You are munching away on a piece of Celery, enjoying your favorite TV show, when your Alsatian takes an interest in what you are eating. Of course. Pets seem to want to eat exactly what you’re eating. You reach a hand to give him a celery stick but suddenly aren’t sure; can dogs eat Celery?
The short answer to that is yes; dogs can eat Celery.
But there are some things you should remember when feeding your dog celery. It can be a great nutritional snack, but it is also a choking hazard. So, the key is to prepare Celery as you would for a toddler when feeding it to dogs.
Moreover, a dog’s digestive system is different from a human. What we can digest is not necessarily something that our dog will be able to eat. Humans are omnivores and can eat meat and vegetable, but dogs are mostly carnivores, and they can only digest some vegetables.
Read on to find out how you can make it safe for your dog to have Celery.
Celery For Dogs
Celery is a vegetable that belongs to the same family as carrots, parsnips, and parsley, and it makes a highly nutritious snack.
A celery stick is 95% water, which makes it a healthy treat for your dog, especially during summer. Instead of the store-bought processed treats, you can give your dog a Celery stick to munch on in-between meals, especially for dogs who have gained a little weight.
The best part is that Celery is edible in its entirety, meaning that you can feed the stalk and the leafy part of the Celery to your dog.
Celery for dogs may seem like a weird pairing, but it is quite good for dogs. Healthy and filling, the Celery is a humble but excellent snack choice.
How Much Celery Can a Dog Eat?
Your dog should eat any food item in proportion to its size. Big dogs need bigger portion sizes, and small dogs need smaller. Therefore, the amount of Celery a dog can eat depends on its size.
Moreover, Celery should be given as a treat, and dog treats should not make up more than 10% of your dog’s diet.
Therefore, Celery should make up roughly 10% of your dog’s daily food intake. In other words, 1 – 4 Celery sticks chopped into pieces a day should be plenty.
You can also consult your veterinarian for more information about the exact quantity of Celery you should feed your dog.
How To Give Celery to Your Dog?
The best way to introduce any new food to your dog is during the daytime and in small quantities.
You should always be available to observe your dog when feeding a new food item so that if they do have an allergic reaction, you can act quickly. It’s not a good idea to put new food in your dog’s bowl before you leave for work in the morning.
The other thing to remember specifically about Celery is that it should be cut in a certain way so that your dog does not choke on it. Cut Celery into bite-size chunks so your dog can eat it easily without choking.
Celery juice might not be a good idea as it comprises a large amount of Celery and might be too concentrated for dogs.
Can Dogs Eat Raw Celery?
Celery can be served raw or cooked for your dog.
Some dogs may prefer to eat cooked Celery because it is easier to chew and swallow. In the case of cooked Celery, you should skip the seasoning as Dogs do not like seasoned vegetables.
On the other hand, some dogs eat Celery raw for the crunch factor. As mentioned above, raw Celery can be a choking hazard for your dog, so your dog should have Celery when it is cut into chewable bites.
Also, if you are feeding your dog raw Celery, it is a good idea to buy organic to avoid pesticides. Like with any vegetable, you should always wash your vegetables before you feed them to your dog.
How To Cook Celery for Dogs?
The safest way to cook Celery is by steaming or boiling it without any spices or oil. Usually, when we cook Celery for humans, we use it in stocks and soups, and it is heavily seasoned.
However, dogs cannot tolerate seasoning, so we mustn’t add any salt or pepper to the vegetable.
Here is a safe Celery recipe for your dog:
Safe Ants on The Log Celery Recipe for Your Dog
To make this recipe, you will need the following ingredients:
- Celery
- Xylitol free Peanut Butter
- Dog Treats
Steps to prepare Safe Ants on the Log Recipe for Your Dog:
- Wash the Celery thoroughly and remove any leaves. Do try and buy organic Celery as it is better.
- Spread Xylitol-free peanut butter on the celery sticks. You mustn’t use peanut butter that has Xylitol in it as this is a toxic chemical for dogs.
- After spreading the peanut butter, add some crumbled dog treats on top.
- Put in the fridge before serving to your dog. Cut them up in bite-size easy to swallow bites.
What Are the Benefits of Feeding Celery to Your Dog?
The benefits of Celery are great in number and will add nutritional value to your dog’s diet. As it’s low in calories, it is especially recommended for obese dogs.
Some of the benefits of Celery include:
- Celery contains essential vitamins like Vitamin A, K, and C. The stalks contain Calcium, Vitamin E, and Iodine.
- Celery contains Fibre, making it an excellent food to regulate healthy bowel movements. Is your dog frequently constipated? Celery will solve that in a jiff. However, don’t overfeed it, as fiber can also cause gas.
- Celery has anti-inflammatory properties, so it is a good option for dogs experiencing arthritis or inflammation due to some other disease.
- Provides satisfaction to hungry dogs and helps maintain their weight.
- In hot regions, Celery can prevent dehydration in dogs as it contains high levels of water.
- Celery is known to improve a dog’s breath, so if your pup has that problem, Celery might just be the thing your dog needs.
Is There Any Harm in Giving Celery to Dogs?
Although there are many significant health benefits of eating Celery, there are some concerns too. Let’s look at a few of them so that you can make sure you are not compromising your pet’s health:
- Celery is High in Sodium – Celery has a high sodium content, so if you are overfeeding your dog, it may be a cause for concern. However, it is less sodium than processed foods because it is a vegetable. But it does have more sodium than other vegetables.
- Celery is a Choking Hazard – As mentioned Celery is one of the harder vegetables, and so it is essential that when you feed it to your dog, you make sure that it is cut in chewable chunks. Celery is fibrous, so some dogs may have trouble swallowing.
- Puppies Can’t Chew Celery– Puppies and Celery are not a good combination. Puppies are still learning to chew and eat food. Celery is too hard and fibrous for them. Just like children who are learning to eat, we should be careful of the food items we feed our puppies.
So, Can Dogs Eat Celery?
We learned that, yes, dogs can have Celery as long as it is cut and prepared appropriately.
For obese dogs, Celery is recommended as it is a filling and nutritious snack with a low-calorie count. Moreover, Celery is great for dogs who have bad breath and suffer from arthritis.
As always, knowing what kind of foods your dog can eat and in what proportion is important. Never overfeed your dog, and always consult your veterinarian before starting any new food item.
Your dog will thank you later!
FAQs
What Are Safe Vegetables That Your Dog Can Eat?
Not all vegetables are safe for your dog to eat. But in addition to Celery, there are many safe vegetables that you can add to your dog’s diet.
Here’s a quick list:
- Broccoli-steamed and cut into small pieces
- Brussel Sprouts-
- Carrots-can be fed raw but better to steam or boil
- Green Beans-steamed boiled or raw
- Peas
- Sweet Potatoes
- Sweetcorn
All vegetables should be boiled and not seasoned with oil or any other spices. Like always it’s a good idea to consult with your veterinarian before you introduce any vegetables to your dog’s diet.
What Are Unsafe Vegetables You Should Not Feed Your Dog?
You would be surprised to know that the list is long when it comes to vegetables that are considered unsafe for dogs to eat. As mentioned earlier, the human digestive system is very different from a dog.
You must know which vegetables you can feed your dog and which ones you cannot, these are:
- Corn on the cob
- Garlic
- Leeks
- Lemon
- Lime
- Mushrooms
- Onions
- Potatoes
- Green parts of Tomatoes and unripe tomatoes
