Low sodium dry dog food: reading the label properly
There is no single, comparable 'low sodium' figure printed on most dry dog food bags, because sodium is not one of the constituents UK and EU pet food labelling requires a manufacturer to declare — protein, fat, fibre, ash and moisture are mandatory, sodium generally is not. That does not make it unknowable, but it does mean judging a 'low sodium' food takes a slightly different reading of the label than checking protein or fat.
Why sodium is harder to compare between bags than protein or fat
The analytical constituents panel required on every complete pet food covers crude protein, crude fat, crude fibre, crude ash and moisture. Sodium sits outside that mandatory list, so whether it appears at all depends on the individual brand choosing to publish it, which most everyday ranges do not.
A small number of ranges, particularly ones aimed at specific dietary needs, do list sodium voluntarily, and those are the only bags where a genuine side-by-side comparison is possible. Everywhere else, the label simply will not answer the question directly, however carefully you read it.
What actually pushes sodium up in a recipe
Where sodium is not declared, the ingredients list is the next best clue. Cured, smoked or heavily processed meat inclusions, added stock or gravy-style coatings, and some flavour enhancers tend to carry more sodium than a plain named meat and vegetable base, even though neither appears as a number on the bag.
Treats and toppers are also worth thinking about separately from the main bag of food. A dog eating a carefully chosen low-sodium dry food alongside a daily handful of cured meat treats or table scraps is still taking on whatever sodium those extras carry, which the main food's own recipe has no bearing on.
What to actually do if sodium is the thing you're managing
If a vet has specifically recommended reducing your dog's sodium intake, ask them to point you towards brands that publish the figure, since guessing from an ingredients list alone is a rough substitute for an actual declared number. Several ranges built for particular dietary needs do carry it and are the more reliable place to compare.
For everyone else simply trying to keep sodium reasonable rather than managing a specific need, choosing a recipe with a plain named meat rather than a cured or heavily processed one, and keeping salty treats occasional rather than daily, covers most of what is realistically within your control from the label alone.
Our picks, and why
Everything below is in stock with us, priced with delivery worked out, and packed and posted by hand in the UK.
Forthglade Cold Pressed Natural Turkey
Cold-pressed turkey kibble for dogs from 2 months, soft enough to mix with water for young pups
£45.99
Forthglade Cold Pressed Grain Free Salmon
Cold-pressed grain-free dry food for dogs, built on fresh and dried salmon
From£16.99
Forthglade Cold Pressed Grain Free Duck
Cold-pressed grain-free duck food with fruit and botanicals, in two bag sizes
From£16.99
Forthglade Cold Pressed Grain Free Chicken
Cold-pressed grain-free chicken food with fruit and botanicals, in three bag sizes
From£16.99
Forthglade Complete Meal Lightly Baked Turkey
A lightly baked complete dry food, 50% turkey, for adult dogs of any breed
From£12.49
Forthglade Complete Meal Lightly Baked Chicken
A grain-free complete dry food for adult dogs, lightly baked and built on 50% chicken
From£12.49
Forthglade Cold Pressed Small Dog Turkey
Cold-pressed grain-free dry food for small dogs and puppies, built on turkey
£16.99
Forthglade Complete Meal Lightly Baked Lamb
A lightly baked complete dry food, 50% lamb, for adult dogs of any breed
From£12.49
Forthglade Cold Pressed Grain Free Turkey
Grain-free cold-pressed turkey kibble for dogs, gentle on sensitive stomachs
£69.69
Harringtons Puppy Turkey & Rice
Complete turkey puppy food with 30% protein and feeding bands by adult weight
£6.49
Harringtons Adult Dog Turkey Veg
Complete dry food for adult dogs with turkey, chicken and salmon oil, 21% protein
From£3.39
Harringtons Adult Dog Salmon & Potato
Complete salmon and potato dry dog food with 21% protein in a 1.7KG bag
£6.25
Common questions
- Why don't dog food bags show sodium content?
- UK and EU labelling rules require protein, fat, fibre, ash and moisture to be declared on complete pet food, but sodium is not on that mandatory list. Some brands publish it voluntarily, particularly ranges built around a specific dietary need, but most everyday dry foods do not show a figure at all.
- What ingredients tend to mean higher sodium in dog food?
- Cured, smoked or heavily processed meat inclusions, added stock or gravy-style coatings, and some flavour enhancers generally carry more sodium than a plain named meat base, even though the amount itself is rarely printed. The ingredients list, read in that order, is the closest thing to a clue without a declared figure.
- Do treats affect a low-sodium diet?
- Yes, and often more than owners expect. A carefully chosen main food does not account for what a dog eats in treats or table scraps alongside it, and cured meat treats in particular can carry meaningfully more sodium than the daily food itself, so they are worth considering together rather than separately.
- Should I ask a vet before changing my dog's sodium intake?
- Yes, particularly if the goal is managing a specific need rather than general moderation. A vet can point you towards a food that actually declares its sodium content, which is a far more reliable way to compare options than reading an ingredients list and guessing.
Related
Written by Matt Garnett, who runs Giddy Pets and is a lifelong pet owner — not a vet. This is general information, not veterinary advice, and it cannot replace an examination by the vet who knows your animal. How we write these guides.