Is Celery Good for Dogs?

Many dog parents may be surprised that there are great benefits to their dog eating vegetables. Vegetables are full of nutrients that are not found in meat but will benefit your dog’s overall health. Even our dogs’ ancestor, the wolf, is known to scavenge for vegetation in the wild.

One such vegetable that is good for dogs is celery. Celery is the versatile vegetable that is used to flavour soups, stews, stir fries and so much of our own meals. Not only is it a super tasty vegetable but it is packed full of nutrients. We love the benefits of celery so much that it is one of our key ingredients in Original Blend.

Celery is low in calories, is a great source of fibre, Vitamin C, B Vitamins and more. Adding celery into your dog’s diet as a treat, snack or meal topper nourishes them from the inside.

Continue reading to learn about the benefits of celery for dogs.

Why we love celery for dogs

Celery is a member of the apiaceous family (other members include carrots, coriander, fennel, parsnips and parsley), which contain compounds that have antibacterial, antifungal and antimycobacterial benefits.

Celery is a low caloric treat for your dog that helps boost their immune system, protects against chronic disease, detoxes the body, all while freshening their breath. It can’t get much better than that…but it does.

It also possesses several phytochemicals that have antioxidant properties which may help reduce oxidative damage. Oxidative damage is a contributing factor to chronic diseases, including cancer, diabetes, and heart disease.

Mycotoxins are fungal toxins that are tasteless and odourless. They are often found in pet food ingredients that cause serious health problems. They are the real yucky stuff that you don’t want your dog to consume.

Back to the good stuff. Celery is rich in nutrients, including:

• Vitamins A
• B vitamins
• Vitamin C
• Vitamin K
• Calcium
• Folate
• Magnesium
• Manganese
• Potassium
• Insoluble fibre
• Flavonoids (phytonutrients found in most fruits and vegetables that give them their colour)
• Limonene (used to make medicine, promote weight loss, prevent, and treat cancer)

All these nutrients in celery benefit your dog in several ways, including:

• Antimicrobial (as mentioned above)
• Antiparasitic
• Cardioprotective
• Improve gut health
• Relieve constipation
• Neuroprotective
• Protect against pre-mature aging

How to prepare celery for dogs

To feed celery as a treat or as a snack cut into bite size pieces that are suitable for your size dog.

For your dog to absorb the most nutrients from the celery it is best to puree or blend the vegetable to help break down the fibrous cell walls.

Using celery stalks for your dinner? Save the leaves for your dog. Simply puree or blend like you would the stalks and your dog will thank you for it.

Any surplus celery, chopped or blended, can be placed in ice cube moulds and frozen to be use later.

Keep in mind

If your dog consumes excessive amount of celery, you may see them urinating more than normal because it has a diuretic effect.

For the last few years celery has appeared on the Environmental Working Group’s Dirty Dozen list of produce grown with high amounts of pesticide residue.

To keep your dog safe from harmful chemicals found on celery, buy organic or "spray-free" celery. If that is not an option be sure to thoroughly rinse the celery before feeding it to your dog and yourself.