Celery is one of the healthiest foods present on planet Earth. It is rich in minerals and 2vitamins, including vitamins A, C, and K, folate, and potassium. Its also low in sodium and glycemic index, which means that it can help keep your blood sugar and blood pressure levels low. But can dogs eat celery? Let us find out.
Considering so many health benefits, you would love to give it to your dog to keep it fit and healthy. But you must have heard many times from people that celery is not good for dogs. The variety of opinions may confuse you, and you may find yourself asking if it is wise to include celery in dog meals.
If you also find yourself in such a predicament, then we must tell you that there is no harm in giving celery to your dog. However, it is important to understand that excess of everything is bad and celery would be even better for your dog if you serve it in a specific way. Here is a short guide.
Can Dogs Eat Celery? Reasons to Exercise Caution
Can small dogs eat celery? For small dogs, celery is ill-reputed for posing a choking hazard. So, before you give it to your dog, make sure to cut it into bite-size pieces. This will not only make it easier for your dog to consume, but also prevent choking.
Apart from that, celery is also a diuretic, which means it can cause your dog’s body to expel more water than usual. If it eats too much celery, you may find it urinating more than normal. Excess of celery is also notorious for causing gastrointestinal upset, including nausea, bloating, gas, diarrhea, and vomiting.
Finally, dogs are not known to digest raw vegetables very well. It can be problematic if they try to swallow a large celery chunk as a whole. For these reasons, it is always better to give your dog celery in small amounts only. They can be good occasional treats, but do not give it to them as a full meal replacement.
What Kind of Celery Can You Give to Your Dog?
Now you know the answer to – “can dogs eat celery?” You may serve both raw and cooked celery to your dog. Cooking celery may deprive it of its nutrients. So, if nutrition is what you want for your pet dog, then consider giving serving raw celery. But there is a downside to serving it raw, as dogs do not digest raw veggies as easily as humans do.
If you want to give the nutrients to your dog without disturbing its gut, the best recipe would be to crush the raw celery in a blender and mix it in your dog’s food. You may also extract juice from the celery and pour on its regular food.
What is the Correct Amount to be Given?
Use celery as a treat and not as a meal for your dog. According to experts, treats should make up no more than 10% of the daily diet of your dog. If your dog is eating healthy food regularly, it doesn’t need extra nutrition from foods like celery. However, some veterinarians may recommend celery for dogs who are overweight.
Measure the number of treats your dog is eating on a regular basis, and calculate the percentage in comparison to its regular meals. If you don’t have the tools to measure serving sizes, figure out how much celery is too much. For instance, if your dog regularly eats one bowl of food in a day, then serving it in the same bowl full of celery would be more than the recommended amount. If you are not sure, it would be a good idea to contact your vet and take their opinion if dogs can eat celery or not.
Can Dogs Eat Celery? Yes – Here are Some Serving Ideas:
You can serve celery to your dog in in a number of ways. Here are a few serving ideas to ensure your dog can eat celery:
- Chop up a stick of celery and mix it into your dog’s wet or dry food. These chunks of celery can add some crunch to your dog’s food, which they will particularly like in summers.
- Give them celery chunks as occasional snacks. Make an ants-on-a-log by adding some dry dog kibble and peanut butter.
- Boil celery in a pan and serve it to your dog, as it would be easier for your dog to chew and digest. It will be low in fiber but will have all other nutrients intact.
You can serve both leaves and stalks of celery to your dog. However, before you do that, make sure that it is fresh and green. You may determine its freshness by looking at its colour. Fresh celery has bright green tones, while old ones have brown parts. Discard any brown parts and use green ones only.
Can dogs eat celery? Of course they can, but serve celery to your dog in moderation and be careful. Use the serving ideas given above to make it safe for your canine friend.
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