Celery

Celery is on the American Kennel Club's list of vegetables that are safe for dogs, and AKC notes it is often recommended as a treat for pets that need to lose weight. It is close to calorie-free, has a satisfying crunch, and gives you something to hand a hungry dog while you are cutting back on kibble. AKC also credits it with vitamins A, B, and C and a reputation for freshening doggy breath. The hazard is size, not chemistry. AKC states that celery can pose a choking hazard, especially for small dogs, and to cut it into bite-size chunks before feeding it as a treat. A whole stalk handed to a dog gets crunched twice and swallowed, and the long fibrous strings do not break down on the way. Cut across the ribs into half-inch pieces so no long strands are left. Portion it inside the usual limit: treats should not make up more than 10% of your dog's daily diet, counted on a caloric basis across everything your dog gets in a day. Celery leaves you plenty of room there, but the fiber still means loose stool and gas if you overdo it. The American version of a celery mistake is the assembled snack. Ants on a log is celery, peanut butter, and raisins: raisins are toxic to dogs and can cause acute kidney injury from a few, and some peanut butters contain xylitol, which causes hypoglycemia and liver failure. Check the peanut butter label, and never share the raisin version. Celery with buffalo wing sauce, blue cheese dip, or from a mirepoix simmered with onion is likewise not a dog treat. If your dog chokes on a piece, or afterward vomits repeatedly, guards the belly, or stops passing stool, call your veterinarian or an emergency clinic right away. If raisins or a xylitol product were involved, call the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435. Do not induce vomiting at home.