How much salt is too much salt for a dog? A Step-by-Step Guide

Salt: the good news

Dogs need salt for their cells to function and a healthy amount of it is between 0.25g – 1.5g per 100g of food. At these levels, salt isn’t bad for dogs and 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.

Which foods are too salty for dogs?

Unfortunately, salt is just as delicious to dogs, as it is to us. That pretzel? Amazing. Chips? Yes please.

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
  • Treatment of Salt Poisoning in Dogs

    Your dog will likely be admitted to the hospital for oxygen, IV fluid therapy, and electrolytes to manage dehydration. The salt level will have to be brought down gradually because a sudden change in sodium levels can cause a heart attack or cerebral edema (brain swelling). It can take days to bring the levels down to an acceptable range depending on how high your dog’s sodium levels are. If cerebral edema is already present, your dog may be given a medication such as dexamethasone or mannitol to reduce the inflammation. The veterinarian will most likely keep your dog in the hospital for observation. Curious about which health plan is right for your dog? Head over to Forbes breakdown of the best pet insurance providers.

    Worried about the cost of Salt Poisoning treatment?

    Pet Insurance covers the cost of many common pet health conditions. Prepare for the unexpected by getting a quote from top pet insurance providers.

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