Yes, dogs can eat celery. It is a low-calorie vegetable with plenty of vitamins, minerals, potassium, antioxidants, fiber, and high water content. It is also low in fats and cholesterol and hence recommended as a weight loss treat.
Dogs can eat celery leaves, roots, and sticks safely when given in moderation.
Every 100g of celery contains 14 calories, 95.4g of water, 0.69g of protein, 0.17g of fat, and 1.6g of fiber.
Health benefits
- Since celery is a low-calorie treat, it helps in weight loss. Giving your dog some celery is a great option if you want them to lose weight or if you’re worried about their weight. It’s satisfying for them and you won’t have to worry about too many extra calories.
- Celery is packed with vitamins K, C, and A. They help in blood clotting, immune system, shiny coat, healthy eyes, and nervous system.
- Celery is a great way to help maintain the proper functioning of a dog’s cardiovascular & renal systems. It has potassium, which can be beneficial for these systems if you have concerns such as high blood pressure or kidney health.
- Dogs need plenty of water, especially during the warm weather. Giving a fresh piece of celery to your pooch regularly will not only make them feel better but also helps them stay hydrated & continue feeling great during their routine walks.
- Celery is a very nutritious vegetable. Aside from having lots of antioxidants, it also includes vitamin E and helps fight off disease in your pet because of its anti-inflammatory properties.
- Adding celery to your dog’s diet is an easy way to ensure he gets the right amount of dietary fiber. It promotes a healthy digestive system, and it can help your pet avoid stomach problems.
Risks
- Celery has natural diuretic properties since it contains high amounts of sodium and potassium. This can lead to extra urination for a pet who eats it.
- Consuming too much celery can cause gastrointestinal upset, including gas, abdominal bloating, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.
- The small dog could potentially choke on large chunks of celery if they are fed whole. For this reason, it’s important to give the small dogs smaller pieces of celery and watch them closely while they’re eating to ensure the dogs don’t choke on their food.
How to serve celery to your dog?
Dogs should have a variety of foods in their diet, so feeding them raw or cooked celery will depend on what you’re looking to achieve.
- If you want the minerals and vitamins for your dog, You can feed your dog a healthy snack by cooking celery or squeezing it out with a blender & pouring it into your dog’s food.
- If you are looking to use celery as more of a low-glycemic snack, which can help your dog while they diet, then raw celery stems are best. There are fewer calories in stems and are more digestible raw celery leaves, which is great for curbing appetite and preventing weight gain.
- If your pup doesn’t like celery so much, try adding some peanut butter. This way they can taste some healthy, protein-packed foods. Be sure to add only small amounts, though – especially if your furry friend is on a diet!
- Blend it with other foods. You may not want your dog eating celery all on its own, but they can enjoy it in small amounts and gradually increase their intake as they’re used to more. This will ensure no bad reactions and allows you to work out the best way for their diet. If they seem to do okay with it and enjoy it, you could gradually increase the amount that you feed them throughout the day.
- If your dog is a picky eater and you’re concerned about its diet, consider adding some celery to its favorite snack. This way, they still get to enjoy the treat but are getting some additional vitamins and other nutrients.
Try to find organic celery. If you can not find it, wash celery properly before feeding as there is a chance that insecticides or pesticides have been used.
Some people try to put certain seasonings on top of their dogs’ food to make it more attractive. This can be dangerous for your dog because certain seasonings can be toxic.
Is celery good for dogs with kidney disease?
No, celery is not good for dogs with kidney diseases as it is diuretic in nature. Since celery increases urination, it can increase digestion issues for dogs already suffering from kidney disease.
Ankita is a passionate pet lover and head of content at Pet Food Brands. With her extensive knowledge and research, she provides pet owners with top-quality information on dog food and nutrition. Her dedication to improving the lives of dogs makes her a leading voice in the industry.
