• Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Dog Food Genius

What Can Dogs Eat?

  • Can Dogs Eat…
  • Dog Food
  • Breed Info
  • Health
  • Grooming
  • Names

Is Salt Bad For Dogs? Can Dogs Have Salt?

Published January 18, 2022 by DFG Staff

Humans know we need to watch salt levels in our diets, you may also be wondering if salt is bad for dogs? If not, it’s important to know how much salt a dog needs to have and how much sodium is too much. Yes, your dog definitely can eat salt and needs a certain amount for bodily functions. However, giving your dog high-sodium foods and salty treats can cause serious health problems. In moderation, salt is good for dogs, but there are a lot of factors that can affect this answer.

The truth is, your dog probably gets enough sodium from his daily diet and additional salt can start to become bad and unhealthy. In fact, if your dog suffers from extreme dehydration, high-blood pressure, tremors, and other health conditions, it is possible your pup needs a low-salt dog food.

To help you keep your pet healthy, active and fit, we’ve compiled this guide on salt for dogs. From how it affects them to how much your dog can have to avoiding salt poisoning in dogs, read on to learn everything you need to know.

Can Dogs Eat Salt

Contents

  • 1 Do Dogs Need Salt?
  • 2 How Much Salt Do Dogs Need?
  • 3 Be Careful At The Beach
  • 4 What If My Dogs Get Into Salt or Salty Foods?
  • 5 Yes, Dogs Can Eat Salt in Moderation

Do Dogs Need Salt?

Yes, dogs do need salt. But, this doesn’t mean that you should start putting salt on their food. Dog food is made according to the health needs of dogs, and there is already an appropriate amount of salt in it. Your dogs don’t need any additional salt, and it can actually do a lot of harm if there is too much salt in their diets.

It is essential that there be salt in the human diet, and dogs need some as well, but not nearly as much as we do. Sodium is necessary for the functions of the immune system, and it helps dogs to grow strong. But, they need a very small amount of sodium.

Is Salt Bad For Dogs

In fact, the Association of American Feed Control states that dry dog food should contain around 0.3 percent sodium. Some dog foods do contain more, but this is a minimum recommendation, meaning that this is the least amount of sodium that should be in dog food. Still, it is a rather low amount, so you can see just how little dogs really need.

How Much Salt Do Dogs Need?

Because all dog food contains salt, there is absolutely no need to give your dogs other foods that have any salt. You don’t need to season their foods, and you shouldn’t be giving them salty treats, such as potato chips and salted popcorn.

Too much salt can even cause death! As a rule, just 1.5 grams of salt per pound of body weight can kill a dog. That is a lot of salt, but it can happen if a dog happens to rip open a bag of chips and eat them, knock over a salt shaker and eat it, etc. It is a good idea to keep salt and salty treats well out of the reach of your dogs.

Sodium For Dogs

Yes, we do realize that not all dogs are the same, and that some are able to eat foods that others can’t. But, when it comes to salt, it is best to avoid it altogether, just to be on the safe side.

Dogs only need a tiny amount in their diets, and they get all that they need from the dog food that they eat. Adult dogs require approximately 0.06 percent sodium in their diets. Growing puppies require more, about four times that amount.

Be Careful At The Beach

Here is something that you may not have even considered: Your dogs probably drink the water at the beach when they are playing and swimming, and if you take them to ocean beaches, they are drinking salt water! Most dogs do love to run and play in the water, and then they become thirsty and start drinking the water.

Is Salt Good For Dogs

If you are walking your dogs at an ocean beach, don’t allow them to drink the water, which can cause such health problems as “beach diarrhea”, dehydration, and more. Always carry a bottle of water with you for your dogs to drink, and train them to only drink that water.

Sure, there are going to be accidents, but if you are careful, you can take your dogs to ocean beaches without having to worry about them eating too much salt.

What If My Dogs Get Into Salt or Salty Foods?

Too much salt can cause a lot of health problems in dogs, so even though they may beg for treats, don’t give them a lot of chips, pretzels, popcorn, etc. A couple of potato chips isn’t going to hurt a dog, but when they have anything with added salt, always make sure that there is plenty of water for them to drink.

The last thing you want is for your dogs to become dehydrated because it can lead to a whole host of other health problems.

Do Dogs Need Salt

If your dogs have gotten into large amounts of salt or salty foods, contact your veterinarian if you notice any negative effects, including vomiting, diarrhea, excessive thirst, or seizures. Left untreated, a dog that has ingested too much salt can experience seizures, and it can be deadly.

Yes, Dogs Can Eat Salt in Moderation

We can’t stress enough that even though dogs do need some sodium in their diets, they get all that they need from their regular dog food.

There is never any need to give them anything that contains salt, and some dogs even require low-sodium diets, particularly those with such health problems as diabetes and heart disease.

Keep your dogs healthy and happy by keeping salty treats away from them.

How Much Do Great Danes Cost

How Much Do Great Danes Cost?

Wondering how much Great Danes cost? If you want a large breed dog, you may want to consider getting a Great Dane. These ... [Learn More]

Can Dogs Eat Pineapple

Can Dogs Eat Pineapple?

If you've ever had pineapple in front of your dog, you've probably pondered whether dogs can eat pineapple too and if ... [Learn More]

Can Dogs Eat Tuna

Can Dogs Eat Tuna?

When it comes to sources of protein, dogs can eat most fish. While it’s perfectly safe for dogs to have salmon and other ... [Learn More]

Can Dogs Eat Nutella

Can Dogs Eat Nutella?

We all know that chocolate can be extremely toxic for dogs but you may be wondering whether Nutella is also bad for ... [Learn More]

Can Dogs Eat Kiwi

Can Dogs Eat Kiwi?

Kiwifruits originated from China and were called Chinese Gooseberries before being renamed for its resemblance to New ... [Learn More]

Pepto Bismol Dogs

Can I Give My Dog Pepto Bismol?

According to experts, you can give your dog Pepto Bismol to settle an upset stomach. Diarrhea can be horrible for both ... [Learn More]

Dogs Can Eat Watermelon

Can Dogs Eat Watermelon?

Watermelon is one of those quintessential fruits to enjoy on a hot summer afternoon on your porch. Luckily, dogs can ... [Learn More]

Can Dogs Eat Cilantro

Can Dogs Eat Cilantro?

You should be careful when feeding your dog herbs as many of them can be harmful to your dog's health. In fact, some ... [Learn More]

Can Dogs Eat Kale

Can Dogs Eat Kale?

Many experts recommend a whole food, natural diet for dogs, filled with healthy fruits, vegetables, and lean meats. This ... [Learn More]

Dramamine For Dogs

Dramamine For Dogs

Just like some of us, some dogs can get car sickness. If you like to travel with your dog, or you simply need to take ... [Learn More]

Primary Sidebar

Popular

Best Dog Food Brands

Best Dog Food

Best Dog Food For Chihuahua

The Best Dog Foods For Chihuahuas

Best Dog Food For Boxers

The Best Dog Foods For Boxers

Best Dog Food For Sensitive Stomach

The Best Dog Foods For A Sensitive Stomach

Best Dog Food For Pitbulls

The Best Dog Food For Pitbulls

Best Dog Food For Yorkies

The Best Dog Foods For Yorkies

Things You Need For A New Puppy

Puppy Supplies: Things You Need For A New Puppy

Search

Recent

Can Dogs Eat Bell Peppers

Can Dogs Eat Bell Peppers?

Can Dogs Eat Papaya

Can Dogs Eat Papaya?

Smart Dogs

20 Smartest Dog Breeds

30 Fruits and Vegetables Dogs Can and Can’t Eat

Foods Dogs Can and Can't Eat

50 Human Foods Dogs Can and Can’t Eat

Beautiful Dogs

10 Most Beautiful Dog Breeds

Can Dogs Eat Sausage

Can Dogs Eat Sausage?

Can Dogs Eat Eggs

Can Dogs Eat Eggs?

Can Dogs Drink Tea

Can Dogs Drink Tea?

Can Dogs Eat Figs

Can Dogs Eat Figs?

Can Dogs Eat Ginger

Can Dogs Eat Ginger?

Can Dogs Eat Mushrooms

Can Dogs Eat Mushrooms?

Can Dogs Eat Raspberries

Can Dogs Eat Raspberries?

Copyright © 2023 Dog Food Genius | About Us | Contact Us | Privacy Policy |