 The Short Answer is: |
Dogs can eat raw celery, so the simple answer is yes. The crunchy vegetables can be added to their diet along with carrots to provide a nutrient boost and variety to their diets. Chunks should be chopped into bite-size pieces after it is thoroughly washed. |
In this article you will know the answer to the query “Can Dogs Eat Raw Celery?“.
My (then) wife used to eat celery all the time back in the early 2000s.
In the same way other people might snack on a protein bar or a rice cake she ate a few sticks per day.
We were living in California at the time so.
One of the main reasons why raw celery was so popular was that it was supposed to have “negative calories”.
Since I discuss this in more detail later I can vouch for how few calories it has.
In case you did not know “negative calories” is a term that describes foods that require more calories to process by the body than they contain.
This would make a lot of sense if it were true!
Where does that leave our dogs?
Should raw celery be eaten or should it just be made into the soup as part of their nutrition?
What nutrients does celery contain?
Celerys power and appeal cannot be summed up by how much fat and protein it contains.
Vitamins and minerals instead provide the nitty-gritty.
One of its most abundant vitamins is vitamin K which is almost unheard of among vitamins.
In dogs vitamin K plays a vital role in clotting their blood as it is crucial to their health.
Vitamin K deficiency in dogs causes excessive bleeding.
Its interesting that I could not find out exactly how much vitamin K a dog needs.
When I look at this document I do not notice any mention of vitamin K in a dogs diet.
I can only tell you that a 100 g serving of raw celery contains 24% of a humans recommended daily intake.
Vitamin A and vitamin B6 are also important vitamins in celery.
It is important for dogs to consume vitamin A in order to maintain good eyesight and vitamin B6 in order to maintain healthy cells in their bodies.
Dogs almost get exactly what they need in terms of vitamin A from celery. Vitamin A is almost the same concentration in celery as in milk.
Celery contains plenty of vitamin B6 but not as much as dogs need. In fact the concentration is about half that of dogs’ requirements.
Its okay though.
It is important to remember that if your dog is eating a completely dry or wet food diet then he or she will receive all the vitamins and minerals he or she needs.
Additionally any other vegetables you add to their diet act like boosters!
Among celery minerals potassium is the main standout.
While 100g of celery contains a good amount of potassium for humans (about 6%) dogs require much more potassium in their diet so celery provides a small amount of potassium for dogs.
Is cooked celery better for my dog?
Raw celery is a healthy alternative to dog biscuits but cooking it changes how you will use it with your dog.
If it was cooked it wouldnot make sense to serve it as a separate treat because it would be better added to their main meal?
Think about giving your dog a side of lightly steamed celery that left them licking their lips.
Cooking celery not only makes it softer but also reduces its vitamin and mineral content.
There are not any major differences as long as the celery is steamed rather than roasted!
If your dog is older and needs a boost in vitamin K or potassium this may help.
Veterinarians should be consulted if there are any serious vitamin deficiencies.
Why would you feed raw celery to a dog?
It has already been described how the vitamins and minerals contained within celery can benefit their health but a dog owner might want to add celery to their diet for other reasons.
There are five that come to mind.
Availability
The first thing that came to mind was that celery is a great choice for dogs since it is so popular with people and is readily available in the fridge.
Low calorie
Besides being a great snack it is also low in calories which makes it ideal for dogs. Celery only has 14 calories per 100 grams whereas the same amount of carrots has 41 calories.
Low sugar
This might seem like I’m flogging a dead horse.
Since celery is a vegetable it obviously does not have a lot of sugar.
Yet again I would like to put carrots down in this regard because carrots contain three times as much sugar as celery!
Cheap
Lets face it price matters. Donot be afraid to admit it.
It is important that it is cheap and can be given to your dogs.
Crunch and chew
What does your dog like to chew on?
One of my dogs exhibits a very exaggerated chewing action when eating things that go into her mouth like stray tissues that she swipes from the floor or sofa.
Is it the kind of chewing that seems to go on for longer than necessary?
Chewing celery might appeal to your dog if he is a chewer because of its satisfying crunch and texture.
The texture is more complex than that of a carrot but significantly less than that of raw asparagus.
Now that we have pointed out its excellent chew properties lets talk about how to prepare it for your dog.
How to prepare raw celery?
While celery can be a great snack for your dog I wouldnot suggest snapping a stick off the stalk and giving it to him.
I would suggest taking a bit more care than that.
In the first place you would be wise to wash it to ensure it is free of dirt and pesticides.
Then chop it up into bite-size pieces.
As tempting as it may seem to post a photo of your dog chewing on celery with the caption “My dog’s new vegan bone” this may overwhelm the animal.
Can you assure me that a whole stick will be ripped up and chewed properly before swallowing it?
Is the whole stick going to end up as a fibrous mess in their throat only to spew out bile 10 minutes later?
Lets chop it up for first-timers to see how they like it!
What parts of a celery stalk should dogs eat?
Is it necessary to remove the leaves? Does the root need to be removed?
What about celery leaves?
Let me tell you something.
The leaves of celery are a casualty of a strange habit of being discarded by almost every person who eats it.
Celery leaves are not something I have ever eaten.
However I just checked their nutritional content (this is for the leaves) and they appear to have much better than the sticks.
Vitamins and minerals are included in that.
Vitamin B6 and B11 are more abundant in celery leaves than in the stalks as well as vitamin C.
Theres a bit of a difference between vitamin C and dogs since it can be created by their bodies but some scientists believe that certain foods can boost their vitamin C levels.
Additionally the leaves contain more calcium phosphorus and potassium than the main stalks.
Dogs will get a burst of refreshing juice when they bite into a celery stalk but they will find the leaves much more bitter than the stalk and they will be harder to eat.
That would be a great photo opportunity if they got stuck to the dogs mouth roof!
If you cut off the leaves and mix them in with their main meal your dog will benefit from all the nutrients without any hassle!
Can my dog eat celery root (celeriac)?
Providing you do not feed them whole celeriac at once theres no reason your dog should not eat celery root.
Celery roots contain the same vitamins and minerals that celery leaves do
A whole root weighs anywhere from one to two pounds (.5 to 1 kg). If your dog isnot very discriminating they will either be bored before they finish the root or it will turn their stomach upside down.
The ground-based part of the plant can also be fed to your dog just give it a thorough wash before cutting it up.
By doing so you will eliminate all of the chemicals and other nasty organisms that might be lurking in the ground.
Dogs might just turn their nose up at it.
Raw it has a bit of a starchy texture and a bitter taste.
Test it out first as a treat and if they reject it then add it to their main meal.
Peel wide strips of it off and place them on top of the food for a “posh restaurant vibe”! No I’m just kidding.
Can dogs eat raw celery?
Dogs can eat raw celery so the simple answer is yes.
The crunchy vegetables can be added to their diet along with carrots to provide a nutrient boost and variety to their diets.
Chunks should be chopped into bite-size pieces after it is thoroughly washed.
You do not have to be as obsessive as I sometimes am and imagine adding it to their diets every single day for weeks on end.
Make sure your dog has a variety of vegetables to eat.
There are only a few fruits that are poisonous to dogs so your pet might like the variety.
Amanda (Author)
With over a decade of experience, Amanda is a distinguished dog trainer. Her expertise in canine behavior has transformed countless lives, fostering harmonious human-canine connections. Through compassionate and personalized approaches, she empowers owners to understand and connect with their furry companions, creating a legacy of joyful tails and transformed lives.
Osvaldo Maciel (Content Reviewer)
Osvaldo Maciel, a stalwart in the field with 14 years of experience, is a revered dog trainer. His journey is defined by a profound understanding of canine behavior, shaping unbreakable human-canine bonds. Osvaldo guides owners to connect with their beloved pets, leaving an indelible mark of happiness and transformation. His legacy shines through the countless lives he has touched.
