Can Dogs Eat Celery?
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Can Dogs Eat Celery?
Does your canine friend beg for a celery stick when you are eating your healthy snack? Have you wondered whether feeding celery to your pet is safe?
The answer is YES. Celery is safe for dog consumption, but you need to know a few facts about it before feeding it to your dog.
Celery is an integral part of the human diet, since it provides plenty of nutrients, along with vitamins, folate, manganese, and potassium, while being low in calories and fat.
Incorporating fruits and vegetables into a dog’s diet can provide healthy nutrients for your pet. Still, pet owners should learn which fruits and veggies are suitable for their dog and which might cause health problems if eaten.
Here, we discuss the benefits of celery, whether it is safe for your dog to eat, and its potential dangers. We also provide some tasy suggestions about how to serve it to your dog.
Benefits of Celery for Dogs
Celery does indeed have some benefits for dogs. Full of vitamins A, B, C, D, E, and K—as well as potassium, calcium, iron, and zinc—celery can help dogs nutritionally. It works well as a healthy snack for obese dogs, because it is nutrient-dense and low in both calories and fat.
Celery also improves and freshens dog breath, a benefit many dog owners will appreciate.
Although fruits and veggies are not necessary for dogs to have a balanced diet, eating a small portion of choice veggies and fruits each day may help your dog’s health.
However, celery should not be the base of the diet you are feeding your dog. Veterinarians advise that pet owners should limit their pets’ total fruit and veggie intake to a maximum ratio of 10% of their daily calorie intake.
Potential Hazards to Your Dog
Although celery is a dog-friendly vegetable, it is not without risks. Celery can be a choking hazard. Smaller dogs carry a higher choking risk, since they have more trouble chewing and swallowing large chunks. Therefore, any celery fed to dogs should be in bite-sized pieces to avoid fear of choking.
The fact that a specific type of food is not toxic or dangerous for your dog does not mean that it is an ideal treat. All dogs are different, and each reacts to food in different ways. Make sure that your dog is fond of the treats you are offering before deciding to make them a regular part of a diet.
How to Feed Your Dog Celery
Now that we’ve covered both the benefits and potential hazards of celery for your dog, what should you keep in mind when feeding celery (or any vegetable) to your furry friend?
- Chop it up. Since celery can be a choking hazard, especially for smaller dogs, be sure to cut the celery into manageable, bite-sized pieces that will be easy to chew and swallow.
- Introduce it gradually. When introducing a new food into your dog’s diet, always start slowly. Give your dog a few bites of celery at a time then track your companion’s reaction to it.
- Limit portions. Respect the 10% rule when it comes to celery in combination with any other fruits or vegetables you may be feeding you dog. Think of it as a treat for your dog rather than an essential core part of its diet.
- Enhance it with a spread. If your dog or puppy is not delighted to eat celery plain, you can might combine it with other treats, such as dog-friendly peanut butter, for a smoother transition.
In summary, if your canine friend seems attracted to the flavor of celery, then it is fine to share a few stalks as long as they are cut up in small pieces. Let your pup munch away!
