Can Dogs Eat Celery? Yes

Why it’s safe

Celery is not toxic to dogs. It is mostly water, low in calories and sodium, and it brings a little fiber along with vitamins and minerals such as A, C, K, folate and potassium. That makes it a handy crunchy snack for a dog that needs to lose weight, as long as your vet agrees.

A balanced dog food already covers your dog's nutritional needs, so think of celery as a low-calorie extra rather than a supplement. The AKC says the main concern is choking, especially for small dogs, and PetMD adds that a whole stick could cause choking or even an intestinal blockage, which is why it suggests pulling off the strings. Chopping the stalk into small pieces solves most of that.

Some dogs get mild stomach upset from celery, such as gas or a loose stool, particularly if they eat more than usual. The bigger trap is how celery is cooked. Soups, stir-fries and stuffings often contain garlic or onion, which are harmful to dogs.

Benefits

Very low in calories, so it suits dogs that need to lose weight (check with your vet first)
Mostly water, with fiber to help your dog feel full
Provides vitamins A, C and K, folate and potassium
The crunch is satisfying, and the AKC says it may help freshen breath

Risks

Strings and long stalks can cause choking, especially in small dogs
A whole stick may cause an intestinal blockage in some dogs
Too much can cause gas or loose stools
Celery cooked with onion, garlic, salt or butter is not safe for dogs
Celery leaves carry the most pesticide residue, so trim them off unless the celery is organic

How to serve it safely

Wash the celery, trim the ends, pull off the tough strings if you can, and cut the stalk into small bite-size pieces. Serve it raw, lightly cooked with nothing added, or frozen as a crunchy summer snack. Let your dog try a little first and watch how the stomach copes.

Portions depend on size. As a rough guide from PetMD, an extra-small dog (under about 20 lb [9 kg]) can have a piece or two, a medium dog five or six small pieces, and a large dog a small handful. Treats of all kinds should stay under about 10% of daily calories. Stay close while your dog chews, and never leave a whole stalk lying around.

Related forms

Food	Verdict	Why
Celery leaves	Yes	Safe, but they hold the most pesticide residue, so trim them off unless the celery is organic.
Cooked celery	Yes	Fine when plain and cooled; no salt, butter, onion or garlic.
Frozen celery	Yes	Safe and refreshing, though it loses most of its nutrients.
Celery in soup or stuffing	No	These dishes often contain onion, garlic, salt or butter.

If your dog already ate it

A dog that swiped a few plain celery pieces will most likely be fine. Offer water and keep an eye out for gas or loose stools.

Call your vet if your dog ate a whole stalk or a lot of celery and starts gagging, retching, vomiting, or seems painful or lethargic, since a blockage is possible. Call your vet or an emergency clinic right away for repeated vomiting, heavy diarrhea, blood in vomit or stool, weakness or collapse. If the celery came from a dish with onion or garlic, call your vet, ASPCA Animal Poison Control at (888) 426-4435 or Pet Poison Helpline at (855) 764-7661 (US; fees may apply). Do not make your dog vomit at home.

Frequently asked questions

Is celery good for dogs?

It can be a healthy low-calorie treat. It is mostly water and fiber with some vitamins, but a dog on a complete and balanced food does not need it.

Can dogs eat raw celery?

Yes. Wash it and cut it into small pieces so the strings and stalk do not become a choking hazard.

Can puppies eat celery?

The AKC says puppies can have small, appropriately sized pieces, but they need close supervision while they chew.

Can dogs eat celery leaves?

Yes, but PetMD notes that the leaves carry the most pesticide residue, so it suggests removing them unless the celery is organic.

Written from veterinary sources by the Pawsplained editorial team. Not yet reviewed by a veterinarian; this is general information, not a diagnosis or treatment plan. Updated Oct 30, 2026. Editorial policy

Celery?