Many people have had to listen to their doctors saying they need to cut down on salt in their diets. Believe it or not, the same is true for many dogs. That's why it helps to learn about the best low-sodium dog food options that are available.

If your dog is eating too much salt, this can cause him to have long-term health problems. And nobody wants that.

A dog's diet is one of the most important factors in his overall health. It makes sense, then, to learn about the best low-sodium dog food options that you can buy. It can help you ensure that your dog is healthy and happy.

Sodium and Your Dog

The truth is that monitoring your dog's sodium intake is actually quite important. You want to make sure that he doesn't have too much or too little.

How much sodium should your dog have?

Why is sodium important?

What is a good amount of sodium for dogs?


When limiting sodium could be a good idea

Woman kissing brown dog

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Even though most dogs can tolerate a higher amount of sodium than what you'll find in most commercial dog foods, there are some situations where you really should try to minimize sodium intake.

A veterinarian would likely recommend this if your dog has some sort of medical condition that high sodium intake would exacerbate. These include heart disease, kidney problems, and liver problems. Too much sodium can also lead to blood pressure that is too high.

In these situations, your vet would want to prevent high blood pressure, the accumulation of too much bodily fluid, and other issues that could be related to an excessive amount of sodium in your dog's diet.

Older dogs are even more susceptible to these problems, though not all older dogs will require reduced sodium intake.

Finding the best low-sodium dog food can have other positive implications for your dog's health. It can boost energy levels, give him a healthier coat and skin, and boost his immune system. Of course, this is only true if your dog is consuming too much sodium right now, so you should talk to your vet if you suspect this is an issue.

Signs of excessive sodium intake

Dog drinking from water bottle

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There are a few signs that your dog has consumed too much sodium. Salt absorbs water in the body, so a dog who's had too much of it is going to be very thirsty. As a result, he's going to drink more than he typically does.

When he drinks a lot, he's also going to urinate a lot. His body will struggle to process the large amount of salt he's been eating. Plus, his kidneys and circulatory system will be strained, which will cause his body to swell up.

In some cases, dogs even vomit, have seizures, or have diarrhea. These could be considered symptoms of sodium ion poisoning. If you see any of these symptoms in your dog, you should take him to your emergency veterinarian right away.

How We Came Up with the Following List

In order to come up with this list of the best low-sodium dog food choices, we looked at different sites that reviewed these products. We made sure to include the products that appeared across multiple lists. Also, we verified that they received high ratings on retail websites.

We understand that there are lots of different types of dogs out there. They all have different dietary needs, which is why we made sure to include a diverse array of options on this list for dogs of all sizes and breeds. We wanted to make sure that there was something for every interested dog owner.

The 10 Best Low-Sodium Dog Food Options

If you want to reduce your dog's sodium intake, a great place to start is looking at the best low-sodium dog food options that are available. The following are 10 great choices.

Purina Pro Plan High Protein Dog Food With Probiotics for Dogs,...
  • Hard kibble dog food combined with tender, shredded pieces for taste and texture dogs love
  • High protein dog food formula, with real chicken as the first ingredient
  • Dry dog food fortified with guaranteed live probiotics for digestive and immune health

This food has real chicken as its primary ingredient. It also has live probiotics, which support your dog's digestive health. The ingredients are carefully selected to ensure optimal health in adult dogs.

The carbohydrates in this low-sodium option consist mostly of rice, which is easily digestible.

Natural Balance L.I.D. Limited Ingredient Diets Dry Puppy Food, Potato...
  • Contains 1 - 24 Pound Bag of Dry Dog Food for Puppies (Discontinued by Manufacturer)
  • Limited ingredient diet with a single animal protein source
  • Duck is a high-quality protein that helps maintain strong muscles

This food is a great option for puppies. The kibble is shaped very well for smaller jaws. It's a limited-ingredient dog food, which helps minimize the number of potentially problematic ingredients for a growing puppy.

This low-sodium option includes DHA, which helps support the neural development of your puppy. It's also free of preservatives, artificial colors, and artificial flavors.

Blue Buffalo Small Breed Dog Food, Life Protection Formula, Natural...
  • REAL CHICKEN IS THE FIRST INGREDIENT: Blue Buffalo's Small Breed Dog Food features high quality deboned chicken as the...
  • HIGH QUALITY NATURAL FOOD: BLUE's natural dry dog food is made with premium ingredients and contains no chicken or...
  • SUPPORTS HIGHER SMALL BREED ENERGY LEVELS: Contains essential proteins and carbs to support higher energy requirements...

This food is specifically made for small dogs. It contains amounts of protein and carbohydrates that match the typical high energy needs of these breeds.

The BLUE Life Protection Formula is full of only the healthiest ingredients that are all-natural. It includes deboned chicken, which is full of protein. It also contains garden vegetables, fruits, and whole grains.

However, what it doesn't contain includes artificial preservatives, colorings, and flavorings. It also doesn't have wheat, soy, corn, or other undesirable by-products.

The Honest Kitchen Human Grade Dehydrated Grain Free Dog Food –...
  • GRAIN FREE, CAGE FREE TURKEY: The Honest Kitchen Grain Free Turkey dog food is made with real whole food ingredients...
  • SUITABLE FOR PUPPIES & ADULT DOGS: Complete & Balanced nutrition for adult dogs and puppies of all breeds and sizes,...
  • EASY HOMEMADE: Just add warm water for a wholesome & delicious meal. Serve alone as a complete meal for maximum...

This low-sodium dog food (0.17 percent sodium) is full of organic ingredients. It also contains a high-quality protein with no hormones. Additionally, it has high-quality complex carbohydrates in the form of fruits and vegetables.

This food is also full of vitamins and minerals, including vitamin D3, vitamin D, zinc, and more. It's one of the best low-sodium dog food options you can find.

ORIJEN Original Dry Dog Food, Grain Free Dog Food for All Life Stages,...
  • One (1) 4.5 lb bag of ORIJEN Amazing Grains Original Dry Dog Food
  • Nutrient-dense, grain free* dry dog food formula tailored to support your dog's immune function, digestion, skin and...
  • Dry dog food made with the most succulent and nutrient-rich parts of the prey, containing 85 percent** animal protein...

Orijen is one of the companies that people know very well for high-quality dog food. This particular food has no grains that could upset your dog's stomach. The formula contains approximately 0.3 percent sodium, which qualifies it as a low-sodium dog food.

There are great protein sources in this food, including deboned poultry and yellowtail flounder. Locally-sourced vegetables and fruits are also included in the formula.

Royal Canin Boxer Adult Dry Dog Food, 30 lb bag
  • FORMULATED FOR PUREBRED BOXERS: Royal Canin Boxer Adult Dry Dog Food is designed to meet the nutritional needs of...
  • SPECIALIZED KIBBLE: Unique kibble shape helps Boxers easily pick up and chew their food
  • MUSCLE SUPPORT: Precise protein content and L-carnitine provide muscle support and weight management

Boxers are one breed of dog that's very susceptible to heart disease. For this reason, a low-sodium diet is particularly helpful for this breed. The Royal Canin company creates food for specific breeds, and this option is tailored particularly to adult boxers.

This formula gives adult boxers the nutrients they need for heart health, healthy protein levels, and muscle mass. The sodium level is 15 milligrams for every 100 calories.

IAMS Healthy Aging Adult Dry Dog Food for Mature and Senior Dogs with...
  • Senior Dry Dog Food: Formulated to support healthy bones and joints with a balance of key nutrients for senior dogs,...
  • Veterinarians Recommend IAMS: This tasty kibble features a wholesome blend of fiber and prebiotics to promote healthy...
  • Complete and Balanced Adult Nutrition: IAMS Dog Food is made with high quality animal protein and no artificial...

This food is a particularly good option for senior dogs, containing a mix of easy to digest ingredients. It's rich in fiber, including whole-grain barley. It also contains chicken as its primary protein ingredients, as well as beta-carotene and vitamin E for immune health.

You should keep in mind that salt has been added to this formula, to make it tastier. While it is low in sodium, it may not be the best option for dogs who need to be on a very strict low-sodium diet.

Fromm Family Foods 727540 33 Lb Gold Nutritionals Senior Dry Dog Food...
  • Only The Highest Quality Ingredients Available Are Used In Fromm Pet Foods
  • Many Variety'S Available From Puppy To Senior
  • The Best Dog Food Money Can Buy

This company has created a line of dog foods that people know very well for high-quality ingredients. This low-sodium, yet delicious, dog food contains great ingredients that your dog will love. These include chicken meal, duck, brown rice, lamb, and menhaden fish meal.

This food also keeps your dog's heart health in mind. It contains a very healthy blend of salmon oil, which is full of omega fatty acids. So, it's great for protecting your dog's heart.

Hill's Science Diet Adult Small & Toy Breed Dry Dog Food, Chicken Meal...
  • An adult dog food made with highly digestible ingredients that are easy on your small dog's stomach
  • Nourishing omega 6 fatty acids and vitamin E help promote healthy skin and a shiny coat
  • Provides high quality protein to maintain lean muscle in small breed dogs

The manufacturers of this candidate for best low-sodium dog food designed it specifically for small and toy breed dogs that are under 25 pounds. It's very easy to digest, having been made from the best sources of protein and calcium.

It also provides balanced nutrition and supports healthy bone and muscle functions in small dogs.

This dog food also has a clinically proven blend of natural antioxidants, which is said to boost your dog's immune health. Vitamin E and omega-6 fatty acids should help improve the health of his skin and coat. This food is also rich in vitamin C.

Hill's Science Diet Dry Dog Food, Adult, Sensitive Stomach & Skin,...
  • This adult dry dog food promotes digestive health while nourishing skin
  • A source of prebiotic fiber to support a balanced gut microbiome in your grown dog
  • This dog food is formulated to be highly digestible for optimal nutrient absorption & easier stool pick-up

This food is scientifically formulated for dogs with sensitive stomachs. It's very gentle on your dog's digestive system, and it contains only the highest grade ingredients that are easy to digest.

With this food, your dog can experience high balance and complete nutrition. It's full of omega-6 fatty acids, vitamin E, and other nutrients that are important for his overall health. This low-sodium dog food actually works for breeds of all sizes.

Try Not to Be Too Salty

You probably had no idea that the amount of sodium in your dog's diet is so important. However, now you know, and you can be proactive to keep him healthy. Your dog needs to have just the right amount of sodium, and you can work with your vet to make sure that happens.

It's important to remember that sodium isn't bad. In fact, it's essential for your dog. He needs to have a certain amount of sodium every day, and this is something that your veterinarian can help you figure out based on your dog's specific circumstances.

Finding the best low-sodium dog food that's available can work wonders for your dog's health. Of course, when you have a dog, you love him and want to keep him around for as long as possible. And this is just one thing you can do to keep him happy and healthy!

What do you think of the best low-sodium dog food options that we've presented to you? Let us know by leaving a comment!

Featured Photo by Marek Szturc on Unsplash

Last update on 2023-04-14 at 23:26 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

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