Can Dogs Eat Celery?

Yes, dogs can eat celery. The free Dog Toxic-Foods Checker lists celery as Safe: “Crunchy, hydrating, and very low in calories.” The one thing to get right: “Cut into small pieces so the stringy stalk can’t choke or block; plain, no dip.”

This page covers how to cut it, how much to give, and the celery snacks that aren’t dog-friendly.

Why celery is a useful treat

Celery is mostly water and fiber, so it gives a satisfying crunch for almost no calories. That makes it useful for the many dogs who need to watch their weight: more than half of U.S. dogs are overweight or obese, according to the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention’s clinic surveys. Swapping a biscuit for a few celery pieces keeps the reward without the calories.

How much celery to give

The checker’s portion guide: a few small pieces — a couple for a small dog, a small handful for a large one.

• A treat, not a meal. The AKC advises feeding celery as a treat, not a meal replacement, and keeping treats under about 10% of the daily diet, the same guideline AAHA uses. The free Dog Feeding Calculator gives your dog’s daily number.
• Watch the stomach. Celery is very watery, and a lot of it can mean gas, loose stools or extra trips outside.

Cut it small

The AKC notes that celery can be a choking hazard, especially for small dogs. The long, stringy fibers are the problem: a big chunk of stalk is hard to chew and can be swallowed whole.

1. Wash it and trim the ends.
2. Slice across the stalk into thin pieces, rather than long sticks, for small dogs.
3. Pull off the toughest strings if your dog gulps.
4. Bigger sticks are fine for a large dog who actually chews.

Celery snacks to skip

• Celery with dip, ranch or cream cheese: fat and salt, and many dips contain garlic or onion (onion and garlic).
• Celery in soups, stuffing and stir-fries: usually cooked with onion, garlic, salt and broth (stuffing).
• Celery salt: it’s mostly salt.

A celery “boat” with a little peanut butter is fine if the peanut butter is plain and xylitol-free. Some brands use xylitol, sometimes listed as birch sugar, which can cause a dangerous drop in blood sugar in dogs (peanut butter). Use a thin smear, because peanut butter is calorie-dense.

More crunchy, low-calorie picks

Rotate celery with other plain, light treats: carrots, cucumber and green beans. The free food safety chart puts the whole Safe / Caution / Never list on the fridge.