phone: (604) 852-3030
Hours: Monday to Saturday 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM; Sunday 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM