Can dogs eat celery?
Updated 6 August 2026
Yes, celery is safe for dogs and one of the lowest-calorie treats in the fridge. Cut it into bite-sized chunks first, because the stringy fibres can catch in a small dog's throat. Raw and plain cooked celery are both fine, and the leaves are edible too.
The detail
Celery is about 95 percent water, and a whole stick runs to roughly 6 calories. That makes it one of the few treats a dieting dog can have without any real maths.
The PDSA lists raw celery among the vegetables dogs can eat, as a crunchy snack. Like any vegetable it is an extra rather than a need, since a complete dog food covers the nutrition already.
The one practical job is the knife work. Celery is stringy, and long fibres can catch in the throat of a small dog or a gulper, so serve chunks rather than handing over a whole stick.
What is in one celery stick
| Water | About 95 percent |
| Calories | Around 6 |
| Fibre | About 0.5g |
| Anything toxic to dogs | NothingThe strings are a choking hazard, not a poison |
How much is sensible
| Dog size | Sensible amount |
|---|---|
| Small (under 10kg)Chihuahua, Jack Russell | A few small chunks, cut short so the strings cannot catch |
| Medium (10 to 25kg)Cocker spaniel, border collie | Half a stick, chopped |
| Large (over 25kg)Labrador, German shepherd | A stick, chopped |
| Overweight dogs | A sensible regular swap for shop treats, still chopped small |
Raw celery sticks
Raw is how most dogs meet celery, and it is fine. Wash it, then cut across the stick into short chunks so the stringy fibres cannot bunch into a strand in the throat.
Size matters most for small dogs and for dogs that swallow rather than chew. A chunk the size of your thumbnail is right for a terrier; a labrador can take bigger pieces.
Cooked celery
Steamed or boiled celery with nothing added is just as safe, and softer on older teeth. Cooking also breaks down the strings, which removes the one real hazard.
Celery out of a soup, casserole or stock pot is a different matter. Those dishes carry salt and usually onion, and onion is toxic to dogs, so cook a piece separately if you want to share.
Celery leaves
The leaves are safe and some dogs like their stronger, peppery taste. Wash them first, since the leafy top is where sprays and soil linger.
Plenty of dogs sniff them and walk away. Nothing is lost either way, because the leaves hold nothing the stick does not.
The low-calorie chew for dieting dogs
If your vet has put your dog on a diet, celery is one of the easiest swaps to make. Most shop treats run to tens of calories each, and a whole celery stick is about 6.
The crunch does part of the work too, because a dog that chews feels more rewarded than one that inhales. Chopped celery, carrot and cucumber in rotation cover the treat habit while the weight comes off.
Common questions
Does celery freshen a dog's breath?
You will see the claim, but there is no good evidence behind it. Persistent bad breath usually means dental disease, which is a job for your vet rather than a vegetable.
Can dogs eat celery every day?
A few chopped chunks daily is fine for a healthy dog, and it is one of the safest treats to repeat. Rotating it with carrot and cucumber keeps things interesting.
Can puppies eat celery?
Yes, in small soft pieces once they are on solid food. Cut it extra small, because puppies are the age group most likely to bolt a chunk whole.
Can dogs eat celery with peanut butter?
Only if the peanut butter is xylitol-free, and only a thin scrape. Xylitol is extremely toxic to dogs, so check the label before anything peanut-flavoured is shared.
Can dogs have celery from a soup or casserole?
No. Cooked dishes bring salt, stock and usually onion, and onion is toxic to dogs. Share a plain piece cooked separately instead.
My dog swallowed a long piece of celery whole. Should I worry?
Usually it passes without trouble. Watch for gagging, retching or refusing food over the next day, and ring your vet if any of those appear, sooner for a small dog.