It’s common knowledge that feeding your dog table scraps is rude. However, if you’re like 59% of dog owners, you’ve probably broken that rule on occasion and fed your dog human food.
Some of the things on your plate that you might be tempted to give to your dog are better off in the trash can than in its mouths. Onions and chocolate, as you probably know, are to be avoided. Nonetheless, what about leafy greens?
Canines aside, does celery provide any other benefits to animals? Find out what happens when dogs eat celery so you can make a well-informed decision.
Can Dogs Eat Celery?
You can confidently add celery to your dog’s diet as a nutritious snack.
Canines can usually have celery without any ill effects. Nonetheless, there are a few modest limitations. If you want to share it with your dog, for instance, you should cut it into smaller pieces because it could be a choking hazard for puppies or small dogs if given whole.
Some dog owners also believe that feeding their dogs celery, especially the leaves, is poisonous. One possibility is that the leaves contain more of a specific chemical than the rest of the plant.
As long as it is thoroughly cleaned, there is no need for concern. You can also remove the leaves and just give them the stalk if you’re really concerned about them. Raw vegetables are ideal, and organic ones are best.
Celery should be introduced to your dog’s diet the same way you would any other novel food: slowly and carefully. In this way, you can gauge their reaction to the food before deciding to feed it to them on a regular basis, which will help you avoid any unwanted reactions.
Is Celery Good for Dogs?
If you own a dog, you can rest assured that feeding them celery won’t harm them. However, you might be curious as to whether or not feeding your dog celery actually has any benefits.
Consider the safety of dog treats like doughnuts and ice cream: they won’t hurt the dog, but they also won’t do much for its health.
Fortunately, your dog can enjoy celery’s one-of-a-kind health benefits as well. Some of the benefits of feeding dogs celery are as follows:
Low-Calorie Treat
Celery, thanks to its low calorie count, is a common go-to when trying to curb snacking between meals. This is also why some canines enjoy a celery treat.
You can feed your dog celery if you’re worried about their weight. This way, they don’t have to sacrifice satisfying crunch for a calorie-counting diet.
Vitamins
Celery contains a plethora of vitamins, including some that are essential for human health. These include vitamins K, C, and A.
Vitamin K is essential for bone and blood clotting, and providing your dog with an adequate supply can help stop any excessive bleeding. They benefit from vitamin C’s immune system bolstering and stress management properties. Vitamin A is good for your dog’s eyes, coat, muscles, and nervous system. Can dogs eat bananas? is the title of our article that answers that question.
Minerals
The minerals found in celery are particularly helpful, and it also contains many beneficial vitamins. Zinc, for instance, is essential for your dog’s health, and this supplement provides it.
The zinc you give your dog will help strengthen its immune system. As a bonus, this method has been shown to enhance cognitive function and digestive health.
Manganese is one of the minerals present in celery. Aside from helping keep blood sugar levels stable, manganese also reduces inflammation and boosts bone health.
Potassium
Celery is well-known for its high potassium content and for being a rich source of dietary fiber. Potassium content is very close to that of a banana. Potassium is an electrolyte that helps keep your dog hydrated and may prevent cramping.
An insufficient intake of potassium has been associated with hypertension, cardiovascular disease, and renal failure. If your dog is experiencing renal or cardiovascular problems, you may want to give them some celery. You should talk to your vet about medication and testing in addition to diet if your pet is suffering from any of these conditions; never rely solely on diet alone.
High Water Content
Celery’s high electrolyte content and high water content both work to keep your dog hydrated.
To keep your dog hydrated, you won’t need to make as many trips to the water bowl.
If you feed your dog celery on a regular basis, especially in the hot summer months, it will be able to retain more water and feel great even after a long day of fetch in the sun.
Antioxidants
The celery leaves are the primary source of vitamin E, which is just one of many anti-oxidants in this vegetable. You can help your dog’s immune system fight off illness and reduce inflammation with antioxidants.
Feeding dogs a diet rich in antioxidants may prevent them from developing serious health issues over time. Extremely painful diseases like arthritis and cancer are included here.
Fiber
You can easily ensure that your dog gets enough fiber in their diet by feeding them celery. A dog’s digestive system can be kept healthy and gastric issues avoided with a high-fiber diet.
Feeding your dog a high-fiber diet will help him feel full for longer. If your dog is overweight and you want to help him or her shed some pounds, this is a good resource to have.
As a low-calorie vegetable, celery can help them feel full without causing them to go over their quota for the day.
Due to the high fiber content of celery, only a small amount should be given to your dog at a time. If they eat too much at once, they might get sick with diarrhea.
What are the risks of feeding celery to your dog?
There is evidence that dogs can safely eat celery, though individual dogs may have different reactions. It’s possible that some dogs will enjoy munching on this nutritious green, while others will ignore it completely.
While some dogs can tolerate small amounts without any ill effects, other dogs and cats will experience stomach upset.
When introducing celery to your dog for the first time, start slowly and keep an eye out for any adverse reactions.
Avoid feeding your dog celery if it has a history of choking episodes. Large pieces of the fibrous, hard vegetable may be too much for some dogs to chew, especially smaller breeds. Therefore, the celery must be cut into bite-sized pieces for easier consumption.
How to Feed Your Dog Celery
Conspicuously, there are advantages to feeding your dog celery. However, it is not always easy to coax your dog into trying new things, especially if they are unfamiliar. There are many methods for giving your dog celery; here are a few suggestions:
Top It with Some Peanut Butter
Spreading peanut butter on celery sticks is a human thing to do. It’s possible that this is the only way to enjoy it. The same could be true of your dog.
If you’re worried about your dog turning his nose up at the taste, try giving him peanut butter on celery.
However, if your dog is on a restricted diet, you should only give them a small amount at a time. Nut butter is extremely high in calories and fat.
Verify that the peanut butter you purchase does not contain xylitol. In fact, xylitol is toxic to dogs and should never be given to one.
Mix It into Their Food
Blended or chopped celery can also be added to their regular diet. The first step is to add a small amount and then stir it up. This will help prevent your dog from becoming overly sensitive to celery.
If they appear to be able to handle and enjoy it, you can give them a little more. But move slowly and carefully. Remember that there is such a thing as giving your dog too much of a good thing.
Pair It with Another Treat
Finally, combine the celery with another delicious snack. To increase the nutritional value of your dog’s treat of choice, try adding some chopped celery.
With the addition of vitamins, minerals, and other healthy ingredients, they can continue to enjoy their go-to snack without feeling guilty about it.
It’s possible that, like with children, you’ll need to resort to deception to get your dog to eat his vegetables. They must be consumed after being obtained by any means necessary.
How not to feed celery to your dog
In a nutshell, yes, celery is safe for your dog to eat. is typically yes, but this verdict needs to be qualified by a few factors. Don’t do these things if you give your dog celery:
Don’t add salt
It’s understandable that some pet parents might try seasoning their dog’s celery with salt in an effort to make it more palatable. Excessive amounts of this seasoning, however, can be harmful to the health of your pet.
The best way to serve your dog celery is in small, unseasoned pieces that have been chopped from clean celery.
Be mindful of other ingredients
Celery is a common ingredient in human cuisine, but it’s possible that some dishes that contain it also have ingredients that are toxic to dogs, like onions.
Do not risk an expensive trip to the vet by feeding your dog any celery-containing leftover stews, soups, or other dishes.
To avoid digestive upset, feed your dog a plain vegetable that has been either raw or steamed before being cut into small pieces.
What Vegetables Can Dogs Eat Besides Celery?
On the whole, dogs shouldn’t have any trouble chewing or swallowing celery. You may be wondering if there are any other vegetables that can compare in terms of health benefits. Can dogs eat broccoli? and similar queries. is a good illustration of this point.
You can use this list to determine which other vegetables are secure for canine consumption. Vegetables that are good for dogs include, in addition to those already mentioned:
- Spaghetti squash and squash purée
- Carrots
- Cucumbers
- white potatoes
- All of those delicious yams
- Asparagus
- Beans and Greens
- Peas
Dogs can eat many different kinds of fruit. You can use any fruit you like, including apples, oranges, mangoes, and even avocados (which are botanically classified as fruits and not vegetables).
Try Feeding Your Dogs Celery Today!
You can answer the question of whether or not your dog will benefit from eating celery with absolute certainty now, and you can stop feeling guilty about occasionally giving your dog a few crunchy stalks of the stuff.
Do you, however, wonder if there are other kinds of food that your dog should (or shouldn’t) be eating? Want help getting them off to the right start?
Today is the day to start educating yourself in the Dog Knowledge section of our site about what to feed, how to train, and how to love your dog. This site has everything you need to know to be the best dog parent in the world.