Can Dogs Eat Celery?
Have you wondered can dogs eat celery, and can you provide your dog with a healthier and more natural diet by adding celery and other veggies to its meals?
While vegetables are much healthier alternatives to some calorie-packed and other processed dog treats, keep in mind that not all vegetables are suitable or safe for dogs.
You should always speak to your veterinarian before adding a new type of human food to your dog’s diet.
Since dogs are omnivores, they can eat and digest both animal and plant-based foods. This is why many dog foods contain not only animal-based proteins but also added plant ingredients, including potatoes, rice, corn, green peas, and many more.
Plus, many pups enjoy eating fresh vegetables or fruit treats.
The good news is that celery is among the safest vegetables for your dog.
The bad news is that not all dogs will enjoy eating celery.
But if your pup likes munching on crunchy apples and carrots, it will likely like receiving an occasional treat consisting of fresh celery.
Read on to find out more about the benefits of celery for dogs and how to feed celery to your pup safely.
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What are the health benefits of celery for dogs?
Celery is in the same family as carrots, celeriac, parsley, and parsnips and is an excellent source of vitamins, minerals, fiber, and antioxidants. Celery is a natural source of vitamins A, C, K, folate, and potassium. It also contains a substance known as apigenin which has been used as an anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antibacterial, and antiviral agent since ancient times in traditional Chinese medicine.
Plus, a fresh stick of celery can help keep the pup’s teeth and gums clean and will freshen its breath as well.
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Potential side effects and other health concerns
Since celery is a natural diuretic, which causes the body to urinate more and expel more water, a dog that eats too much celery can start urinating more often than usual.
Also, overeating with celery or most or other vegetables can cause gastrointestinal issues in dogs, including gas, bloating, diarrhea, vomiting, and nausea.
Another potential risk of the dog eating celery is if the celery is swollen in large chunks or whole, which can cause choking or intestinal obstruction.
What types of celery can be given to dogs?
You can give your dog both raw and cooked celery, depending on your preferences. Since dogs cannot absorb as much of the essential nutrients from raw vegetables as humans can, you may take the time to cook the celery first.
Another way to ensure that your dog is getting as much of the healthy nutrients from the celery is to use a blender or juicer and then pour the juice into the dog food.
If your dog likes fresh veggie snacks, you can give your dog whole raw celery, which will not only be an enjoyable treat but will also help clean the dog’s teeth and gums and improve its breath.
Fresh and cooked celery contains fewer calories than most dog treats and is perfect for dogs that are overweight.
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How to safely feed your dog with celery?
As with any other food or treat, the key to safely feeding the dog with celery is to do it in moderation.
Celery can be served as a topper to your pup’s regular dog food or as a fresh crunchy snack, but it should not be given as a substitute for a healthy and balanced diet.
In fact, the celery or any other veggie you give to your dog should make up less than 10% of the calories of your dog’s overall healthy diet.
You can give your dog a whole celery stalk, or half or less for a smaller-sized dog, and observe it as it eats.
If your dog attempts to swallow whole large chunks instead of chewing them, you should cut the vegetable up into small pieces or blend it to avoid choking or possible bowel obstruction.
It would be best to watch your dog for any adverse reactions to the celery when you first start giving it and look for any gastrointestinal upsets, such as gas, bloating, nausea, diarrhea, or vomiting.
If your pup shows such symptoms, you should quit feeding it with celery and switch to another fresh, easier plant-based snack on the stomach, such as apples or carrots.
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