Let’s look at the effects salt can have on your dog’s health and discuss how much salt is too much before you give him a bite of your salty snack.
So How Much is Too Much?
When a dog eats too much salt and is unable to rehydrate and remove the sodium from the body by drinking enough liquids, salt toxicity in dogs develops.
Normal practice does not include giving a dog free access to salt. If you occasionally give your dog “human snacks,” keep in mind that salt is present in extremely high amounts in a wide variety of human foods, most frequently in:
The majority of these foods contain extremely high levels of salt and sodium, which humans can tolerate but dogs cannot. Consequently, stay away from feeding your dog any of these or other foods that you are aware are high in sodium. Keep an eye on how much salt your pet is consuming at all times.
Safe Amounts of Salt In Homemade Dog Food
In the wild, wolves and dogs would consume sodium by eating prey (deer or rabbit), which can contain anywhere between 2 and 5g/kg to 10g/kg of dry matter.
Most commercial dog food brands will typically contain anywhere between 0.5g/1000kcal to 2.5g/1000 kcal, or 2-10g/kg of dry matter. Wet dog food will contain slightly more sodium than dry dog food (source).
Some studies have analyzed commercial foods and found that certain brands contain too much sodium based on FEDIAF standards, with some foods exceeding recommended daily dosage by 10 times (source).
Because of this, in some circumstances it might be preferable to switch your pet to homemade food so you can check for safe dosages. And holistic veterinarians advise using at least 0 mg of salt in homemade dog food meals, which is a good and safe amount. 3% of sodium for a well-balanced meal.
Dogs should consume no more than 13mg/kg of sodium per day, or about 0 mg. 2g/1000kcal (or 200mg/1000kcal).
Thats 0. 25g of salt per 100g of food minimum, or 1. For maintenance and to support normal growth and development, add 5g of salt per 100g of food.
You can benefit from some of the health advantages salt can offer your pet at these doses, which are probably secure for healthy adult dogs. Salt dosages must be adjusted for dogs with specific medical conditions or those taking medication; talk to your veterinarian about this.
As advised by your veterinarian, puppies, lactating, and pregnant dogs may need more sodium than adult dogs. Breeds that are very active will need between three and five times as much sodium as breeds that are more sedentary.
How much sodium do dogs need?
Ward explains that there isn’t a magic number because “there are so many variables.” The amount of water a dog drinks, his age, and other factors can all affect how much sodium he needs. The Association of American Feed Control Officials recommends that dry dog food contain at least 3% sodium, but the majority of healthy dogs can consume more and still be fine, according to Ward.
FAQ
Can I give my dog salt in food?
The short answer is that dogs can consume salt in moderation. However, how much salt a person consumes determines whether it is safe or dangerous. In order to avoid adding additional salt to your dog’s diet, try to balance the amount of salt in his or her daily diet.
How much salt can a dog have per day?
The Board on Agriculture and Natural Resources advises dogs weighing 33 pounds to consume no more than 200mg of sodium daily, compared to the 1,500mg to 2,300mg recommended for humans by the Food and Drug Administration.