Potassium is an essential electrolyte that regulates fluid balance, nerve impulse transmission, and muscle contraction — including the heart muscle. It works in balance with sodium to maintain proper cellular function. Most whole foods contain potassium, so dietary deficiency from food alone is uncommon.
A medium banana contains about 400mg of potassium — a medium dog needs approximately 1,000–2,000mg per day. Sweet potatoes, bananas, salmon, spinach, and pumpkin are all potassium-rich foods. Potassium is rarely supplemented through food because commercial dog foods provide adequate amounts.
0.9% of daily nutrient intake
Potassium makes up 0.9% of your dog's total daily nutritional requirements by weight. That's a tiny amount — but it matters.
Muscle weakness (especially hind legs), lethargy, decreased appetite, and irregular heart rhythm. Potassium depletion more commonly results from chronic vomiting, diarrhea, or kidney disease than from dietary insufficiency.
Healthy kidneys efficiently excrete excess potassium. Dangerously high potassium (hyperkalemia) usually results from kidney failure, urinary obstruction, or Addison's disease rather than dietary intake, and can cause life-threatening cardiac arrhythmias.
| Life Stage | Size | Min | Max | Unit | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adult | medium 10-25kg | 1000 | 2000 | mg | NRC recommended allowance. Most dog foods provide adequate potassium. Depletion usually comes from illness, not diet. |
Source: NRC 2006
