Introduction: Salt is the most common seasoning in cooking. It is one of the key substances for normal metabolism of the animal body and is also a commonly used additive in many foods. People don’t like to eat food without any taste, let alone dogs. However, in life, many parents who raise dogs will discuss whether dogs can eat salt. So today we will focus on whether dogs can eat salt. Below is a detailed introduction to table salt and the problems that can occur when dogs drink too much salt.

1. Why do many people say dogs cannot eat salt?

Some people think that dogs eating salt will develop skin diseases, manifested as constant hair loss. In fact, this statement lacks scientific basis. If the skin disease is really caused by salt, it is also because of eating too much. Excessive salt will increase sweating. You must know that the dog's sweat glands have degenerated and will not sweat on the skin. Dogs mainly rely on their tongues and foot pads to dissipate heat, so excessive salt is prone to skin diseases. At the same time, excessive salt, especially insufficient water, can cause salt poisoning in dogs. However, because dogs’ kidneys have very good excretion functions, there are very few cases of dog salt poisoning, but it will only increase the burden on the kidneys.

2. In fact, it is not that dogs cannot eat salt

Let’s first take a look at what salt means to living things. We all know that if the human body lacks salt, it can easily lead to physical fatigue. The same goes for dogs. If dogs lack salt, in addition to fatigue, they may also suffer from various skin diseases and growth and development problems. Therefore, it is not that dogs cannot eat salt. Only by consuming an appropriate amount of salt can dogs live a healthy life.

However, under normal circumstances, if you have been feeding your dog dog food, you do not need to supplement with additional salt, because the salt in the dog food can already meet the dog’s needs, and additional supplementation may cause the dog to develop urinary system diseases, etc. . For owners who make homemade dog food for their dogs, you must remember to add an appropriate amount of salt to their dogs. Dogs need to consume 20 mg of salt per kilogram of body weight per day.

In order to avoid excessive salt intake by dogs, owners must not give their dogs food on the table. If their dogs eat salty food, owners must provide an appropriate amount of water for their dogs to drink in a timely manner. Some people may say that our dog has been eating food from the table and has not seen any problems with it! Experts say that excessive salt intake in dogs will not show obvious symptoms in the short term. This is a cumulative Once the dog develops symptoms, it means that they have been consuming excessive amounts of salt for a long time.

3. The pathogenesis of salt poisoning in dogs

Dog salt poisoning is mainly caused by dogs overdosingExcessive intake of foods with high salt content can lead to dehydration of the body and even obvious neurological symptoms. Foods with high salt content include brine chicken, meat, etc. If the dog is only slightly poisoned by salt, it can be treated through natriuresis, diuresis, infusion and other methods. If it is severe salt poisoning, it will be life-threatening for the dog.

Clinical cases of salt poisoning in dogs are relatively rare. The main cause of poisoning is the mistaken consumption of salt-rich pickled foods or the addition of fish meal. The occurrence of salt poisoning is closely related to the amount of water the dog drinks. When the animal ingests a large amount of salt products, if the drinking water is adequately supplied, it can promote the excretion of salt, so it is less likely to cause poisoning; Lack of water in the body caused by heat and other reasons can easily induce poisoning.

4. Treatment of dog salt poisoning

Since dogs are not sensitive to salt, it is rarely encountered in veterinary clinics, and it is easy to misdiagnose and delay the condition. The main basis for diagnosis is that the sick dog has a recent history of ingesting high-salt food, or there are inducements such as strenuous exercise, vomiting, and insufficient drinking water. The diagnosis can be confirmed when obvious neurological symptoms such as excitement, restlessness, movement disorders, and general muscle spasms appear during clinical examination.

1. When it is suspected that a dog is suffering from salt poisoning, clean water should be provided in time and drank in multiple portions. This will not only ensure the necessary amount of water, but also prevent the poisoned dog from drinking a large amount of water in a short period of time and aggravating cerebral edema. At the same time, oral administration of emetics can promote the excretion of salt in the gastrointestinal tract as soon as possible. Mild poisoning cases generally can be cured without medication. For sick dogs with severe neurological symptoms, in addition to inducing vomiting, gastric lavage and drinking plenty of water, intravenous infusion of 10% calcium gluconate should be applied as soon as possible to replace sodium ions with calcium ions to restore the ion balance in the body and relieve the symptoms of poisoning.

2. In order to relieve the symptoms of cerebral edema and reduce intracranial pressure, apply intravenous infusion of 25% sorbitol or hypertonic glucose solution.

3. In order to prevent dogs from suffering from salt poisoning, high-salt ingredients such as bacon, ham, and fish meal should be reasonably added to the diet; it should also be avoided to feed high-salt foods in hot summer or after strenuous exercise, or to feed Then give enough water to drink.

It is conceivable that common and commonly eaten salt in daily life can also cause poisoning in dogs. If your dog accidentally eats it or drinks too much salt and is poisoned, he must be sent to the doctor in time. Adult dogs have strong resistance. Life can be maintained after symptoms appear, but puppies cannot withstand severe intestinal damage and cranial nerve symptoms. Once the disease occurs, they often end in death.