How Much Salt Is Too Much For Your Dogs?

Salt makes food taste great. But is it safe for dogs to eat?

Here’s what you need to know:

How Much Is Too Much?

• Dogs do have to eat a little salt, but they can’t eat nearly as much as humans can. Dogs should only eat 0.25g/100g to1.5g/100g of the stuff on a daily basis.
• Eating too much salt can lead to something called salt toxicity, which essentially means the salt causes dehydration and the body becomes poisoned with sodium ions. Rehydration is crucial after consuming sodium.
• Just 2 grams per pound of body weight of salt is lethal to dogs. This is rare, since it’s difficult to give a pup this much salt, but it’s a figure worth knowing.

Symptoms of Salt Toxicity

Here are the symptoms you should be on the lookout for. They can occur instantly or over multiple days:

• Vomiting
• High levels of thirst
• Diarrhea
• Weakness
• Scratching
• Limping
• Exhaustion
• Decreased appetite
• Seizures
• Coma

What To Do

Has your dog eaten too much salt? Or are they showing very mild signs of salt toxicity? Here’s what to do:

• Prevent your dog from eating any more consumables that have sodium in them
• Ensure fresh water is always accessible to your dog
• Keep a very close watch on your dog for the next few hours
• Use emetics to encourage vomiting of excess salt

If severe symptoms are being shown, bring your dog to a vet immediately as it is a medical emergency.

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