Does your dog need a low-sodium diet?

Maybe you’re wondering if limiting salt intake is as important for dogs as it is for humans. Or, perhaps your dog has been diagnosed with a health condition that requires a special diet.

Learn all about low-sodium dog food, whether you should be concerned about your dog’s salt intake, and how low-sodium diets work.
 

Is Sodium Bad for Dogs?

Like humans, dogs can experience adverse health effects from consuming too much sodium. That said, sodium is not, in itself, bad for dogs. In fact, it’s an essential mineral that both humans and dogs need to live.

Sodium is a mineral found in salt, though the words “salt” and “sodium” are sometimes used interchangeably.

Sodium attracts and holds water, helping to transport and retain fluids throughout the body. By retaining water, sodium increases blood volume, which in turn elevates blood pressure.

Sodium is also an electrolyte that helps transmit electrical currents throughout the body. These electrical currents send signals to and from the nerves, allowing the muscles to contract and relax.
 

Does My Dog Need A Low Sodium Diet?

For most healthy dogs, a specially formulated low-sodium diet is not necessary. Your dog’s kidneys help balance their blood sodium level by filtering out excess sodium through their urine.

Still, excessively salty foods can harm your dog even if they do not need a low-sodium diet. Avoid human foods with added salt, such as chips, crackers, deli meat, and rotisserie chicken. Dogs can also be at risk for potentially fatal salt poisoning, often associated with drinking seawater, eating pure table salt, consuming salted play dough, and licking salt lamps.

If your dog has been diagnosed with heart or kidney issues, your veterinarian may recommend a low-sodium diet or specific food options.

Salt restriction can be as dangerous to your dog’s health as excessive salt intake. At the early stages of the disease, your dog’s sodium intake may only need to be moderately reduced. Always consult your veterinarian before making dietary changes for a pet with a chronic condition.
 

How Does A Low Sodium Diet Help Dogs With Kidney Disease?

Usually, your dog’s kidneys can keep blood sodium levels in check by filtering excess sodium from the blood through the urine.

However, in dogs with compromised kidney function, the kidneys cannot work efficiently to control sodium levels in the blood, which can lead to high blood pressure and heart disease.

A low sodium diet will not cure chronic kidney disease, but it can reduce the strain on the kidneys, helping to slow the progression of the disease, relieve symptoms, and reduce the risk of complications like heart disease.

If your dog is diagnosed with chronic kidney disease, your veterinarian may recommend a renal support dog food. Renal support dog food is low in sodium, made with reduced protein and phosphorus, and may also contain functional ingredients to support urinary tract health.
 

How Does A Low Sodium Diet Help Dogs with Heart Disease?

In dogs with heart disease, the heart cannot pump efficiently, leading to reduced circulation to organs and tissue throughout the body. Fluids can leak from the blood vessels into surrounding tissues, leading to fluid buildup in the lungs, abdomen, or limbs. The body may compensate by reabsorbing water and sodium, which can lead to fluid retention.

A low-sodium dog food can help control fluid retention and high blood volume, reducing the heart’s workload. While a low-sodium diet will not cure heart disease, it can help manage or prevent complications like edema and high blood pressure.
 

Does Low Sodium Dog Food Require A Prescription?

Yes, reduced sodium dog foods recommended for dogs with heart or kidney disease require a prescription from your veterinarian. Under your veterinarian’s guidance, you can find a diet that meets your dog’s specific needs.

There are low-sodium dog foods available that do not require a prescription. However, it can be difficult to determine which foods are suitable because sodium content is typically not included on pet food packaging, and those that do may only include minimum and maximum values rather than specific sodium levels.

You can find a comparison of options by searching for the low-sodium dog foods list featured on the Heartsmart section of the Tufts University website. Keep in mind that dog food formulations can change, so it’s important to seek up-to-date information.
 

Can My Dog Have Treats On A Low Sodium Diet?

Yes, your dog can still have treats on a low-sodium diet. But even though treats should make up no more than 10% of their diet, they contain unhealthy amounts of salt.

Many store-bought dog treats contain too much sodium for dogs with kidney or heart disease. Supplements, toppers, and pill pockets can also contain too much sodium for your dog.

According to Heartsmart resources from Tufts Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine, acceptable foods and treats are less than 80 mg sodium per 100 calories.

Low Sodium Treats for Dogs with Heart or Kidney Disease

Peanut butter with no salt added. Make sure it’s free of xylitol, a sugar alternative found in some specialty peanut butter that’s fatally toxic to dogs.

Fruits like bananas, apples, blueberries, and strawberries. Grapes and raisins are toxic to dogs.

Homemade chicken, beef, or turkey with no salt added. Avoid meats that have been pre-salted, marinated, or brined.

Mini marshmallows, while high in sugar, can be given in moderation to disguise medications as a highly palatable, low-sodium alternative to pill pockets.

Single or limited-ingredient treats that do not use salt as a flavoring or a preservative. Dehydrated chicken breast and freeze-dried beef liver are popular options.

What’s The Best Low Sodium Food for My Dog?

Transitioning to a new diet can be challenging for any dog, let alone one facing heart or kidney disease.

Remember that your dog’s diet must be tailored to their needs. For example, dogs in the early stages of heart or kidney disease only require moderate sodium restriction, available in “early care” formulations. Reduced protein is recommended for dogs with kidney disease but not necessarily for dogs with heart disease.

Your veterinarian may prescribe a veterinary diet that meets your dog’s specific needs. Veterinary diets are available in dry and canned options and may also be accompanied by a line of low-sodium dog treats.

Need help finding the right diet for your dog? Contact your veterinarian or make a same-day televet appointment with VetLive today.