3 Best Low Sodium Dog Food Brands

I think you’ll agree that it’s down right difficult finding a really great Low Sodium Dog Food product.

Well, not so fast!

We have done the research and found 3 top Low Sodium Dog Food Brands that meet the low sodium criteria.  And, they do so while maintaining quality and delivering a flavor that your pooch will love.

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In this post, you will learn about:

• How excessive sodium can harm your furry friend
• Which breeds are more susceptible to sodium issues
• What other activities to combine with a Low Sodium Dog Food diet
• Three high quality dog foods that provide a well rounded method of delivering a tasty low sodium diet

Reasons to Pay Attention to Sodium in Your Pooch’s Diet

Dakota says she enjoys playing with her friend Bobby. He lives next door. She says Bobby currently eats Low Sodium Dog Food because he used to suffer from congestive heart failure.

Bobby told Dakota he likes his food very much. But, sometimes he gets a little nostalgic about the food he used to eat. So, I told Dakota some options Bobby can try if he wants to eat a delicious meal while still maintaining safe level’s of sodium.

However, before I gave Dakota the options, we talked about reasons why this type of food can be the best choice for some dogs:

• Food with high levels of sodium can cause kidney failure as well as heart disease
• Even if a dog doesn’t suffer from any of these issues, the risks increase the older they get
• An excessive consumption of sodium can shorten the lifetime of a dog’s heart, making it impossible to manage physical wear caused by aging

Key Takeaway:

Just because your dog currently doesn’t exhibit symptoms associated with sodium consumption doesn’t mean the effects of sodium won’t hit them when they’re older.

Why Excessive Sodium Can Damage a Dog’s Body

Often the main reason owners start feeding their dogs with Low Sodium Dog Food is because the barking buddy has already started showing symptoms.

Health issues like heart failure or high blood pressure are a couple of the common symptoms.

I can’t emphasize this enough:

By the time your fuzzy friend starts to show these symptoms, damage may have already occurred.

It is sad because keeping a controlled level of sodium in a dog’s daily food is sometimes enough to prevent these problems.

Here’s the deal:

Similar to humans, oxygen and nutrients travel through the blood in your dog’s body. If there is something hardening the oxygenation process, the dogs’ systems will start to work at medium or even low capacity.

Whenever one of your own body’s systems is not working at full potential, your body may not be able to respond to a demanding situation.

Well, this is what also happens to your playful pal. It is practically impossible for a dog with heart damage to endure as much activity as a dog that doesn’t suffer from it.

Bottom line:

The consumption of sodium may not have an immediate effect in your dog’s body.  However, some of the issues that can occur as a result of long term sodium consumption are:

• High blood pressure
• Irritability
• Fluid retention
• Coronary heart disease

The amount of sodium recommended for a 33 pounds dog is 100 milligrams per day.

When Should You Buy Low Sodium Dog Food?

Dakota says, even though too much sodium can be harmful, dogs must consume sodium on a daily basis.  So, complete elimination of sodium isn’t the goal.

What’s the real story…

The real story is that sodium is essential for healthy living.  Sodium is important to avoid dehydration, and to keep your nervous and muscle functions working well.

Nevertheless, it is important to keep track of how much of this mineral our canine amigo is consuming.

Most of the time, the amount of sodium in dog food is within the recommended levels. So, if your dog is healthy, then there’s likely no need to worry.

The usual percentage of sodium in a commercial dog food product is between 0.3% and 0.5%.

If you happen try a new type of food and it contains more sodium than one your dog is used to eating, then you should really watch out for your dog’s water consumption.

Why is this important?

A common symptom to know if your dog is having too much sodium is by looking closely at how thirsty they are during the day, especially after each meal.

You must keep in mind that not all dogs are the same. If your dog suffers from cardiac problems it may not be able to pump blood through its body properly if being affected by sodium intake.

That’s not all…

Statistically there are some breeds more likely to suffer from heart diseases than others.  Some of the breeds at risk for heart failure are:

• Beagles
• Saint Bernards
• Chihuahuas
• Golden Retrievers

You can read the full list and get more detailed information of what kind of heart diseases are more common for each breed in this article written by Dr. Joan M. Yarnall, V.M.D., Ph.D.

Recommendations For a Low Sodium Dog Food Diet

Even though a diet with a controlled level of sodium will help your dog if it has a heart disease, there are other things you can do to help your companion. You can also make changes in your dog’s lifestyle to help them with their condition.

Look:

Some things that can be done in addition to a healthy low-sodium diet are:

• Follow an exercise routine. Exercise will help your dog drain fluids as well as to improve its heart’s endurance.
• Drink enough water. The limited amount of salt on a diet may reduce the thirst felt by your dog. Make sure it’s drinking enough water each day.

Dakota says that it isn’t only about changing dietary habits, but about changing the daily routine itself that leads to a healthier life!

3 of the Best Low Sodium Dog Food Products

Now that you know the reasons why it is important to control sodium intake for your precious pooch, Dakota has done the research and is sharing some great options that help with the dietary side of sodium intake.

Based on the characteristics we’ve talked about above, Dakota has selected these best options for a Low Sodium Dog Food.

1. The Honest Kitchen Wholemade Whole Grain Turkey Dehydrated Dog Food

Honest Kitchen has been making human-grade pet food for more than 20 years. Founder Lucy Postins still guides the company today as Chief Integrity Officer, and the brand is still built around real ingredients you would recognize in your own kitchen.

We updated this pick after looking again at sodium levels across their line. Their grain-free turkey recipe (formerly sold as Embark) is a strong food, but their Whole Grain Turkey recipe is the better fit for a low-sodium list. Honest Kitchen publishes nutrient data showing about 0.13% sodium — lower than the roughly 0.30% we cited for our other picks here, and well below the 0.3% to 0.5% range common in many dry dog foods.

Here’s the deal:

This is a dehydrated food, not kibble. You add warm water, wait a few minutes, and serve a fresh, stew-like meal. A 10 lb box rehydrates into a much larger amount of food, so it is easier to store than wet food but still feels homemade in the bowl.

The recipe starts with cage-free turkey and organic oats, plus potatoes, carrots, cabbage, apples, and other simple produce. It is moderate in protein and fat, which makes it a sensible choice for many adult and senior dogs — not just those watching sodium.

Bottom line:

If you want human-grade ingredients and one of the lower sodium numbers we could verify from the manufacturer, Wholemade Whole Grain Turkey belongs on your short list. Newer bags may say Wholemade on the front; older boxes may still say Whole Grain Turkey. Same recipe.

The best part?

You get the quality and ingredient story Honest Kitchen is known for while keeping sodium closer to the low end of what we found in this category. As always, confirm the nutrient profile on the box or on thehonestkitchen.com if your veterinarian gave you a specific sodium target.

2. Hill’s Science Diet Adult Small & Mini Dry Dog Food

Hill’s Science Diet provides your dog with balanced nutrition while keeping sodium in a range that works for many low-sodium diets.

The product on our list is now sold as Hill’s Science Diet Adult 1-6 Small & Mini, Chicken & Brown Rice (the line formerly called Small & Toy Breed). It is made in the USA with natural ingredients and is a common pick for little dogs that need easy-to-digest kibble in a small bite size.

Real chicken leads the ingredient list, along with brown rice, whole grains, and pumpkin to support healthy digestion. It is also fortified with vitamins and minerals your dog needs day to day.

That’s not all…

Another plus for small households: the 15.5 lb bag is a practical size for many toy and small breeds, and Subscribe & Save can help if you feed it regularly.

The best part for this article?

Hill’s publishes sodium data for this recipe in the same range we watch for on a low-sodium diet — about 0.27% to 0.30% depending on the current formula on your bag. That sits at or below the roughly 0.3% to 0.5% we usually see in everyday commercial dog foods. Check the label on the bag you buy for the exact figure your vet wants you to use.

Its natural flavor is a plus that your dog will enjoy.  Not only does Dakota like the taste, but her friends also like it.  But, you don’t have to take her word for it, the reviews for this product are through the roof!

Many owners report that their dogs like the taste, and the Amazon listing for this recipe still carries a large number of strong reviews. We don’t often see reviews this high.  So, we double checked to make sure nothing fishy was going on and plugged the product into Fakespot.  With over 1,000 reviews, Fakespot gives the quality of the reviews an A. So, the comments are Legit!!

X. Natural Balance Limited Ingredient Diets Dry Dog Food – Lamb Meal & Brown Rice Formula

UPDATE: When we first published this article, we researched Natural Balance Limited Ingredient Diets Lamb Meal & Brown Rice Formula and found data suggesting it was among the lower-sodium dry foods available — roughly in the range we were looking for compared with typical commercial dog foods (about 0.3% to 0.5% sodium).

We still think Natural Balance makes a solid limited-ingredient food, and many dogs do well on it. However, the recipe and labeling have changed since our original research. On current bags and retailer listings, the guaranteed analysis does not call out sodium the way it once did in our notes, and the product is no longer marketed as a low-sodium option. Without a clear sodium figure we can verify on today’s packaging, we are no longer comfortable recommending it here specifically for sodium control.

If your veterinarian has asked you to limit sodium, talk with them before choosing any food — and ask the manufacturer for an up-to-date nutrient profile if you need exact numbers.

Other References You Might Find Interesting

The following articles are some that you might also find interesting and related to healthy dog food:

• Some Low Fat Dog Food Products to Keep Your Companion Health
• Dog Food To Help Your Pet Produce Low Residue
• Healthy High Protein Dog Food
• Stay Healthy with Low Phosphorus Dry Dog Food

Wrap Up: Low Sodium Dog Food

Our research found that too much sodium can contribute to kidney, heart and other health issues.

The signs that your canine sidekick may be suffering from high sodium side effects are easily identifiable if you know what to look for.  So, educate yourself to keep your best friend healthy.

Do You Want The BEST Low Sodium Dog Food?

YES - GET IT NOW

As always, Dakota encourages you to make any food change at low pace, changing the way you feed your dog progressively and not all at once.  By making gradual changes, your best friend’s digestive tract will thank you.

And remember, if you do see any signs like we’ve described regarding high sodium health issues, please visit your veterinarian to get their input regarding a Low Sodium Dog Food diet.  Bark a nice day!