Can Dogs Eat Celery? 4 Benefits of Feeding Dogs Celery

In most cases, and in moderation, it is safe to feed dogs celery. This fibrous, nutritious vegetable is a source of vitamins and minerals and can help ease your dog’s digestive system and boost its immune system.

Too much celery can be harmful to your pet. Celery is high in sodium, and large amounts of celery can elevate your dog’s blood pressure. Also, the stringy celery fibers can cause an upset stomach and get stuck in your canine’s teeth.

Ninety percent of your dog’s diet should come from their regular, vet-approved dog food. The other ten percent can be snacks or dog treats. Celery can be a nutritious addition to your dog’s diet:

1. 1. Vitamins and minerals: Celery is a significant source of vitamin A, vitamin K (which helps with blood clotting), folate (also known as vitamin B9 or folic acid), magnesium, potassium, calcium, and zinc. It also has high antioxidants like vitamin C, which is good for your dog’s overall health.
2. 2. Fiber: In small amounts, the fiber content in celery is good for your dog’s digestion and can strengthen the immune system.
3. 3. Clean breath: Feeding your dog an occasional stalk of celery snack can be a great way to freshen up your dog’s breath. The water content and crunchy texture can stimulate saliva production and lessen the bacteria build-up in the dog’s mouth, reducing unpleasant odors.
4. 4. Low calories: Celery has no cholesterol or fat and is a low-calorie treat. The high water content and the fiber can help sate a dog, making celery sticks an excellent snack for an overweight dog.

As with any human food, when feeding your dog celery, it’s good to keep a few guidelines in mind:

1. 1. Use organic celery. Non-organic celery tends to have a high pesticide load, especially on the leaves. Pesticides can be harmful to your dog. It’s best to avoid feeding your dog celery leaves—stick to organic celery for snacks.
2. 2. Cut the celery into small pieces. Chop the celery stalks into small bite-sized pieces to minimize the choking hazard. Small amounts will also limit your dog’s intake.
3. 3. Cook the celery. You can feed raw celery or cooked celery, but cooking it will soften the fibers in the celery, making it easier to digest.
4. 4. Serve celery with other foods. You can give your dog celery as a part of a mix of different nutritious snacks, such as fruits like blueberries or cucumbers. You can also give your dog a celery snack with peanut butter—be sure the peanut butter does not contain xylitol, an added sweetener that is toxic to dogs.
5. 5. Feed your dog celery in moderation. Keeping your dog’s celery snacking to a moderate level is best. Celery, which is ninety-five percent water by weight, contains a fair amount of salt. High sodium content can place an undue burden on your dog's heart and kidneys by elevating blood pressure. Also, too much of the stringy fibers in celery stalks can cause significant digestive disruption for your dog. The fibers can get stuck in their teeth, requiring extra work on your part to remove the threads.

Certain human foods can cause adverse reactions in canines, so always consult your veterinarian to determine whether it is safe to add these foods to your pet’s diet. This article is for educational and informational purposes and is not a substitute for medical or dietary advice.

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