Can Dogs Eat Celery? Is Celery Good for Dogs?

Celery has tons of health benefits for humans, but should we share this veggie with our four-legged friends? Can dogs eat celery and is celery good for dogs? Let’s learn some facts about celery and if it’s okay for your dog to eat celery.

First, what is celery?

Celery is good for humans, but can dogs eat celery? Photography ©Nadianb | iStock / Getty Images Plus.

According to the Agricultural Marketing Resource Center (AMRC), celery is part of the parsley family. Celery likely started growing about 3,000 years ago in the Mediterranean region. This crunchy green vegetable is commonly used as a garnish, in salads, in soups and in other meals. Celery is also commonly consumed as a portable snack. The long, fibrous stalks are topped with leaves.

Celery is challenging to grow because it requires cool temperatures, large amounts of water and a long growing season.

What are the health benefits of celery?

Americans eat a lot of celery. AMRC notes that, in 2016, the average American ate about 5 pounds of fresh-cut celery.  It’s easy to understand why celery is so popular — it’s not only delicious but also low in calories, and is a good source of fiber, calcium, iron, potassium and zinc, as well as vitamins A, B, K, C, E and D.

Celery is a crunchy and satisfying snack for humans, and it may even be effective at removing toxins from the body. Some believe that celery could help prevent cancer, too. So, celery is obviously great for people, but can dogs eat celery? And if dogs can eat celery, is celery good for dogs?

So, can dogs eat celery?

To find out if celery is safe for dogs to eat, we spoke with Heather Loenser, DVM, the Senior Veterinary Officer at the American Animal Hospital Association. While it’s okay to share your celery treats with your pup, Dr. Loenser cautions that celery should only be fed as a “snack in conjunction with eating a complete and balanced commercial diet.”

How to serve celery to your dogs

Cut celery into bite-sized pieces for your dog before serving. Give your dog a piece or two to make sure celery sits well with him before giving him any more. Some dogs deal with certain foods differently than others.

Want to make a cute snack for your pups using celery? Here’s a recipe for a dog-safe version of the classic kids’ snack “ants on a log.”

What you’ll need:

1. Celery
2. Xylitol-free peanut butter
3. Dog treats

What you’ll do:

1. To make this treat, take a piece of celery and add peanut butter. Note: Make sure the peanut butter doesn’t have xylitol, which is very toxic to dogs.
2. Next, take small dog treats and place several of them in the peanut butter. Note: Be sure not to use raisins, which are also incredibly toxic to dogs.
3. Once the logs are assembled, put them in the refrigerator and let them chill before serving them to your dogs. Cut treats into bite-sized pieces before serving.

Tell us: Do your dogs like celery? How do they eat it?

Thumbnail: Photography ©DebbiSmirnoff | E+ / Getty Images.

Answer more of your “Can dogs eat” questions on Dogster.com:

Can dogs eat…

• Bananas? Let’s Talk About Bananas for Dogs
• Mango? What to Know About Mango for Dogs
• Carrots? If So, Are Carrots Good for Dogs?

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