Salt-free dog food: why some owners look for it
Dogs do need a small amount of sodium in their diet, so true zero-salt food is not really the goal for a healthy dog, and "salt-free" or "low-salt" food is usually about avoiding unnecessary added salt rather than sodium as a nutrient altogether. Owners typically look for this either because a vet has recommended a lower-sodium diet for a specific health reason, or because they simply prefer a plainer, less heavily seasoned recipe.
Why added salt turns up in dog food at all
Salt is sometimes added to commercial dog food as a flavour enhancer, in much smaller amounts than would appear in food made for people, since dogs generally find naturally flavoured meat appealing enough on its own. Some treats and human-style dog snacks contain considerably more added salt than a complete dog food does, which is worth remembering if you are trying to reduce a dog's overall sodium intake rather than just switching the main meal.
Reading the ingredients list for "salt" or "sodium chloride" specifically, rather than assuming a plain-sounding recipe is automatically low in it, is the only reliable way to check.
When a lower-salt diet is actually recommended
Vets sometimes recommend a lower-sodium diet for dogs with certain heart or kidney conditions, where managing sodium intake is part of a wider treatment plan rather than a general health choice. If your dog has been diagnosed with a condition like this, the specific prescription diet or dietary advice from your vet should always take priority over a general "salt-free" label, since therapeutic diets are formulated with far more precision than a standard low-salt recipe.
For a healthy dog with no diagnosed condition, there is no established need to actively seek out salt-free food, though there is also no harm in choosing a plainer recipe if that is simply your preference.
Reading a label properly for salt content
Look at the ingredients list rather than just marketing claims on the front of the pack, since "salt-free" is not a strictly regulated term in the same way some other claims are. A genuinely low-salt recipe will usually list its sodium content, or at minimum not list salt as an added ingredient at all, and a recipe built around named meat and vegetables rather than processed extras tends to be lower in added salt as a natural side effect.
If you are managing your dog's sodium for a specific medical reason, comparing sodium content in milligrams per 100g between products, rather than relying on front-of-pack wording, gives a much more reliable picture.
Without it, and in stock
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
Forthglade British Classics Chicken Family Lunch
Complete Forthglade wet dog food with 75% chicken in a 395G tray
£2.45
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
Common questions
- Do dogs need salt in their diet?
- Yes, a small amount of sodium is a genuine nutritional requirement for dogs, and complete dog foods are formulated to include an appropriate level. "Salt-free" marketing generally refers to avoiding unnecessary added salt on top of what a food naturally needs, rather than removing sodium entirely.
- Why would a vet recommend a low-salt diet for a dog?
- This is usually recommended for dogs with specific heart or kidney conditions, where managing sodium intake forms part of a wider treatment plan. If your dog has been prescribed a particular diet for a diagnosed condition, that specific diet should take priority over a general low-salt product.
- Is too much salt dangerous for dogs?
- In large amounts, yes, excess salt intake can cause problems, though this is far more of a risk from a dog eating something like a large amount of salty human food than from a normal serving of complete dog food, which is formulated with an appropriate sodium level for dogs.
- How do I check the salt content of dog food?
- Check the ingredients list for salt or sodium chloride as an added ingredient, and where available, compare the sodium content per 100g between products rather than relying on front-of-pack claims, since "salt-free" and "low-salt" are not always strictly defined terms.
Related
- Sugar-free cat food
- Sugar-free dog food: what it means and how to check
- Chicken-free puppy food: why owners look for it, and what to check
- Corn-free puppy food: why owners choose it and how to read the label
- Fish-free kitten food: why owners choose it and what to feed instead
- Pork-free dog food: why owners choose it and how to check
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.