I. Can dogs eat salt?
In fact, dogs need salt, and salt is one of the essential nutrients for dogs.
The main component of salt is sodium chloride, which can decompose sodium ions and interact with potassium ions, participate in the normal metabolism of dogs, and maintain the electrolyte balance in the body.
If the dog lacks sodium ions for a long time, there will be dry and bifurcated hair, hair loss, reduced water intake, reduced gastric acid concentration, etc. In severe cases, it will even lead to dehydration, loss of appetite, lethargy, etc. Therefore, just like humans, dogs also need a certain amount of salt every day.
Second, is it harmful for dogs to eat too much salt?
If the dog only occasionally eats a little more salt, it is generally not harmful, because after eating too much salt in the food, the dog will drink more water on its own, and then use the urine to remove the excess salt out.
However, pet owners should not allow dogs to consume excessive salt for a long time, because dogs need to excrete excess salt through the kidneys. Eating too much salt will increase the metabolic burden on the kidneys and may cause kidney failure.
Secondly, dogs often eat heavy food and are prone to picky eating habits, and long-term picky eating can also lead to chronic malnutrition in dogs.
Finally, the long-term intake of excessive salt will also cause a burden on the dog’s heart. If the dog suddenly eats high-salt food and the dog does not drink enough water, there may be salt poisoning. Happening.
Third, how much salt should a dog eat every day?
From the perspective of pet nutrition, dogs should consume about 1% of the weight of their staple food every day. If the pet owner usually eats dog food for the dog, then don’t feed the dog other salty food, because enough salt has been added to the dog food. It is easy to exceed the daily salt intake.
If the pet mainly makes homemade dog food, you can add 1% salt to the dog’s food, but pay attention to the following two points:
1. If the dog’s food is carbohydrates Mainly, you need to add about 1% salt. (Normal dogs are not recommended to eat this kind of homemade dog meal, but dogs with pancreatitis and other diseases may need such a special diet.)
2. If the dog’s food is mainly meat, it is not necessary to Add salt or a little salt occasionally. Because the meat itself will contain a certain amount of salt, there is no need to add extra.
After reading the above content, I believe that everyone has a fairly specific answer to the question of whether dogs can’t eat salt. If you have other dog-related questions, you can directly consult a veterinarian or leave a comment Leave a message below!
