Key Takeaways
- How Can Dogs Have Celery?
- Is Celery Good for Dogs?
- What Other Vegetables Can Dogs Eat?
- Dogs & Puppies
- Dog Nutrition & Diet
- What Can Dogs Eat
Most dogs probably won't eat this bland vegetable, but here's what you need to know if your dog digs the stalks.
Writer and editor Brendan Howard has written on pet and veterinary topics for more than 13 years. He grew up with indoor and outdoor cats in Southern California, but now lives catless in Kansas. He remembers each meow factory vividly and happily, but he hasn't picked his next one yet.
Jenna is a registered veterinary technician with a range of veterinary experience that includes small animal internal medicine, oncology, neurology, emergency, alternative medicine, and practice management.
As the Pet Health and Behavior Editor for Petcare Hub, Jenna is living the dream as she combines her veterinary knowledge and passion for animals with her love of writing and education. Before Petcare Hub, Jenna was a pet expert and contributor for The Spruce Pets.
When she's not working, Jenna enjoys exploring Cincinnati with her pitty-mutt Rhyme, visiting dog-friendly breweries, and cuddling with her super kitty: RBG, AKA Ruthie.
If your dog's a little overweight, you might be considering an alternative to the usual dog treats. But can dogs eat celery? The good news is they can eat the water-filled stalks—if they really want to.
Like us, dogs might not be too keen to chomp on the bland veggie even though it offers digestive benefits at little caloric cost. The USDA estimates a large stalk of celery contains 9 or 10 calories, but good luck selling your pup on that one.
Here's what else you should know about celery for dogs:
How Can Dogs Have Celery?
You can try to feed the celery to your dog plain, or you might have to spice it up.
Ernie Ward, DVM, founder of the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention and author of The Clean Pet Food Revolution, loves celery as a healthy dog treat. And in a few cases, that alone might be enough.
"Dogs tend to prefer textures that crunch and crackle, and they like to chew and suckle on them," he says.
Renee Schmid, DVM, DABVT, DABT, and a veterinarian toxicologist who works with Pet Poison Helpline, agrees with Ward, even calling celery "a perfect snack for dogs." However, she knows few dogs who will willing eat it plain.
"Now, add peanut butter," she says, "and that's a different story."
Indeed. Your dog will be more likely to eat it, but the spread also adds calories and fat, making the snack more unhealthy. Remember, you want to keep the treats under control, making up no more than 10 percent of your dog's daily calories.
One more note on peanut butter: Never share "ants on a log" (celery with peanut butter and raisins) with your favorite canine, as grapes and raisins are toxic for dogs.
Is Celery Good for Dogs?
Yup, celery is good for dogs as long as it's still plain.
The vegetable has water and fiber, which can be good for a dog's digestion, and only has a few calories. However, different dogs react to fiber differently: Sometimes a lot of fiber helps digestion, and other times fiber can cause digestive issues.
That's another reason to watch the portion size and thoroughly wash before feeding. You'll want to keep your celery safe for dogs.
If you're worried your dog could choke on the celery, Schmid says it's not likely.
"Most dogs would likely need to chomp on a long piece to figure out how to get it all in their mouth," Schmid says.
Schmid has never seen a celery choking incident at Pet Poison Helpline, but she figures just to be extra safe, you could cut celery into half-inch or shorter pieces just to keep throat irritation to a minimum if your dog likes to swallow things whole.
Also consider removing the leaves as those are the part of the celery most likely to contain pesticides.
What Other Vegetables Can Dogs Eat?
Out of the whole wide world of fresh vegetables, there's a chance your favorite canine won't go for celery. But there are other human foods you can safely share with your dog. And here are some vegetable options that might make the cut if your dog turns her nose up at celery:
- Broccoli
- Corn
- Cucumbers
- Green beans
- Mushrooms (only the ones from your fridge, not the ones from your yard)
- Potatoes
- Squash
- Sweet potatoes
- Pumpkin
- Asparagus
- Carrots
If these don't work, keep experimenting with healthy choices, Ward says.
"I want people to give treats," he says. "It's a highly emotionally rewarding experience for you and your dog."
