Salt is an essential for all living things. Wolves get it from the blood and organs from a fresh kill.
If you are feeding a total raw diet, the dogs need to be supplemented since the meat they are eating is not a fresh kill. Salt is the base of Dr. B’s homemade vitamin mix so that’s how mine get it.
In dogs, the sodium and chloride, in salt, maintains fluid balance and blood volume in the body. Also helps the function of nerve tissues. Deficiencies in sodium and chloride could result in problems with nervous signal transmission, low blood pressure, restlessness, increased heart rate. According to an internet site, “Adult dogs require a daily sodium intake of around 13 mg/kg body weight, which corresponds to a minimum dietary level of 0.2 g/1000 kcal. Requirements are 2-3 times higher in puppies and during pregnancy and lactation, and five times higher in very highly active dogs such as greyhounds or sled dogs. Commercially available dog foods provide intakes of sodium that are comfortably in excess of minimum requirements and typically have between 0.5 and 2.5 g/1000 kcal or 2-10 g/kg of dry matter. Studies on the sodium requirements of dogs approximately 4 g/1000 kcal. have shown a wide range of tolerance. Dry foods tend to contain less sodium than wet formats, including canned, tray and pouch products, because they contain fewer meat products that are naturally rich in sodium. Sodium levels are similar across brands, with no significant differences between mainstream and premium products in either wet or dry formats.”
So, the kibble already contains it. If you are feeding a combo of raw and kibble on a regular basis, they are probably getting enough, but for me, I’d supplement the raw meal with Becker’s combo. It’s not really hard to make at all. It takes about 15 minutes. If you ever decide to try it, let me know and I’ll give you the exact list of what to buy on the internet and then a few tricks on how to make it. The other pre-made supplement I found that I would consider rotating to is a liquid called “Ultimate Health For Dogs” http://ultimatehealthfordogs.com I emailed back and for with the man from this site. Pretty strict on the ingredients they accept at their manufacturing plant. It has a fruit called “mangosteen” which has benefits for dogs and for humans. When you’re scanning ingredients in vitamins, 8 out of 10 of them are adding sodium selenite or copper sulfate or some other horrible thing! It’s really hard to find a good one! That’s why I mostly use human supplements, as they are more regulated.
Karen, you are our rock star for nutrition!
The only “rocking” I’m doing today is in a chair with my 1 year old grandson who has never been away from his Mommy before!!!! OIIII VEY!!!! An extremely active 3 year old boy and a 5 year old boy who we had to get on the road with by 7:30 (all 3 in tow) to get him to school on time!!! ;-)))
What are the sources of sodium that are desirable?
Dr. B recommends just plain old salt, without iodine. It is the base of her vit/min mix. I buy Hains from the health food store.
I have sea salt, is that ok?
Yup! as long as there isn’t iodine in it. 😉
I’m going to make Dr. B’s vitamin mix and would love some tips. Do I have to buy a coffee grinder, or will my mini food processor work?
Hi there!
You’ll need a cheap coffee grinder, mine was about $15. You’ll also need a small-hole spaghetti strainer.
It actually takes longer to order the vitamins over the net than it does to make them!
Start to finish about 15 minutes to make enough for 50-100 pounds of meat, and very inexpensive. The amount of vitamin mix you use is measured by how many cups of food the dog eats per day…..eazy-pezy!!! Email me and I’ll provide you with the list and their product numbers so you won’t waste your time searching the Lucky Vitamin site, and list a few things to make it easier!
Thank you for reposting, as I don’t remember this. Ut-oh!