Can dogs eat celery?

Celery stalks are made of long, tough strings. A dog that swallows a large piece may gag or, rarely, choke. Slicing across the stalk into short pieces cuts the strings into manageable lengths. For toy breeds, chop even finer or steam briefly to soften.

The leafy tops are safe too and can be chopped and scattered over food.

A whole medium stalk has only about 6 calories. That makes celery useful for dogs on a weight-loss plan who still expect a crunchy reward. A few pieces can replace one biscuit treat and save 30 calories or more. Some dogs love the crunch, while others find the taste too strong.

Chilled celery pieces work well as a quick reward on warm days. Keep a small tub of pre-cut pieces in the fridge so you are not tempted to reach for higher-calorie biscuits when your dog asks. Celery also bulks out a meal a little for dogs on a diet, though your vet should approve any major changes to meal size.

Celery is sometimes said to freshen a dog's breath. Any effect is small and short-lived. Persistent bad breath in dogs is often linked to dental disease, which needs proper attention from your vet rather than a vegetable snack.

Celery sticks served with dips like hummus, blue cheese dressing or peanut butter bring garlic, dairy or possibly xylitol. Soups, stews and stuffing made with celery almost always include onion. Celery salt is mostly salt. Plain fresh celery is the version to share.