Nutrition
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15 min
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Yes - celery is low in calories and does contain nutrients that are good for pooches. Let’s go into the health benefits of celery for dogs.
Low calorie. As celery has barely any calories, it’s great for a dog on a weight management plan or a pooch susceptible to weight gain.
Hydrating. Celery has a high water content (around 95%!) so can contribute to your dog’s daily hydration levels.
Great for oral health, as it’s crunchy (so can remove debris on a dog’s teeth) and can help freshen breath.
Vitamin A. Great for a dog’s eye health, supporting vision in low light, and improves coat and skin. It's also good for their immune system.
Vitamin C. Helps reduce inflammation and helps protect cells from damage. It can also help improve overall immune function in dogs.
Vitamin K. Plays a key role in blood clotting and bone health.
Folate (Vitamin B9). Important for a dog’s cell growth and metabolism.
Potassium and Manganese. For fluid balance, nerve function, and a dog’s muscle health, as well as bone support and metabolism.
Source of fibre. Helps a pooch produce firm poops, improves gut health and supports digestive regularity.
Celery might not be an ideal snack for a puppy, as it’s tough to chew and could be a lot for puppy teeth. If you want to feed celery to a puppy, chop it into puppy-sized pieces and introduce it slowly as a new food.
Celery is unsafe for dogs when served in large amounts as it can cause a stomach upset.
It’s also a diuretic, so although unlikely, it might cause bladder issues in a dog if served in large portions.
It’s also not a good idea to give a stick of celery to your pooch as they may swallow it whole and/or choke - made worse by the fact that dogs don’t digest raw vegetables very well. Chop it into bite-size pieces to be safest.
Yes, dogs can be allergic to celery, though it’s rare.
If your pooch hasn’t eaten celery before, give them a small piece and watch over them for a few hours for any untoward effects. If they show any of the following symptoms, don’t feed them celery again:
Not really - but celery can make dogs unwell if they are given too large of a portion, the same with any food.
Too much celery can give a dog gas, bloating and toilet problems, so only give them a small amount in bite-sized pieces as a snack.
Also, don’t ever feed a dog a whole celery stick, as if they swallow it whole it could cause a blockage that is super hard for them to digest.
To give your dog the safest possible portion of celery, make sure it’s fresh and wash it under a tap.
Chop the celery stick into bite-sized pieces and give it to them alongside their normal food or in a small bowl.
The celery must be plain without salt or seasonings; though you could make it more of a treat by adding a small amount of cream cheese or some dog-friendly peanut butter.
How much celery your dog can eat depends on their age and breed, but generally a small dog should only have a few bite-sized pieces of celery at a time.
A larger dog can handle a bit more, such as a stick of celery chopped into pieces.
Don’t feed celery to your dog every day, but you can mix up their diet with a range of healthy fruit and vegetables. Ask your vet for specifics if you’re not sure.
Yes, dogs can eat celery raw.
When raw it provides vitamins A, C and K and it’s a hydrating source of fibre. Munching on celery stalks is also great for a dog’s teeth and oral health. However, be aware it is harder for dogs to digest raw veg. Make it easier for them by serving celery alongside their regular dog food, and being sure it’s always chopped into pieces.
Cooked celery is fine for a dog to eat - just as long as it’s not flavoured with salt or seasonings. It will be easier for your pooch to digest this way, however it won’t have as many nutritional benefits as when served raw (raw celery contains vitamins C, A and K, as well as fibre and minerals).
It’s not recommended you feed your pooch a whole celery stick - though it could be deemed a useful ‘chew toy’, and the crunchiness is great for their oral health. However, it also poses too much of a choking hazard.
A whole celery stick, if consumed, is also a risky blockage in a dog’s digestive tract. However, cut into pieces, celery is a crunchy, healthy snack for a dog with some lovely health benefits.
Dogs can eat the entirety of a celery including the leaves, stalk and seeds; it is a non-toxic vegetable to dogs.
The leaves are actually very flavourful and can be served plain and chopped into pieces, just like the stalk itself. However, don’t feed a huge portion of celery to a pooch, or feed them celery every day - it could cause them digestive issues or cause them to urinate more often than they should.
Yes, if the peanut butter is free of xylitol and suitable for dogs, it can be a delicious, crunchy treat for a pooch!
Celery is nutritious due to its mineral and fibre content as well as vitamins A, C and K - and it’s low calorie, so it's good for dogs on a weight management plan. However, it can be tough to digest, so adding a bit of peanut butter can make it more of a treat.
Try to opt for peanut butter is organic, with no preservatives or added sugars - and most importantly, check the label for Xylitol.
If the peanut butter has this artificial sweetener, don’t give it to your dog, as Xylitol is toxic to dogs and can cause liver failure. Chop the celery into pieces and spoon a bit of peanut butter into the ‘furrow’ for a nice little treat.
Let’s recap!
If you like the sound of celery but want to experiment with other healthy snacks, try the following for your dog!
Peanut Butter dog treats. Your dog gets the irresistible peanut butter taste with all the goodness of healthy, grain-free dog treats.
Apple. A source of fibre and vitamins that’s sweet, crunchy and tasty.
Carrot. Great for dog’s teeth as it’s crunchy just like celery, with lots of vitamins and minerals to boot.
Dental sticks. If you want to boost your dog’s oral health, dental sticks for dogs are a great way to keep them entertained while strengthening their teeth and freshening breath.
If you’re looking for delicious treats for your dog that are packed full of nutritious, whole ingredients to keep them happy and healthy, check out our healthy dog treats.
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