Can Dogs Eat Celery? What If It’s In Thanksgiving Stuffing?

Can dogs eat celery, onions, garlic, and other common Thanksgiving ingredients? When it comes to fruits and veggies and whether a dog can safely eat them, the answer is usually ‘yes.’ But not always, and you really need to know what’s in your Thanksgiving food before handing them the leftovers from your plate.

It’s also important to understand that dogs do not need fruits or vegetables in order to maintain a healthy diet. A high-quality dog food made with real animal products should naturally include all of the vitamins, minerals, and macronutrients a dog needs to live a healthy life.

Celery, specifically, can be given to dogs in moderation as a treat. Veterinarians often recommend celery as a weight-loss snack for dogs struggling with obesity. It is crunchy (which helps doggy breath), mostly made of water, and fibrous (good for digestion) — all things your doggo will appreciate in a treat.

Also, celery is very low in fat and cholesterol and is an excellent source of fiber, vitamins A, C, and K, folate, potassium, and manganese. Add a little bit of peanut butter for an all-natural, healthy treat your pup will love.

It’s important to understand, however, that treats (even healthy ones) should only make up about 10 percent of your pet’s diet. Knowing this, it shouldn’t be too hard to determine how much celery (with or without peanut butter) is “too much” to give the dog on a daily basis.

Also, a big bite of celery can be a bit too fibrous for small dogs, who can choke while trying to swallow the veggie. But if you’re just considering handing your pooch a bite of Thanksgiving stuffing, at least you don’t have to worry about the celery mixed in with the cornbread and chicken stock. You do need to be mindful of the onion and garlic content, though — onions, leeks, and chives, garlic are all part of the Allium family (though garlic is five times more toxic to dogs than the rest of the Allium plants.)