There are tons of dog foods out there—so much so that some pet stores have almost half of their floor space dedicated to it. One type of dog food that doesn’t get a lot of coverage, though, is low-sodium dog food. While most dogs don’t need less sodium than your typical dog food, those that do really need it! However, not all low-sodium dog food is the same. Some of it isn’t actually low-sodium at all, as this isn’t a legally regulated term. Some of it is low-sodium, but it may use low-quality ingredients. You want dog food that is both low-sodium and high-quality. Sadly, these can be hard to find. We’ll review the best low-sodium dog foods below, helping you pick the best option for your canine. While every dog is an individual, one of these should work for them!

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What is Low Sodium Dog Food?

All dogs need sodium. It is an electrolyte, which means it helps the body move and control water levels. However, some dogs need less than others. Just like in humans, dogs with certain heart problems may need less sodium. High blood pressure, heart disease, and even congestive heart failure may all call for a low-sodium diet. While dietary change can’t always cure these conditions, it can help control them. The kidneys play a key role in regulating sodium levels in the body. Therefore, if your dog has impaired kidney function, they may not be able to eliminate excess sodium efficiently. A low-sodium diet can help reduce the strain on the kidneys and slow the progression of kidney disease. If your dog needs a low-sodium diet, it’s likely because they have an underlying health condition.

The 10 Best Low-Sodium Dog Foods

1. Hill’s Science Diet Adult 7+ Chicken & Brown Rice Recipe — Best Overall

For most dogs with kidney or heart problems, Hill’s Science Diet Adult 7+ Chicken & Brown Rice Recipe works well. It’s specifically designed for older dogs, who often have kidney and heart problems. For these reasons, it has a relatively low sodium content at 0.36%, making it much lower sodium than your average dog food. (The minimum sodium recommended by the AAFCO is 0.3%.) It’s made in the USA with natural ingredients, and it doesn’t contain any wheat or soy. All of the nutrients are balanced to best support your dog’s kidney health, even beyond the sodium level. It also has a surprisingly high protein content, which is why we recommend it so highly. Despite the seemingly very expensive price tag, it is cheaper than most low-sodium dog foods. For this reason, we can easily recommend it as the best overall low-sodium dry dog food.

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2. Hill’s Prescription Diet k/d Kidney Care with Chicken – Best Value

As the name suggests, Hill’s Prescription Diet k/d Kidney Care with Chicken is designed for dogs with chronic kidney disease. Therefore, it contains limited amounts of many vitamins and nutrients, helping your dog’s kidneys function better. It also has plenty of prebiotics to help your dog’s microbiome, which can take a hit with kidney disease. This food is designed to be very tasty without adding poor ingredients or salt. Many chronically ill dogs have a problem with appetite, which this company keeps in mind when formulating their food. There are also plenty of amino acids added, though this formula has low protein. For many dogs with kidney problems, protein must be kept at a minimum. All of these added features make this food the best low-sodium dog food for the money.

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3. Hill’s Prescription Diet k/d Kidney Care Beef & Vegetable Stew Canned Dog Food – Premium Choice

If money isn’t a concern, you may want to consider Hill’s Prescription Diet k/d Kidney Care Beef & Vegetable Stew Canned Dog Food. This low-sodium canned dog food is much more palatable for dogs, and the ingredients are of higher quality. Because it doesn’t have to be made into kibble, there is a higher water content, and beef is the primary ingredient. Don’t let the protein content concern you. It only looks lower because of the high water content. Like the low-sodium dry dog food made by the same company, this prescription diet contains a careful formulation of minerals to help your canine’s kidneys along. It also contains prebiotics to support your dog’s gut health. The only major downside is that it is very expensive.

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4. Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Diets NF Kidney Function Dry Dog Food

While Purina is known as a budget brand, the Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Diets NF Kidney Function Dry Dog Food is pretty expensive. However, it does have more calories per cup than average, so your dog may need to eat less of it than other dog foods. As you’d guess, this food does have a lowered sodium content. However, it is slightly higher than the other options on our list at 0.4%. While this small amount probably won’t matter for most dogs, be sure to ask your vet. This food also contains antioxidants, and it’s designed to be very palatable.

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5. Hill’s Prescription Diet k/d Kidney Care Chicken & Vegetable Stew Canned Dog Food

Hill’s Prescription Diet k/d Kidney Care Chicken & Vegetable Stew Canned Dog Food is very similar to the other low-sodium wet dog food we reviewed above. However, this does contain chicken. We only ranked it lower because every other low-sodium food contains chicken (pretty much), and it’s nice for dogs who are allergic to chicken to have another option. However, if your dog is not allergic to chicken, this canned dog food works just fine, too. It contains practically the same ingredients and nutrients, though it is very slightly lower in calories. It’s important to note that this can doesn’t only contain chicken, though. It also contains pork. This formula can also be mixed with low-sodium dry dog food, which can bring down the cost a bit. Just be sure to split up the portion sizes correctly.

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6. Forza10 Nutraceutic Actiwet Renal Support Wet Dog Food

If you’re looking for a more holistic approach, you may want to consider the Forza10 Nutraceuti Actiwet Renal Support Wet Dog Food. This dog food comes in small trays, making it work best for smaller dogs. It’s made out of only a few ingredients, including lamb and chicken. It also has a much higher amount of protein and fat compared to other formulas (which may be a good thing or a bad thing for your pup). While it looks cheaper, each tray contains very few calories, making it about the same price as other options. You aren’t saving much money. However, the ingredients are high-quality, and the sodium content is comparable to that of other options. The company is a little less known, which is our main reservation with this food.

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7. Hill’s Prescription Diet k/d + Mobility Kidney Care + Mobility with Chicken Dry Dog Food

Older dogs tend to have several problems. Hill’s Prescription Diet k/d + Mobility Kidney Care + Mobility with Chicken Dry Dog Food was designed to help dogs with mobility problems and kidney problems. It is low in sodium at only 0.19%, which is far lower than other options out there. It also contains added nutrients to help your dog’s joints and hopefully improve their mobility. Sadly, this diet is very expensive, like most on this list. You won’t find anything else specifically formulated for both mobility and kidney problems, though. It’s also designed to increase your dog’s appetite, which is another common problem with senior dogs.

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8. Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Diets NF Kidney Function Wet Dog Food

While this wet food may look more expensive than others, it’s actually cheaper per calorie. Each can contains over 400 calories, compared to most cans that contain under 200. That said, this food is still expensive. It’s a wet food with low sodium, which pushes the price tag pretty high. It also doesn’t have exceptionally high-quality ingredients. The first one (besides water) is meat by-products, which are completely unnamed. “Meat by-product” could be practically anything. That said, this food is still very low in sodium, and it may be cheaper than other wet foods out there.

Buyer’s Guide: How to Pick the Best Low Sodium Dog Food

Finding the perfect low-sodium dog food for your dog can be very stressful. There aren’t many options out there, and those that are tend to be expensive. However, it is possible to strike a balance between affordability and your dog’s health. Here’s what you need to know to make the best decision for your pup.

Consult Your Vet

Before we get started, it’s important to consult your vet when choosing one of these dog foods. If your dog needs a low-sodium diet, they likely have an underlying health problem. It’s important that this underlying issue is completely treated and that you consider your dog’s specific needs. Low-sodium foods do vary a bit, and they aren’t all suitable for every dog. Ask your vet about the specifics of what your dog needs. Plus, many of the foods we recommend require a prescription. That said, they’re often cheaper online than purchasing directly from your vet. Consider which option is more convenient for you and check for price-savings online.

Decoding the Label

When it’s time to purchase low-sodium food for your dog, you’re mostly going to be looking at the label. All the advertising on the front of the bag rarely tells us anything substantial.

While there are other things you can look at, these are the main three you should base your decision on if your dog needs a low-sodium diet. Of course, if your dog has another health condition or allergies, you should consider those things, too.

Wet vs. Dry Food

Generally, wet food is naturally lower in sodium due to its higher moisture content. However, when you consider it by calorie, this isn’t necessarily the case. Often, wet food makes your dog feel fuller and can improve the taste of the food. The added moisture can also help for pups that are dehydrated or need more water. Often, wet food is also more expensive. This is because it usually contains higher protein amounts and more quality ingredients. Things like rice and wheat aren’t required, as the food doesn’t have to be made into kibble. Of course, wet food cannot be left out and expires quickly after being opened. It’s less convenient for many dog owners, and it may not agree with every dog’s stomach.

Age

Often, seniors are the main dogs that need low-sodium food. However, any dog could potentially need to eat low-sodium. If your dog is a senior, you may want to consider purchasing a senior dog food specifically, as these often contain ingredients to help with other common senior problems. If your dog is younger, you may want to avoid senior foods. However, senior foods aren’t necessarily bad for adult dogs. Senior dogs and adult dogs have very similar nutritional needs. The AAFCO doesn’t even list a difference between them. Therefore, if your dog is an adult, a senior dog food may be the best option for them, considering how few options there are.

Taste and Palatability

All the food in the world won’t do you any good if your dog won’t eat it. We’d all like our dogs to just eat whatever food we choose, but this isn’t always how it works in reality. You often need to choose a food that keeps your dog happy, too. Wet food is often tastier than dry food due to its increased water content. However, not every dog likes wet food, and some may find it upsets their stomachs (even with a very slow transition). In other cases, your dog may refuse to eat anything besides wet food. Your dog’s preference can fall anywhere on this continuum. Many dogs with underlying health issues may have problems with appetite. Many formulas know this and try to make their food tastier.

Conclusion

There are only a few different foods to choose from that are suitably low-sodium. We recommend the Hill’s Science Diet Adult 7+ Chicken & Brown Rice Recipe as the best overall option thanks to its balance between nutrition and price. As a cheaper option, we also like Hill’s Prescription Diet k/d Kidney Care with Chicken. If money isn’t a problem, both the Hill’s Prescription Diet k/d Kidney Care Beef & Vegetable Stew Canned Dog Food and Hill’s Prescription Diet k/d Kidney Care Chicken & Vegetable Stew Canned Dog Food are great low-sodium canned dog foods. In some cases, you may be able to save money with Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Diets NF Kidney Function Dry Dog Food. It’s a bit cheaper, though it may depend on how much your dog eats. Hopefully, our reviews helped you choose the best option for your dog. Remember, when in doubt, ask your vet.

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Featured Image Credit: Sergey Fatin, Shutterstock