Top Picks for Low Sodium Dog Food: Healthier Choices for Your Furry Pal

Is low sodium dog food a must? Sodium is a type of mineral and one that plays an important role in your dog’s health and wellness.

It can generally be found in your dog’s blood and in the fluid that surrounds his cells, helping to maintain the proper fluid balance in his body.

Sodium keeps the cells from swelling too much or from becoming dehydrated and it also plays a role in the healthy function of your dog’s nerves and muscle cells.

The Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) recommends at least 0.3% sodium in the diet for a healthy dog for both adult maintenance and the growth and development of puppies.

For certain dogs, however, too much sodium can be problematic.

 

Best Low Sodium Dog Food Brands

If your dog needs a low sodium dog food for medical reasons, consider one of the top brands reviewed below:

1. The Honest Kitchen Whole Grain Beef Recipe Dehydrated Dog Food

The Honest Kitchen is a unique dog food brand offering only dehydrated dog food, base mixes, meal toppers, and treats.

Using 100% human-grade ingredients and manufacturing in human food facilities, it stands out as one of the few truly human-grade pet food brands.

The recipes incorporate fresh, whole foods like real meats, fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, supporting higher energy levels, healthy body weight, improved digestion, and a silkier coat for dogs.

Their minimally processed foods preserve the natural nutrients, making them a healthier choice compared to many top-quality kibbles.

However, the food must be rehydrated before feeding, and dogs might need time to adjust to the texture. For a high-quality, low-sodium diet, consider this beef dehydrated dog food.

It contains beef, organic oats, organic barley, and flaxseed, providing balanced nutrition with 22.5% crude protein and 8.5% fat.

This formula also includes fresh fruits and vegetables for added vitamins, minerals, and fiber, making it ideal for dogs needing reduced salt but still requiring ample protein and fat.

2. Orijen Tundra Adult Dog Freeze-Dried Formula

Orijen pet food is renowned for biologically appropriate diets that mimic the natural diet of wild dogs. Their products are rich in meat and protein, limited in carbohydrates, and use fresh, regional ingredients.

Adhering to five key principles—rich in meat and protein, high fresh meat content, variety of fresh meats, whole prey ratios, and limited carbohydrates—Orijen ensures their foods are nutritious and free from low-quality fillers or artificial additives.

Their products contain no corn, wheat, or soy and are produced in their own kitchens. While not specifically marketed as low-sodium, some Orijen formulas have a sodium content of just 0.3%.

These freeze-dried recipes retain more nutritional value than traditional kibbles. Packed with premium proteins like chicken, turkey, herring, eggs, and chicken organ meats, they also include gluten-free and grain-free carbohydrates from fresh fruits and vegetables for essential nutrients.

The limited ingredients make these formulas suitable for dogs with food allergies or sensitivities, and they are supplemented with chelated minerals for optimal nutrient absorption and balanced omega oils.

3. Hill's Science Diet Adult Sensitive Stomach & Skin Chicken Recipe

A diet high in sodium can negatively impact a pet's gut, coat, and skin. Hill's Science Diet addresses this issue effectively.

Their formulas prioritize animal-based proteins as the first ingredient, using novel protein and carbohydrate sources.

Hill's Science Diet emphasizes ingredient quality and sources them from a trusted network of suppliers, providing transparency on their website about ingredient origins.

Clinically proven and veterinarian-recommended, Hill's Science Diet dry dog food promotes coat, skin, and stomach health, offering complete and balanced nutrition for all dogs.

Key ingredients include chicken and chicken meal for protein, and brown rice and barley for carbohydrates.

The low-sodium formula also features beet pulp for prebiotic fiber, and vitamin E and omega fatty acids from chicken fat to support skin and coat health.

Despite having only a dozen recipes, each one is made with high-quality ingredients for balanced nutrition.

4. Fromm Family Foods Gold Senior Formula

The Fromm Family pet food company, family-owned and operated, has been a pioneer in the pet food industry for decades, including the development of cooking meat and grain together for kibble.

Committed to quality and safety, Fromm subjects all its formulas to rigorous testing and strict quality assurance measures. They offer three product lines: Classic, Gold, and Four-Star.

The Classic line includes just one adult and one senior recipe, the Four-Star line offers over a dozen rotational diet recipes, and the Gold line features original and grain-free options for puppies, adults, and seniors.

For a reduced sodium diet for senior dogs, this formula is recommended.

This formula’s top ingredients are fresh duck, chicken meal, and fresh chicken, providing necessary protein. Oatmeal, brown rice, and pearled barley provide digestible carbohydrates, while salmon oil offers healthy fats rich in omega-3 fatty acids.

With just 0.28% sodium, 24% protein, and nearly 12% fat, it also includes fresh fruits, vegetables, and probiotics for key nutrients and digestion support.

Low-sodium pet food can be beneficial for dogs with certain medical conditions, like heart disease, and may be a viable alternative to prescription diets.

5. Now Fresh Recipe with Turkey, Salmon & Duck

Now Fresh is a pet food brand that believes in only using the best ingredients in crafting its foods in order to keep pets healthy and happy. 

The brand believes that the best dog food is one that has been minimally processed to preserve as much of the nutrients as possible from each of the food ingredients. Foods are cooked at the lowest possible temperatures, and the recipes never include meat meals.

Your dog’s health is Now Fresh’s number one priority. Only the freshest ingredients and superfoods make it to each and every recipe the brand makes.

And since each dog is an individual, the brand’s dog foods come in several options tailored to the specific dietary needs of canines of all ages—from puppies to senior dogs—and all sizes.

This particular grain-free, dry dog food recipe is made with fresh deboned meat (turkey and duck) and fish (salmon). It features 20+ natural superfoods, like pomegranate and blueberries, to support your pup’s healthy immune system function.

What’s more, this low-sodium, dry dog food contains l-carnitine, which supports weight management and a healthy heart, as well as prebiotics and fiber for healthy digestion. There are no artificial flavors, colors, or preservatives.

6. Stella & Chewy’s Dandy Lamb Dinner Patties

Stella & Chewy’s is a premium pet food brand sold by Chewy, known for its raw food diets and new cooked food line, Wild Red.

Their dog foods consist of 70% – 95% high-quality animal protein, supporting energy needs and muscle maintenance.

The brand follows a prey model diet using meat, organs, and bone without added hormones, antibiotics, fillers, or controversial ingredients.

Emphasizing minimal processing, their freeze-dried method preserves nutrients while removing moisture to prevent spoilage.

This particular freeze-dried raw dog food recipe contains 95% grass-fed lamb, organs, and bone, offering a single-animal protein, grain-free option ideal for dogs with sensitive skin or food allergies. 

The remaining ingredients include certified organic fruits, vegetables, probiotics, and supplemental vitamins and minerals.

With a sodium content of 0.47%, this product supports a mild sodium restriction diet while maintaining high nutritional value.

7. Solid Gold Fit & Fabulous Weight Control

Solid Gold is a pet food company dedicated to promoting gut health for improved immune system function and overall wellness.

Their dog foods are designed to balance, cleanse, and fuel gut health using whole superfoods, living probiotics, and omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids.

This low sodium food features pollock, pollock meal, and ocean fish meal for animal protein. It includes healthy whole grains and peas for carbohydrates and fiber, and chicken fat, fish oil (salmon oil), and flaxseed for omega fatty acids.

The formula supports weight control and excludes potatoes, soy, wheat, corn, and artificial ingredients, ensuring high-quality nutrition for dogs.

8. Zignature Turkey LID Formula

Zignature is a pet food manufacturer that sets out to create the best dog foods in the market. The brand has a meat-first, limited ingredient, and low-carbohydrate philosophy to ensure healthy food for your dog. 

The brand’s recipes omit high-glycemic carbohydrate ingredients. Instead, it uses known low-glycemic food such as oats or chickpeas to provide the necessary dietary fiber.

Currently, Zignature has 16 unique formulas that include dry and wet dog food, and treats. 

This Zignature dry dog food formula is low-sodium and grain-free. There are only a few ingredients, but each serving delivers a high protein supply to keep your pet active and moving. In fact, the dry dog food formula supplies dogs with 32% crude protein, courtesy of farm-raised turkey.

Since the number of ingredients are limited and it’s a single-protein recipe, this is also ideal for pups who have food sensitivities. It’s free from potential canine allergens, such as chicken, dairy, soy, wheat, and corn. 

Not only is this food low-sodium, it is also low-glycemic. The meat-first recipe, combined with key antioxidants, a complete spectrum of vitamins and minerals, and essential fatty acids make for a rounded and balanced meal.

9. Nulo Freestyle Lamb & Sweet Potato Recipe (Small Breed)

Nulo is a pet food brand dedicated to providing high-quality nutrition with high animal protein, low carbohydrates, and low-glycemic ingredients.

Their recipes include a patented probiotic that remains effective through the cooking process to aid digestion. The brand's philosophy is that if the founder wouldn’t feed it to his dog, Nulo won’t sell it.

Nulo offers a wide range of products including protein-rich kibble, freeze-dried raw food, toppers, wet dog food, bone broths, and treats, with options for different breed sizes and ages.

This specific grain-free recipe for small breeds features lamb, lamb liver, and sweet potatoes for protein and fiber. It includes L-carnitine to support metabolism and maintain a healthy weight, with convenient portion sizes for travel.

Free from fillers, corn, wheat, soy, and artificial ingredients, this formula has a sodium content of 0.14% as-fed and 0.53% on a dry matter basis.

What is a Low Sodium Diet for Dogs?

The amount of sodium you feed your dog depends on his condition. Normally, the sodium levels of dog food for dogs with mild sodium restriction ranges from 0.35% and 0.5%. A moderate sodium restriction requires dog food to contain between 0.1% and 0.35% only.

For most dogs, excess sodium intake is not a problem because healthy dogs just excrete it through their urine. But in certain canines, their medical problems prevent them from being able to do so.

For example, pups with high blood pressure, congestive heart failure, liver or kidney disease, and other conditions simply cannot abide high sodium levels. Salt exacerbates their disease. If their sodium intake is not restricted, it can lead to strokes and heart problems, and worsen their condition.

For pups such as these, a low-sodium diet is often prescribed by the veterinarian. However, if your dog doesn’t take to the new diet, shopping for alternative low-sodium dog food options can be tricky, especially if you don’t know where to start looking.

How To Select Low-Sodium Food For Your Dog

Since high sodium levels can exacerbate a dog’s medical condition, it’s important that you take the points below into consideration when purchasing a dog food for your pooch.

It’s not enough that the food is declared as a low-sodium diet. The dog food should also meet high-quality standards for your pup’s overall health.

1. No fillers

Many popular commercial dog foods trade quality for affordability. If you’ll check the labels of these dog foods carefully, you’ll see corn gluten meal, soy, and other ingredients have been added.

Dog food manufacturers add these as fillers to bulk up the food but these contain little of the essential nutrients that your pet needs.

2. Meat as the first ingredient

Dog foods should be high in protein, and you can tell a high-quality dog food by the first few ingredients in the label. If these are made up of proteins, then it’s worth a closer look.

If it’s not (unless it’s wet food and the first ingredient is water or broth, both of which are okay), then you should probably remove that food from your cart.

And it shouldn’t be just any kind of meat. Meat by-products are not what you’d want to feed your pet. While meat by-products may refer to offal such as heart or kidneys (which are healthy), they can also refer to blood, hide, and virtually all part of the carcass. You won’t know which unless the dog food label specifically states it.

3. Properly labeled meat meals and fat

When selecting dog food, ensure meat is the first ingredient and there are no meat by-products. Properly labeled meat meals, such as chicken or beef meal, are acceptable if the source is clearly identified.

However, avoid vaguely labeled meals like “poultry meal,” “fish meal,” or “meat meal,” as they can include unspecified sources, posing risks for dogs with sensitive skin or food allergies.

Similarly, avoid rendered fats labeled generically as “poultry fat” or “animal fat,” which may come from undesirable sources such as dead, disabled, or diseased animals.

4. No artificial flavors, colors, or preservatives

Dog foods should not contain these. Artificial flavors and other artificial additives do not contribute anything to the meal. They may even aggravate medical conditions, and worse, be carcinogenic. 

If it’s a carefully crafted dog food, then there’s no need to include artificial flavor. The meat and other ingredients in a quality dog food will be enough to entice even the pickiest pets.

5. A carefully balanced diet

A good low-sodium diet should not only focus on how much sodium is in it but also on the ingredients that give it a high nutritional value.

Protein and quality fat sources are important, but the presence of vegetables, fruits, and other ingredients that deliver essential mineral and vitamin content should also be considered when selecting your pup’s dog food.

6. Beware of dangerous dog food ingredients

Some dog food brands try to entice canines to eat by putting unnecessary ingredients that can possibly become harmful to your pet.

Sugar is one example. It comes in many forms, like corn syrup, molasses, or sucrose. Sugar, when given regularly, can lead to diabetes and difficulty in weight management.  

Another dangerous ingredient is carrageenan. Although there are scientists on both sides of the fence on carrageenan, it has been found to be without nutritional value.

There are also studies that even food grade carrageenan degrades in the stomach and can be potentially harmful to the pets that ingest it.

7. Moisture

Since salt helps deliver water to a body’s cells, a low-sodium diet can increase the risk of dehydration in your dog.

If your pup is not fond of drinking water too much, consider switching him from dry food to wet dog food. Wet dog food typically contains anywhere from 75% to 82% moisture.

Canned food also typically contains no preservatives because the heat treatment in the canning process prevents the food from spoiling until the canned food is opened.

8. Sodium Content

This is the most important part. We’ve listed the as-fed and dry matter percentage of our reviewed dog foods since sodium restrictions require food to strictly adhere to it. 

What’s the difference between the two? 

Dry matter is the value for sodium when all moisture is removed from the food, while as-fed would be the food’s value for the sodium if the moisture was not removed. As the water content increases in food, the amount of other nutrients present decreases.

Common Medical Conditions That Need Low Sodium Food To Manage

As stated before, there are several medical conditions that warrant low-sodium food. These include but are not limited to:

• Kidney disease
• Congestive heart failure
• Liver disease
• High blood pressure
• Hypernatremia

Heart diseases, including congestive heart failure, affect the way blood is pumped throughout the body, which may then cause excess fluid to build up. This excess fluid puts pressure on the heart, lungs, and kidneys. Excessive sodium intake can aggravate this life-threatening condition.

The kidneys’ job is to filter out excess sodium and minerals from the body. When dogs have a kidney disease, their kidneys do not function as well. Too much salt intake will also put further stress on their already suffering kidneys. 

High blood pressure can stem from an underlying disease, and this can be anything from chronic kidney disease and Cushing disease to adrenal gland tumors.  High blood pressure can be effectively managed by treating the underlying disease, through medication, and via low-sodium food.

The liver’s function is to remove the toxins from the blood. When a dog has liver disease, his liver is not at its peak performance. And when salt intake is not managed, further stress is put on the overworked kidneys.

However, dietary sodium restrictions can help manage the disease and its effects on your pup’s body. Hypernatremia, or salt toxicity, is a condition that happens when your pup ingests something with too much salt, but they can’t get enough water to dilute the sodium they ingested.

When salt toxicity occurs, providing fresh water to your pup is imperative. And to make sure it does not happen again, a mild sodium restriction may be imposed.

Our Final Take

Low sodium dog food offers several benefits, particularly for dogs with certain health conditions.

It helps manage and prevent hypertension, supports kidney health, and reduces fluid retention, which is common in dogs with heart or liver disease.

Additionally, it can help maintain a healthy weight and promote overall well-being by providing balanced nutrition.

Dogs with heart disease or other conditions requiring a low-sodium diet can lead full lives with proper treatment and a healthy diet. It's essential to use clean ingredients.

However, for dogs without medical conditions, consult a veterinarian before switching to a low-sodium diet, as healthy dogs need a certain amount of salt for proper cell function.

Transition any diet change gradually to avoid digestive issues and always seek vet approval for dogs with medical conditions.