Salt, or sodium chloride, contains key electrolytes that the body needs to function. It\u2019s also a natural preservative that\u2019s been used for thousands of years. But it sometimes has a bad rep, with warnings that we shouldn\u2019t eat too much of it. A low level is naturally present in most foods, and these warnings usually apply to sodium that\u2019s been added. What does salt mean for dog health, and is salt bad for dogs?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
While it\u2019s essential in very small amounts, too much can be harmful. In this article, we\u2019ll discuss the safe levels of salt for dogs along with risks of too much. We\u2019ll also cover how to look out for symptoms of poisoning, and when you should call your vet. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Can dogs eat salt?<\/a> Yes, dogs can have a very small amount of salt, which is naturally included in commercial dog food that is \u201cnutritionally complete\u201d (meaning it has all the nutrients dogs need). But if dogs eat too much salt, it can be dangerous \u2013 whether that\u2019s a result of eating food that\u2019s been made with human tastebuds in mind, drinking seawater while playing at the beach or swallowing rock salt.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Let\u2019s get into the specifics of how much salt dogs can eat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Dogs need salt for their cells to function and a healthy amount of it is between 0.10g \u2013 1.5g per 100g of food on a dry matter basis (meaning that water isn\u2019t 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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n At these levels, salt isn\u2019t bad for dogs \u2013 it helps maintain cellular functions like fluid balance, acid-base balance and nerve signal transmission. Your dog also needs the \u2018chloride\u2019 in sodium chloride to produce the stomach\u2019s hydrochloric acid, which helps with their digestion. So far, all good. 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\u2019s blood, leaving them very unwell and in need of emergency veterinary assistance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n There are a few signs that might indicate that dogs have eaten too much salt. <\/p>\n\n\n\n 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n One of the most common ways that dogs might eat too much salt is through eating food that\u2019s made for us. Unfortunately, salty foods can be just as delicious to dogs, as they are to us. <\/p>\n\n\n\n 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 \u2018too high in salt for dogs list\u2019 include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Rock salt, a mixture of salt and grit that\u2019s used to de-ice roads in winter, is very dangerous for dogs. Make sure you wipe off your dog\u2019s feet and fur after a winter walk, so they don\u2019t try to clean themselves. [2<\/a>]<\/p>\n\n\n\n Dogs can also swallow saltwater while swimming. If you\u2019re about to head home after a day at the beach, remember to give them a bowl of water first \u2013 they might also be thirsty after playing and appreciate a drink! You should also offer them water regularly while spending time at the beach. <\/p>\n\n\n\n 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\u2019s reach. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Lastly, if you prepare your own dog food, make sure you don\u2019t 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you think your dog may have eaten too much salt, don\u2019t panic \u2013\u00a0here\u2019s what you need to do.<\/p>\n\n\n\n First, make sure they don\u2019t have access to any more salty food or saltwater. If they still have something in their mouth they shouldn\u2019t, get them to drop it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Then, encourage your dog to drink fresh water. What about if you\u2019re out and about? A portable, collapsible dog bowl is a great thing to take on walks, but if you don\u2019t have a bowl with you, cup your hands for them to drink from. While you might think throwing up whatever they\u2019ve eaten will help, you shouldn\u2019t try to make your dog vomit, as it might do more harm than good. [3<\/a>]<\/p>\n\n\n\n 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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n 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 \u2013 you don\u2019t 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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n What happens if your dog needs treatment for salt poisoning, and what can you expect? Our Head Vet Sean said: Here\u2019s our top tips to keep your dog safe: Feed your dog a complete, balanced diet that contains an appropriate amount of sodium. All our healthy dog food<\/a> has the right amount of salt along with all the other nutrients dogs need.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A little bit of salt isn\u2019t necessarily bad for dogs \u2013 it\u2019s actually an important part of their diet \u2013 but it needs to be carefully controlled. Dogs don\u2019t need any extra salt apart from the sodium that\u2019s already in their food, so don\u2019t share your french fries with them, no matter how much they give you the puppy eyes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 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\u2019s always better to be safe than sorry. <\/p>\n\n\n\n At Tails.com, all our food is carefully balanced to make sure there\u2019s the right amount of sodium, along with all the other minerals dogs need. <\/p>\n\n\n\n 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 \u2013 we\u2019ll be glad to help advise you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Can dogs eat salt?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Yes, dogs can eat a small amount of salt.<\/p>\n\n\n\n How much salt is safe for dogs?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n A healthy amount of salt is between 0.10g \u2013 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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n What happens if a dog eats too much salt?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n What are the symptoms of salt poisoning?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n 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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Can dogs eat salty snacks like crisps or popcorn?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n No, dogs shouldn\u2019t eat food for people that is very salty like crisps \u2013 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Is rock salt dangerous for dogs?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n 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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n [1] \u2018Sodium Chloride Tripolyphosphate or Nitrite do Dogs Really Need Salt\u2019, Vet Times<\/a> Can dogs eat salt? Learn how much is safe, the risks of too much salt, symptoms of poisoning and when to call your vet.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":71,"featured_media":4147,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[2515],"tags":[1069,102,105,425,211],"class_list":["post-452","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-food-and-ingredients","tag-can-a-dog-eat-salt","tag-dog-food-myth","tag-dog-health","tag-is-salt-bad-for-dogs","tag-salt-for-dogs"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n
How much salt is safe for dogs?<\/a>
Symptoms of salt poisoning in dogs<\/a>
Common sources of excess salt<\/a>
What to do if your dog eats too much salt<\/a>
How to prevent salt poisoning in dogs<\/a>
Nutritionist-approved takeaways<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\nCan dogs eat salt?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
How much salt is safe for dogs?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Daily sodium requirements<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Some dogs with certain health conditions \u2013 including kidney, liver and heart diseases \u2013 require a low sodium diet. In these cases, your vet will recommend a special diet for them.[1<\/a>] <\/p>\n\n\n\nWhen salt intake becomes dangerous<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Symptoms of salt poisoning in dogs<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Common sources of excess salt<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n
What to do if your dog eats too much salt<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Immediate steps<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
When to call the vet<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIf your dog has ingested a dangerous quantity of salt, call your vet right away \u2013 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.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\nHow to prevent salt poisoning in dogs<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
Nutritionist-approved takeaways<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
FAQs<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Sources<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
[2] ‘Poisoning in dogs’, RSPCA<\/a>
[3] ‘First aid for poisons and toxins’, PDSA<\/a>\u00a0<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"