LOW SALT (LOW SODIUM) DIETS

Your pet has been recommended a low salt diet by your vet. The most common reasons for this are heart disease and high blood pressure. We have made up a list of what are considered "low salt" foods that can be fed as treats or as part of the diet, and "high salt" foods that should be avoided. We have included some of the common pet foods, but you can check your own pet food by reading the sodium content per 100g on the label. To qualify as low salt it should be less than 0.25% (or less than 250mg/100g).

Some of the foods on the "allowed" list may not be suitable for your pet if other diseases are present (such as kidney failure or a predisposition for bladder stones). If in doubt please ask your vet.

"Low salt"- less than 250mg sodium per 100gDM (dry matter)

Complete "prescription" low salt diets are available:
DOGS
· Pedigree Cardiac Control (tinned and dry)
· Hills h/d (tinned and dry)
CATS
· Hills h/d (canned)
These do not require supplementation, will have lower salt content than commercial foods and are balanced and designed for the nutritional needs of pets with heart and blood pressure problems.
Other prescription diets for liver/kidney disease also tend to have a low salt content.

Commercial pet foods (available in supermarkets)
DOGS
· Chappie
· Denes Senior
· Beta Light and Senior
· Hills Science Plan -adult canned, senior canned has least.
-adult light dry, senior dry has least.
· Pedigree Advance- all except Adult Chicken/rice + Light
· Wafcol Veteran
CATS
I couldn't find a commercially available cat food with under 250mg/100g DM sodium. This is probably because cats would find a low salt content unpalatable. Salt content is also kept high especially in dry cat food to encourage drinking to minimise urinary tract problems. However the senior versions of most of the cat foods (Beta, Hills, Iams) come closest.

Foods with less than 250mg/100g sodium which can be used as occasional treats:
· Cereals: Shredded Wheat, Sugar Puffs, Ready Brek, Puffed Wheat.
· Milk/cream/yogurt (except dried skimmed milk)
· Eggs
· Oils
· Fresh unsalted meat
· Offal
· Fresh fish (not anchovies/kippers)
· Molluscs (except cockles)
· Fresh vegetables
· Fruit (except mixed peel and olives in brine)
· Nuts ( except salted, roasted or pistachios)
· Sugars and preserves (except golden syrup and toffees)

Remember to cook or prepare these WITHOUT ADDING SALT.

Foods with over 250mg/100g sodium to be avoided
As a rule most pre-prepared or processed food contains high levels of salt as flavouring or preservative.
· Bread
· Biscuits and cakes (unless home made with no salt)
· Breakfast cereals (apart from those listed above)
· Cheese
· Butter/margarine
· Bacon, sausages, pate, beefburgers
· Seafood: crab, prawns
· Savoury snacks eg crisps, twiglets
· Powdered drinks including Complan, Horlicks, drinking chocolate (chocolate can be poisonous to dogs in its own right)
· Soups and sauces especially if canned or packet

Be sensible about treats, if unsure of the salt content look on the packet and if in doubt avoid. Many of "pet shop" doggy treats can be very high in salt, especially dry "chews".

INFORMATION COMPILED BY MRS PATRICIA MacFADYEN FOR BLACKNESS VETERINARY SURGERY