Sodium is an essential electrolyte that regulates fluid balance, blood pressure, and nerve and muscle function. Your dog needs a small but consistent amount of sodium daily — it is not the villain it is sometimes portrayed as for healthy dogs. The kidneys efficiently regulate sodium levels, excreting excess when intake is high.
A stalk of celery provides about 30mg of sodium — a medium dog needs approximately 200–500mg of sodium per day, which most commercial dog foods easily provide. There is no need to add salt to your dog's food. Avoid feeding salty human foods (chips, pretzels, processed meats), especially to dogs with heart or kidney conditions.
0.21% of daily nutrient intake
Sodium makes up 0.21% of your dog's total daily nutritional requirements by weight. That's a tiny amount — but it matters.
Restlessness, excessive water consumption, dry mucous membranes, increased heart rate, and in severe cases, collapse. True sodium deficiency is rare and usually results from excessive fluid loss (severe vomiting, diarrhea) rather than insufficient intake.
While healthy dogs can handle moderate sodium variation, very high sodium intake causes excessive thirst and urination and can be dangerous for dogs with heart disease, kidney disease, or hypertension. Salt toxicity from eating large amounts of salt (road salt, playdough, seawater) causes vomiting, diarrhea, tremors, and seizures — this is a veterinary emergency.
| Life Stage | Size | Min | Max | Unit | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adult | medium 10-25kg | 200 | 500 | mg | NRC recommended allowance. Do not add salt to dog food. Dogs with heart or kidney disease may need sodium restriction. |
Source: NRC 2006
