Salt, or sodium chloride, contains key electrolytes that the body needs to function. It’s also a natural preservative that’s been used for thousands of years. But it sometimes has a bad rep, with warnings that we shouldn’t eat too much of it. A low level is naturally present in most foods, and these warnings usually apply to sodium that’s been added. What does salt mean for dog health, and is salt bad for dogs?
While it’s essential in very small amounts, too much can be harmful. In this article, we’ll discuss the safe levels of salt for dogs along with risks of too much. We’ll also cover how to look out for symptoms of poisoning, and when you should call your vet.
Key takeaways
- Dogs need a very small amount of salt, and the correct amount is included in commercial dog foods.
- If dogs eat too much salt it can poison them, requiring emergency vet attention.
- Symptoms of salt poisoning include an upset stomach, lethargy, tremors and seizures.
- The most common ways that dogs ingest salt include eating food for humans, drinking saltwater at the beach, licking rock salt or being given a diet that has been supplemented with salt.
- Rock salt that’s used to treat the roads and pavements in winter can give dogs salt poisoning, so wipe their paws and coat whenever you return from a walk where they might be exposed to it.
Table of contents
Can dogs eat salt?
How much salt is safe for dogs?
Symptoms of salt poisoning in dogs
Common sources of excess salt
What to do if your dog eats too much salt
How to prevent salt poisoning in dogs
Nutritionist-approved takeaways
Can dogs eat salt?
Yes, dogs can have a very small amount of salt, which is naturally included in commercial dog food that is “nutritionally complete” (meaning it has all the nutrients dogs need). But if dogs eat too much salt, it can be dangerous – whether that’s a result of eating food that’s been made with human tastebuds in mind, drinking seawater while playing at the beach or swallowing rock salt.
How much salt is safe for dogs?
Let’s get into the specifics of how much salt dogs can eat.
Daily sodium requirements
Dogs need salt for their cells to function and a healthy amount of it is between 0.10g – 1.5g per 100g of food on a dry matter basis (meaning that water isn’t being counted, in order to more accurately compare the other ingredients). Most commercial dog food contains the right amount of salt to meet these requirements.
At these levels, salt isn’t bad for dogs – it helps maintain cellular functions like fluid balance, acid-base balance and nerve signal transmission. Your dog also needs the ‘chloride’ in sodium chloride to produce the stomach’s hydrochloric acid, which helps with their digestion. So far, all good.
Some dogs with certain health conditions – including kidney, liver and heart diseases – require a low sodium diet. In these cases, your vet will recommend a special diet for them.[1]
When salt intake becomes dangerous
While a little bit of salt is fine and even healthy, if dogs eat a large amount of salt, they might be at risk of life-threatening sodium poisoning. In this condition, cells start to release water to even out the levels of salt in your dog’s blood, leaving them very unwell and in need of emergency veterinary assistance.
Symptoms of salt poisoning in dogs
There are a few signs that might indicate that dogs have eaten too much salt.
- Dehydration
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Excessive thirst or urination, as they try to get rid of the high level of salt
In severe cases of salt poisoning, dogs might experience unsteady walking, lethargy, tremors and seizures. And in extremely serious cases, it can lead to coma.
Common sources of excess salt
One of the most common ways that dogs might eat too much salt is through eating food that’s made for us. Unfortunately, salty foods can be just as delicious to dogs, as they are to us.
If you want to make sure your dog gets a healthy amount of salt in their diet, there are some foods which are definitely off-limits, and the ones that make our ‘too high in salt for dogs list’ include:
- Crisps
- Savoury biscuits
- Processed meat, including sausages and burgers
- Chips
- Cheese
Rock salt, a mixture of salt and grit that’s used to de-ice roads in winter, is very dangerous for dogs. Make sure you wipe off your dog’s feet and fur after a winter walk, so they don’t try to clean themselves. [2]
Dogs can also swallow saltwater while swimming. If you’re about to head home after a day at the beach, remember to give them a bowl of water first – they might also be thirsty after playing and appreciate a drink! You should also offer them water regularly while spending time at the beach.
At Christmas, making salt dough decorations like ornaments for the tree is a lovely activity to do with the family, but there have been cases of dogs eating them and becoming dangerously ill. The sodium content is very high, so make sure you keep these festive crafts out of your dog’s reach.
Lastly, if you prepare your own dog food, make sure you don’t add seasoning like salt. One advantage of commercial dog food is that all the ingredients have been carefully calculated to make sure that all nutrients are included in the right quantities.
What to do if your dog eats too much salt
If you think your dog may have eaten too much salt, don’t panic – here’s what you need to do.
Immediate steps
First, make sure they don’t have access to any more salty food or saltwater. If they still have something in their mouth they shouldn’t, get them to drop it.
Then, encourage your dog to drink fresh water. What about if you’re out and about? A portable, collapsible dog bowl is a great thing to take on walks, but if you don’t have a bowl with you, cup your hands for them to drink from. While you might think throwing up whatever they’ve eaten will help, you shouldn’t try to make your dog vomit, as it might do more harm than good. [3]
When to call the vet
Call your vet as soon as you can if you notice signs of poisoning, like tremors or seizures, or if your dog looks unsteady on their feet. Persistent vomiting or diarrhoea is another warning sign that your dog needs veterinary attention.
If you know that your dog has eaten a large amount of salt, or if you suspect they have ingested any rock salt after a walk, call your vet immediately – you don’t have to wait for your dog to show any symptoms. Rock salt is especially dangerous because of the high level of pure salt it contains.
What happens if your dog needs treatment for salt poisoning, and what can you expect? Our Head Vet Sean said:
“If your dog has ingested a dangerous quantity of salt, call your vet right away – they will advise you to bring your dog in for a thorough examination. If your dog is experiencing salt poisoning, emergency treatment might include intravenous fluids to carefully bring down their sodium levels.”
How to prevent salt poisoning in dogs
Here’s our top tips to keep your dog safe:
- Don’t let them have salty snacks, or scraps from the table that have been seasoned with salt.
- Give them plenty of fresh water, especially at the beach or after you get home.
- Be extra careful in winter because of rock salt on the roads and pavements.
Feed your dog a complete, balanced diet that contains an appropriate amount of sodium. All our healthy dog food has the right amount of salt along with all the other nutrients dogs need.
Nutritionist-approved takeaways
A little bit of salt isn’t necessarily bad for dogs – it’s actually an important part of their diet – but it needs to be carefully controlled. Dogs don’t need any extra salt apart from the sodium that’s already in their food, so don’t share your french fries with them, no matter how much they give you the puppy eyes.
Make sure that you contact your vet straight away if you believe your dog has eaten too much salt, ingested any rock salt off the pavement, or if they are showing any symptoms of dangerous salt poisoning. It’s always better to be safe than sorry.
At Tails.com, all our food is carefully balanced to make sure there’s the right amount of sodium, along with all the other minerals dogs need.
If you have any more questions about how much salt is safe for your dog, or what a healthy diet looks like, you can always ask your vet, or the friendly nutritionist team at Tails.com – we’ll be glad to help advise you.
FAQs
Can dogs eat salt?
Yes, dogs can eat a small amount of salt.
How much salt is safe for dogs?
A healthy amount of salt is between 0.10g – 1.5g per 100g of food on a dry matter basis (not counting water). If your dog eats slightly more than this they might feel poorly, but a much higher amount will be dangerous.
What happens if a dog eats too much salt?
A dog that has eaten too much salt will drink lots of water to try to reduce the sodium in their body. However, if they have ingested a dangerously high amount of salt, they are at risk of salt poisoning.
What are the symptoms of salt poisoning?
Salt poisoning symptoms include vomiting and diarrhoea, lethargy and tremors. In very serious cases dogs can have seizures or enter a coma. If you are worried that your dog is experiencing salt poisoning, call your vet immediately.
Can dogs eat salty snacks like crisps or popcorn?
No, dogs shouldn’t eat food for people that is very salty like crisps – the level of sodium is much too high for them. However, popcorn with no added salt and no added sugar is actually a healthy low fat snack for dogs.
Is rock salt dangerous for dogs?
Yes, rock salt that is used to treat the roads and pavements is very dangerous for dogs because of the high level of pure salt. If they lick it off their paws or coats they are at risk of salt poisoning.
Sources
[1] ‘Sodium Chloride Tripolyphosphate or Nitrite do Dogs Really Need Salt’, Vet Times
[2] ‘Poisoning in dogs’, RSPCA
[3] ‘First aid for poisons and toxins’, PDSA
Thank you for messaging but Pippa pastaway January she had lung cancer I have a cocker spaniel now 9mths old at the moment he is on grain free working dog wet noses 55% chicken sweet potato and herbs no artificial colour or preservatives hypoallergenic but he seemed to be getting a lot of wind can you provide something better for his digestion
Hi Margaret,
Please get in touch with our Customer Service team hello@tails.com. They will be best placed to answer your questions
Thanks
Ellie
It’s the sweet potato for sure . Same happened to my Willow.
No. ground beef is not high in sodium!
To w meat and vegetable diet I would recommend adding 1/3 of meal be dry kibbles. This provides many of the vitamins and minerals dogs require. And help keep s dog’s teeth and gums clean.
one third quality kibbles to dogs
Integrating one third quality dry kibbles into a meat and vegetable diet for dogs is indeed a balanced approach, as it not only provides essential vitamins and minerals but also promotes dental health. By including dry kibbles, you’re ensuring a comprehensive diet that supports overall well-being, including clean teeth and gums, which is vital for a dog’s health.
I’m not sure why you included proper salt level expressed as a fraction and very unclear about the serving or daily intake. I need to know what is the healthy daily intake of salt for my Maltese. Thank you.
Hi James,
this is something our team can help you with.
Please contact them via hello@tails.com
Kind regards,
Sophie
It’s pretty simple James, it’s from 1/4 of a gram of salt or .25 per 100 grams of dog food on the low end or up to 1.5 grams of salt per 100 grams of dog food on the high end. They’re likely dependent upon the size of the dog. I have a mini Yorkie so I’m definitely on the quarter of a gram. I hope this helps buddy, our little(and sometimes really, really big) furballs, lol no pun intended, mean as much to many of us as other humans do. I’m always researching & reading everything possible as I was never blessed with any human children but I’ve found this is pretty much across the board as far as salt intake. My yorkie is always licking my hands & feets & I wasn’t sure if it was due to lack of salt but have found it’s most likely due to just plain boredom or separation anxiety as I’m gone 8-9 hrs every day but Sunday. Anyway I’m rambling on so good luck with you & yours pal!!
my 16# one year old wire fox terrier loves to lick peoples legs. Does she need more salt in her diet?
Is this related in any way to her itching herself?
Hi,
Can you please send this question to hello@tails.com so that our team of experts can help you?
Kind regards,
Sophie
Why not just answer the questions here? Instead of going to your team?
Hi Colleen – we have a fab Nutrition Team who can help with more complex questions 🙂
This says 100g of salt. I assume that it’s daily. It should be 100mg for a 33lb. dog daily. 100g of salt for anything is massive amount.
Like protein and fat, salt is an essential nutrient for dogs as well as humans. I can only assume the article was meant to convey .5 grams to 1.5 grams of salt per 100 grams of food intake.
Avoid giving dogs carbohydrates. At most 5% of dietary intake can be carbs. Dogs can get diabetes just like us. The only way to avoid diabetes is to avoid carbs. I mention this because a low carb diet also induces a loss of salt. This is due to the kidneys not retaining salt as they do in the presence of hyperinsulinemia. Which is the norml state for humans who eat a high carbs diet. High carb meaning greater than 30% of their diet.
But dogs are dogs, not humans. The best thing to do is not to share our diets with them, and find out what they actually need. I’ve been considering getting a salt lick and putting it next to his water dish. Most animals control their salt intake on their own, and salt licks seem to do very well.
Now the my dogs salt intake has been increased, he has had less issues with cramps. He often would complain about going up and down stairs, getting up out of bed, sometimes limping around all day. I haven’t done or seen any science on this for dogs, but they are mammals, and we mammals need salt to keep our bodies healthy.
By the way, its very difficult to get too much salt. There is a feed back loop in our bodies that at first makes us crave it, then as sodium levels rise, the taste of salt per milligram increases rapidly. When we are getting enough, salt begins to taste ‘too salty’. So if you think you need more salt, you probably do.
I personally eat/drink about two tablspoons of salt a day. And when I had my bloodwork done last, it was perfectly in the center of NORMAL. Salt is, the salt of life.
100 g of salt = 20 tsp That has to be a misprint.. .25g/100g I don’t think so
You’re reading it incorrectly, it’s clearly saying .25g salt to 100g food!
I think it actually says 0.25g/100g and 1.5g/100g which I read as 0.25g of salt per 100g of food which is a very small percentage really – for my dog who gets 120g of Tails.com dry food per day – I reckon my dog is getting 0.3g salt from his kibble
If not I’m sure someone from the team will correct it
They say .25g – 1.5g of salt for every 100g of food is a safe level.
Hi can you advise on how much salt intake is required by my fog. He is a mongrel on a vegetarian diet, 5 yrs old. We had kept him on a salt free diet and his food I’d prepared daily at home. We give him dog treats and dog biscuit as snacks and treat. We do add cheese in his diet. Should we add salt in the food we prepare for him daily
Hi,
Can you please send this question to hello@tails.com so that our team of experts can help you?
Kind regards,
Sophie
Please do the consult. Also tell your vet you have put your dog on a vegetarian diet. I read an article a few years back written by a vet who stated that dogs are meat eaters and cannot survive on a vegetarian diet. Please do not try to be a dog nutritionist; people, dog, cats, and other animals have different needs from each other. I think you may be putting your lovely mutt at high risk for medical problems. Please, please consult a vet.
All my dogs have been vegan for many years and are very fit and healthy. This includes an Irish Wolfhound who is way fitter than his meat eating counterparts.
The average human is 180lb and requires a daily amount of 2000mg of salt a day (or at least should otherwise the human will take it from the bone).
Dogs on average weigh 30lbs, the ones you have to hold with both hands and cannot hold with 1 hand alone, and if the dog cannot be held because he is too big, he is usually over 30lb.
Notice how dogs get smaller and smaller from breeding? People think it’s genetics but it could just be because of malnutrition, their bones are eaten away each generation due to lack of salt and their genes adapt because of the lack of salt.
Picture a big dog, a husky, you would get the average picture from the movies that these owners usually give them a big steak, but why do you never picture giving a huge steak to a little dog (at least usually, some owners are aware).
a widespread misinformation collective farm that karens spread to never give your dog salt and sometimes these people can look like chads dont let their high protein diet full you, everyone is guilty of it.
2000g salt per day!? You’d be dead! Think you need to revise your info. Recommended
max amount of salt per day for an adult human is 5g = 1 teaspoon!!!
Hmmm….He said 2000 MG. You said 2000 G. I’m no expert. I’m old!! Back in the day we didn’t study mg and g measurements but isn’t that a major difference in amounts???
I’m afraid, I know, there are a lot of people depleting their bones of calcium and magnesium (to access the backup stores of sodium) as a byproduct or side effect of a salt restricted diet, and are unknowingly thinking it’s also good to do for their dogs. It’s INSANE! We are not much different, genetically, than our canine companions and all other mammals on the planet. All mammals on the planet NEED salt to survive. If we need a sufficient amount of salt (3-5,000mg sodium for lowest all cause mortality) to not have our bones get depleted and die an agonizing death, they do too. Reach out to me if you’d like to talk to me more about this. It’s a fascinating topic.
Can I put very less salt or pitch of salt to my dog food. Without salt . My dog doesn’t eat. Please if you can help me.
Hi Priyanka,
We wouldn’t recommend adding additional salt to your dog’s diet, unless your vet has suggested you do so. It might be a good idea to speak to your vet for some advice – or send us an email at hello@tails.com and we’ll be able to give you some more advice there.
Millie
can i add some salt in my dog food my dog like salt what to do
Hi Joney,
I’d recommend having a chat with your vet or vet nurse for some advice – or you can email us at hello@tails.com and we’ll give you some tips 🙂
There’s no way I could know this, as a first-time pet owner website like yours really helped to gain knowledge about the topic that a person like me isn’t aware of. Thank you for sharing this. Keep Posting!
My dog is a terrier mix and he had most of his teeth pulled can’t eat his kibbles
dog food so I mixed his kibbles with about 1/2 can of veggie soup. took him to the vet
for his checkup and the vet told me not to mix his kibbles with soup , say’s there is to much salt in the soup. i was trying to soften his kibbles while his gums was healing
so he could eat.
Hi Vern, we hope your dog is doing well and recovering from his dental work. To help soften his kibbles, we’d suggest mixing warm water with his food which will not only make it softer on his gums but help to release the tasty aromas too!