Phá bỏ những lầm tưởng về thức ăn cho thú cưng #3 – Natri có hại cho chó không?

What You Should Know About Sodium

Sodium is a macromineral, meaning dogs need it in larger amounts than trace minerals. Together with potassium, sodium functions as an important electrolyte, helping the body with:

• Regulating blood pH (dogs need pH ~7.3–7.4)

• Maintaining proper fluid balance in and between cells

• Supporting nerve and muscle function

• Enabling nutrient absorption and transportation

• Assisting kidney and urinary function

• Activating key enzyme processes

Because of these critical functions, a low-sodium diet is not recommended for healthy dogs unless advised by a veterinarian.

Sodium in Pet Food: It's All About Balance

At Real Power, our nutritionists calculate each formula’s dietary electrolyte balance (dEB) using the following formula:

Natri (Na+) + Kali (K+) – Clorua (Cl-) (đơn vị: mEq/kg)

Normally the dEB value falls between 100-400 mEq/kg in terms of dog. If the dEB strays too far outside this range, it can lead to:

• Poor nutrient absorption

• Shrinking of intestinal villi

• Diarrhea

• Abnormal blood pH

• Decreased bone density

Studies even suggest that a well-balanced dEB can help delay or ease hip dysplasia—another reason why sodium, potassium, and chloride must all be considered together.

So... Shoule Pet Food Be Low in Sodium?

Not necessarily.

Regarding sodium content for each of our Real Nature Recipe dog food, it may vary depend on different meat and amount used in each formula, which normally fall between 0.3-0.4%. 

The sodium level in pet food depends largely on meat content. The more meat or seafood used, the higher the natural sodium content, especially with ingredients like salmon or scallop. And since we don’t add salt to Real Power formulas, the sodium you see is 100% from natural sources.

Typical Sodium Ranges in Real Power Dog Food:

*Note: Actual levels may vary slightly due to seasonal or natural variations in meat sources.

As sodium plays such an important role in body health, it should not be too low when it comes to functional dog food that designed for better nutrient absorption and intestinal health. Also, because of the natural sodium in meat, it is not possible for a high-in-meat pet food to have very low sodium content.

Here are some common cases for reference.

1. Thức ăn cho thú cưng giá từ trung bình đến thấp: Một công thức với 50% ngô, 30% bột gà bình thường, natri là khoảng 0,12% mà không cần thêm muối bổ sung. Nếu tìm kiếm hàm lượng natri thấp hơn (ví dụ: 0,09%), cần phải điều chỉnh như nhiều thành phần có nguồn gốc thực vật hơn hoặc ít thịt hơn trong trường hợp này, đây cũng không phải là sản phẩm phù hợp cho cha mẹ chân theo đuổi thức ăn vật nuôi chất lượng cao.
2. Petfood toàn diện: Một công thức với 50% thịt gà mất nước, 20 ~ 30% thành phần có nguồn gốc thực vật (ví dụ: ngô hoặc các loại ngũ cốc không phải khác), natri sẽ có ít nhất 0,25%. Nếu thêm cá hoặc sò điệp đánh bắt tự nhiên, natri có thể đạt tới 0,4%.

Bất kể bạn chọn thương hiệu nào, hàm lượng natri phải thấp hơn lượng tối đa 1,5%.

What About Low-Sodium Diets?

If your dog has health concerns like heart, liver, or kidney disease, your vet might recommend temporarily reducing sodium. But once their condition stabilizes, moderate sodium intake is needed to maintain proper fluid and metabolic balance.

In general, most high-quality pet foods are formulated to be complete, balanced, and safe for daily feeding, including appropriate sodium levels.

Final Thoughts: Don't Fear Sodium

Sodium is not something to avoid—it’s something to understand.

Unless specifically advised by your vet, cutting sodium too low can harm your dog’s long-term health. That’s why at Real Power, we don’t add extra salt, and instead rely on natural meat-based sodium to keep your dog healthy and happy.

(Các) tài liệu tham khảo

Natri cho chó (wagwalking.com)

Nuôi dưỡng bệnh nhân tim (vermontveterinarycardiology.com)

Bao nhiêu muối không tốt cho sức khỏe cho chó? | Dễ thương

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