Many humans will munch a stick of celery as a healthy, low-calorie snack that helps to ward off hunger whilst promoting weight loss. It’s a bit of a wonder food, so you’d be forgiven for pondering if the same benefits transfer to our furry friends. But can dogs eat celery? Many other vegetables like cucumber and peppers make crunchy and healthy treats for our pooches, so is celery another human food we can safely feed our pets?
Can dogs eat celery?
Yes, dogs can eat celery. Celery is safe for dogs to eat and can make a healthy treat with some surprising benefits.
Celery has quite a few vitamins and minerals that are beneficial to your dog. Some owners whose dogs need to lose weight might even be recommended to try feeding celery as a healthy alternative to commercial treats. The high water content in celery also makes it a perfect snack for a summer day as it can help to keep your pup hydrated.
As with some other vegetables, you may be wary of the plant being exposed to pesticides. Therefore you should make sure to thoroughly wash any celery stalks before feeding it to your dog. This should remove any traces of chemicals and mitigate any risks. If you are still worried about pesticides you could also buy organic vegetables.
Can dogs eat cooked celery?
Yes, dogs can eat cooked celery as well as raw celery. Steamed celery retains almost all of the nutritional value of the vegetable, making it the best way to cook celery whilst keeping all its health benefits. Meanwhile, boiled celery will lose a significant proportion of its nutritional value.
If you do decide to cook your celery before feeding it to your dog, remember to serve it plain and unseasoned for them. And no matter how you prepare your celery, it is im-paw-tent to cut it into small pieces to prevent choking and always feed in moderation.
Can dogs eat celery sticks?
Yes, dogs can eat raw celery however it might be best to steer clear of celery sticks because they can be a choking hazard. Celery sticks are a size that could tempt dogs into wolfing them down without chewing. Additionally, they can be a bit too big for small mouths. If you would like to feed your dog celery cut it into bite-size pieces and feed it to them.
If you’d really like to spoil your dog, why not try making a canine-safe version of “ants on a log” by using xylitol-free peanut butter or some Pure spread on a piece of celery. You can then top it with a treat or topping to make the “ant”. Never feed your dog the human version of “ants on a log” though, as raisins are toxic to dogs.
Can dogs eat celery leaves?
There’s no clear answer here. Celery leaves are very nutritious and safe to eat for humans, but many dogs find the leaves unpalatable. In the case of “gulper” dogs who don’t chew a lot, the leaves could also be a potential of a choking hazard. It’s usually advised to remove the leaves from celery before feeding it to your dog.
Is celery good for dogs?
Since we humans have known about the health benefits of celery for a long time, you paw-haps wonder can dogs eat celery to receive the same benefits?
Celery can help with weight loss
One of the most well-known advantages and uses of celery amongst humans is eating it as a filling snack that promotes weight loss. Luckily, celery is just as useful for dogs who are looking to lose some weight and prevent obesity. Celery is 95% water and is naturally very low in carbohydrates and fat, making it a satisfying snack without lots of extra calories. Celery only contains a single calorie per inch piece, making it pefect as a low-calorie treat that your dog will find refreshing and satisfyingly crunchy.
Celery is also a source of fibre, which will help your pup to feel fuller for longer. Again, this makes it a paw-some snack if your dog has to watch their weight as it will prevent hunger pangs without contributing much to their caloric intake for the day. And as we all know, fibre also helps to keep bowel movements regular and contributes to a healthy gut.
Vitamins and minerals in celery
Since celery is mostly made of water, it hasn’t got a huge nutritional value. That being said, this super vegetable still has some vitamins and minerals inside, making it a nourishing treat for your furry friend to enjoy. For instance, celery has a little manganese, magnesium, and potassium.
While they crunch on some celery, your pup will also be ingesting some vitamin A and C which are great antioxidants that can fight cell damage, have anti-inflammatory properties, and can even help to prevent cancer. Antioxidants also play an im-paw-tent role in maintaining a healthy immune system and strong teeth and bones. Vitamin A is also really useful for keeping those puppy eyes healthy.
Celery can help to reduce blood pressure and cholesterol
Celery is useful as a blood pressure regulator thanks to a phytochemical called phthalides. Phthalides helps to relax the walls of veins and arteries, increasing the flow of blood and reducing your pup’s blood pressure.
These phthalides and other phytonutrients in celery also give the vegetable some cholesterol-lowering properties. This is great news for any pooches who suffer from high cholesterol or hyperlipidemia. Because it has been found that celery helps to remove plaque from artery walls and lower cholesterol levels in humans, it is likely that these benefits transfer to our furry friends too.
Celery can banish bad breath
If your pup suffers from dog breath, feeding them some celery could help. Something about celery helps to banish the foul odour of bad breath, leaving dogs with much fresher smelling mouths. The high water content and texture can also help to lightly clean your dog’s teeth, but not as well as brushing or chewing on a raw meaty bone.
Can celery give dogs diarrhoea?
Because celery has quite a lot of water and fibre, it can give your pooch an upset stomach if they eat too much of it. As with anything, you can have too much of a good thing! If your dog eats too much celery they are at risk of stomach upset, vomiting, diarrhoea, flatulence, and bloating.
How much celery can dogs eat?
As with most human foods, celery should only be fed to your dog in moderation. Despite how healthy it is as a snack, celery or any other treat should never make up more than 10% of your dog’s daily food intake. So if your dog is only allowed to eat 800 calories a day, they can eat no more than 80 calories worth of treats each day, including any snacks like carrot or celery sticks as well as healthy dog treats.
Do dogs like celery?
Among humans, celery is one of those foods you either love or loathe, but do dogs like celery? Generally, our furry friends seem to enjoy the crunchy snack. But whether they enjoy the flavour of it is down to their personal taste. One of our spaniels turns her nose up at celery or takes it only to immediately spit it out and stare at it like it’s offended her, while the other dog can’t get enough of the stuff.
If you’re not sure if your dog will like the taste of celery, offer them a very small piece to try. If they like it you can give them a bit more. If they don’t like it, you’ve only lost a small piece to the bin or compost heap.
Recap: Can dogs eat celery?
Yes, dogs can eat celery. It is perfectly safe for dogs to eat both raw and cooked celery.
Your furry friend can eat this vegetable as a healthy snack to give them a boost of hydration and to help keep hunger at bay without adding many calories. Many pups enjoy the crunch of raw celery and it will freshen up any doggy breath they might have.
Just like with humans, celery can be a great treat for dogs who need to lose weight as it is low in carbs, fat, and calories. This nutritional veggie can also help to keep them healthy by helping to reduce cholesterol and lowering blood pressure.
We pack loads of veggies into Pure to make sure your dog gets all the nutrients and benefits they require from their food. We offer complete and balanced nutrition that's totally tailored to your dog, just tell us their age, breed, size and if they have any allergies or ailments. We'll create a personalised menu just for your dog! Your dog will get to enjoy a delicious, healthy dinner everyday.
