Celeriac

Nowadays considered a nutraceutical, celeriac (root celery, Apium graveolens var. rapaceum) has long been used for its healing properties. Its high concentration of nutrients and compounds provide significant health benefits, including anti-inflammatory and antioxidative properties, bone and heart health support and digestive health.

Main Nutrients

Fibre
Celeriac provides both soluble and insoluble fibre. Soluble fractions contribute to prebiotic activity by supporting fermentation in the large intestine and producing short-chain fatty acids such as butyrate, while insoluble fibre supports bowel regularity and gut transit. Together these effects benefit digestive function and microbial balance in dogs.

Phenolic Compounds and Flavonoids
Root celery contains a complex mix of phenolic acids (notably chlorogenic, caffeic, ferulic and p-coumaric acids) and flavonoids (including apigenin and luteolin derivatives). These compounds act as antioxidants, quenching free radicals and reducing oxidative stress. They also display anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial and vasomodulatory properties. Importantly, polyphenols may support immune regulation and contribute to joint and cardiovascular health in dogs.

Phthalides
Unique to celery, phthalides are volatile compounds responsible for the characteristic aroma. They have been linked with vasorelaxant and mild anti-inflammatory effects, which could complement cardiovascular support.

Main Vitamins

Vitamin C
Vitamin C is a water-soluble vitamin and a powerful antioxidant that helps protect cells from damage caused by free radicals. Dogs do not have a dietary requirement for vitamin C as they can produce some themselves, but additional intake may be beneficial during times of stress, illness or heavy activity. It supports the immune system by aiding the production and function of white blood cells such as lymphocytes and phagocytes, which play key roles in defending against pathogens. Vitamin C also aids iron absorption and helps regulate immune responses through the production of cytokines. In addition, it is essential for collagen synthesis, the protein that forms skin, connective tissue and blood vessels, and by supporting tissue repair it plays a vital role in wound healing.

Vitamin K
Vitamin K is a fat-soluble vitamin that plays a vital role in blood clotting, ensuring wounds heal properly and preventing excessive bleeding. It also supports bone health by regulating calcium and driving protein synthesis needed to maintain bone density. Some studies suggest it may also contribute to cardiovascular health. Dogs obtain vitamin K mainly in two forms: vitamin K1 (phylloquinone) from green leafy vegetables, and vitamin K2 (menaquinones) from animal products and fermented foods, with smaller amounts also produced by gut microbes. Because vitamin K is not stored in large quantities, regular dietary intake is important, and factors such as gut health or antibiotic use can influence how well dogs maintain sufficient levels.

Vitamin B6 (Pyridoxine)
Vitamin B6 (Pyridoxine) is a water-soluble vitamin that is crucial for protein metabolism, supporting the use of amino acids for energy and growth. It contributes to neurotransmitter synthesis, supporting mood and cognitive health. Vitamin B6 also contributes to the creation of haemoglobin, supports immune function and a range of metabolic processes.

Main Minerals

Potassium
Potassium is a major mineral and electrolyte that helps regulate fluid balance in the body, aiding hydration and supporting performance during physical activity. It is essential for normal muscle function and nerve transmission and contributes to the proper functioning of the heart muscle, thereby supporting cardiovascular health. Potassium also plays a role in enzyme activity and energy metabolism.

Calcium
Calcium is a major mineral that is essential for building and maintaining strong bones and teeth. It also plays a central role in muscle contraction, nerve transmission and blood clotting. In dogs, calcium works closely with phosphorus to maintain skeletal structure and ensure proper growth and development. Adequate intake supports heart health, as calcium is involved in the normal contraction and relaxation of the heart muscle.

Magnesium
As a major mineral and cofactor, magnesium is involved in more than 300 enzymatic reactions, supporting energy production, protein synthesis and muscle and nerve function. For dogs, it is vital for healthy muscle activity, nerve transmission and strong bones. Magnesium also plays a key role in cardiovascular health by regulating blood pressure and heart rhythm, in blood coagulation and in supporting the immune system.

Phosphorus
Phosphorus is a major mineral that works closely with calcium to build and maintain strong bones and teeth, with its metabolism regulated in part by vitamin D. It is also a structural component of DNA and RNA and is central to the body’s energy systems through its role in ATP, the molecule that stores and transfers energy in cells. Many proteins and sugars in the body are phosphorylated, reflecting phosphorus’s wide involvement in metabolism.

Iron
Iron is a vital trace mineral for dogs, essential for producing red blood cells. It is an essential component of haemoglobin, which carries oxygen throughout the bloodstream, and myoglobin, which stores oxygen in muscle tissue, thus supporting energy levels, stamina and overall vitality.

Sodium
As a vital mineral and electrolyte, sodium is essential for a dog’s fluid balance, hydration, nerve transmission and muscle contraction. It works with potassium and chloride to regulate cellular function, supports normal blood pressure and maintains cardiovascular health.

Manganese
Manganese is a trace mineral vital for skeletal growth, the formation of healthy bone tissue and the maintenance of connective tissue, particularly ligaments and cartilage. It is essential for energy production and the synthesis of fatty acids and proteins, supporting digestion, nutrient absorption and overall metabolism. At the cellular level, manganese acts as a crucial cofactor for antioxidant enzymes, such as superoxide dismutase (SOD), which helps protect cells from oxidative stress.

Benefits – Key Takeaways

Gut Health
The fibre in celeriac plays a dual role: insoluble fractions regulate digestion and help maintain stool quality, while soluble fractions act as prebiotics, encouraging the growth of beneficial gut bacteria. Their fermentation in the large intestine produces short-chain fatty acids, which nourish the gut lining and support overall digestive health.

Antioxidant capacity
Celeriac’s polyphenols and flavonoids contribute substantially to antioxidant capacity. Studies show that root celery accumulates significant amounts of compounds with strong antioxidant capacity, with  activity concentrated particularly in the leaves but also present in the root. Antioxidant activity in celeriac extracts has been correlated with phenolic content, highlighting their nutraceutical potential. For dogs, these antioxidants may help counteract exercise-induced oxidative stress, support immune function, and protect cellular structures from free radical damage. Together with vitamin C, celeriac’s polyphenols and flavonoids may act synergistically to reduce oxidative stress and support immune resilience (e.g. by neutralising free radicals, stabilising cellular membranes, modulating inflammatory signalling).

Bone and Joint Support
The mineral combination—calcium, phosphorus and magnesium—provides structural substrates for bone and cartilage. Vitamin K contributes to bone matrix protein regulation (through γ-carboxylation of osteocalcin). Vitamin C plays a complementary, indispensable role in collagen synthesis (hydroxylation of proline/lysine residues), which is essential for connective tissue, ligaments, tendons and cartilage.

Cardiovascular and Circulatory Health
Potassium and sodium regulate osmotic balance, vascular tone, and blood pressure. In parallel, phthalides—volatile compounds characteristic of celery—have been linked in other studies to vasorelaxation and mild blood pressure modulation (though direct canine data are scarce). Polyphenols may further support endothelial function and reduce vascular inflammation.

Energy and Performance
Iron is critical for oxygen transport (haemoglobin) and storage (myoglobin), especially under conditions of physical exertion; adequate iron supports stamina and cellular respiration. Vitamin B6 supports key metabolic pathways (amino acid metabolism, neurotransmitter synthesis) and aids in haemoglobin formation, thereby playing a central role in energy balance and neurological function.

The practical side

In the context of canine diets, celeriac isn’t a game-changer for nutrient pairings but it is useful to provide a stable bolus, moderate stronger vegetables, improve texture and tolerance and reduce risk across rotation.

Sodium Caution: Celeriac is naturally high in sodium compared to many other vegetables (search results note 100 mgper 100 g or more), which is a factor for dogs with heart or kidney issues.

 

Care and Share:

Cekeriac makes a wonderful puree in its own right or mixed with other vegetables like potato (to thicken) or even green beans and carrots for a bit of colour. Without salt, it’s something you can share with your dogs.

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Want to know more? These studies may be useful:

Nićetin, M., Pezo, L., Pergal, M., Lončar, B., Filipović, V., Knežević, V., Demir, H., Filipović, J., & Manojlović, D. (2022). Celery Root Phenols Content, Antioxidant Capacities and Their Correlations after Osmotic Dehydration in Molasses. Foods, 11(13), 1945. https://doi.org/10.3390/foods11131945

Szarek N, Jaworska G, Hanus P. Profile of Phenolic Compounds and Antioxidant Activity of Celery (Apium graveolens) Juices Obtained from Pulp after α-Amylase Treatment from Aspergillus oryzae. Molecules. 2024 Mar 23;29(7):1438. doi: 10.3390/molecules29071438. PMID: 38611718; PMCID: PMC11012540.

Plećić, A., Gnjatović, M., & Jovanović, A. (2024). Total Phenolic Content and Radical Scavenging Potential of Celery Root and Celeriac Stalk and Leaf Extracts. Lekovite Sirovine, 44(1), 1–4. https://doi.org/10.61652/leksir2444004P

Golubkina, N. A., Kharchenko, V. A., Moldovan, A. I., Koshevarov, A. A., Zamana, S., Nadezhkin, S., Soldatenko, A., Sekara, A., Tallarita, A., & Caruso, G. (2020). Yield, Growth, Quality, Biochemical Characteristics and Elemental Composition of Plant Parts of Celery Leafy, Stalk and Root Types Grown in the Northern Hemisphere. Plants, 9(4), 484. https://doi.org/10.3390/plants9040484

Important Considerations:

  • Always consult your veterinarian before making any significant dietary changes, particularly where there are pre-existing health conditions or dietary restrictions.
  • If you are feeding commercial food, check the label for ingredients before giving more. Excessive intake of any foods can have adverse effects.
  • Ensure (where possible) that you use high-quality, organic products specifically formulated for pets (or better still, human grade ingredients) to avoid any potential adverse effects.
  • Introduce new foods gradually to avoid adverse effects such as gastrointestinal upset or diarrhoea.
  • I provide nutritional information purely as a helpful guide. Nutritional information on ingredients is obtained from the US Department of Agriculture’s FoodData Central site (https://fdc.nal.usda.gov/index.html) and any nutritional information provided in recipes is based on an online calculator: calories and other information will vary based on brands, ingredients and other factors.
  • Check nutrient levels and recommendations for your dog’s weight, age and activity. For example this nutritional guideline produced by FEDIAF.
  • I am not a professional canine nutritionist but supporting research is cited.
  • The recipes shared were created by me and tested in my kitchen – and tasted and approved by our doggy friends!