Sea Salt

Coastal saltworks turn seawater into a mineral ingredient. Sun and wind remove water in shallow ponds until salt crystallizes. Unlike many pet food ingredients, sea salt is the intended product, not a leftover.³

1. 01 // Source Seawater Water enters coastal salt ponds by gravity or pumping.
2. 02 // Process Concentrated in ponds Sun and wind evaporate water as the brine moves through shallow ponds.
3. 03 // Process Crystals harvested Salt crystallizes in the final ponds and is collected by hand or machinery.
4. 04 // Output Sea salt Crystals may be washed, dried or ground before shipment to food manufacturers.

1. 01

   Adjusts required minerals

   Complete dog food must supply sodium and chloride. Adding salt lets a manufacturer adjust both, although the other ingredients may already contribute enough.^2,7

2. 02

   Increases drinking

   A short study found that healthy dogs drank more on a higher sodium diet. That response belongs to salt generally; the study did not test sea salt separately.¹

3. 03

   Offers a familiar name

   Coastal saltworks produce sea salt at commercial scale. An industry review says some manufacturers choose its label-friendly name, while its main contribution remains sodium and chloride.^3,7

How much An industry review places added salt in dry dog food at 0.1 to 0.4% of the recipe; labels seldom disclose the amount.⁷

1. Brands say

   Sea salt supplies sodium and chloride dogs need

   Evidence

   1. Strong
   2. Some
   3. Thin
   4. None

   AAFCO's adult dog nutrient profile sets dry matter minimums of 0.08% sodium and 0.12% chloride. Sea salt supplies both, although other ingredients also contribute and the sea salt line cannot show the finished food's totals.^2,5

2. Vets say

   Extra salt makes dogs drink more

   Evidence

   1. Strong
   2. Some
   3. Thin
   4. None

   In a short study of 5 healthy dogs, water intake rose on the higher sodium diet and fell when the lower sodium diet returned. The study did not isolate sea salt or show a benefit from routine additions.¹

3. Brands say

   Sea salt gives dogs valuable trace minerals

   Outruns the evidence

   Evidence

   1. Strong
   2. Some
   3. Thin
   4. None

   A dry basis solar salt table puts magnesium at 0.01 to 0.17%, while dry dog food generally contains 0.1 to 0.4% added salt. Those small amounts do not show a health benefit from sea salt's minor minerals.^7,9

4. Owners say

   Sea salt naturally supplies enough iodine

   Outruns the evidence

   Evidence

   1. Strong
   2. Some
   3. Thin
   4. None

   NIH lists 0 mcg iodine in a 1/4-teaspoon serving of noniodized sea salt. AAFCO sets an iodine minimum for complete dog food, so the word "sea" does not show that this ingredient supplies it.^2,4

5. Owners say

   Added sea salt always raises blood pressure

   Outruns the evidence

   Evidence

   1. Strong
   2. Some
   3. Thin
   4. None

   Blood pressure did not rise as a group in a short study of 5 healthy dogs fed more sodium, although one dog's pressure increased. That result cannot show safety for dogs with heart disease or unrestricted salt intake.^1,6