INTRODUCTION
Salt is a mineral complex comprising of sodium and chlorine .Salt is obtained naturally from the earth’s crust .When salt is being processed ,there are some substances added to it to form what is called binding and clumping(anti-caking agents).They are toxic and cancerous substances which poses danger to dogs. Some of these anti-caking agents include calcium silicate, which causes eye and lungs irritation.
Dogs require inorganic sodium for various reasons captured in the discussion below. Research shows that an adult dog requires approximately 200mg of sodium daily while a growing puppy requires 550mg of sodium daily. Use of excess quantity of salt or inadequate salt has negative impacts to a dog.
Some of the reasons why salt added to dog's food include:
Cellular function
A dog, like human being has cells like mitochondria, lysosomes, nucleus etc, for these cells to function actively, salt is required. A dog with proper diet of mineral salt tends to have cells which are actively working as compared to a dog with insufficient supply of mineral salts.
Acid - base balance
Salts are bases; a dog should be given a recommended ratio in order to be of the required ratio with the acids in the dog's fluids eg blood, water. Much uptake of salt may neutralize the acids in the dog's fluids (water, blood) causing health effects to the dog.
Fluid balance
A dog is just like a human being. For a dog to achieve fluid balance, it should neither take a lot of fluids eg water nor lose a lot of fluid through urination for instance. A dog should be given a recommended ratio of salt so that it maintains fluid balance ratio.
Nerve signal transmission
Just like human beings, a dog’s body does transmit impulses. Research shows that a dog whose diet contains adequate percentage of salt is active. Salt contain components which aid in transmitting impulses from the central nervous system to the brain of a dog. A dog with deficiency in salt intake is inactive.
Formation of strong teeth
Salt contain calcium which is essential in the formation of strong teeth and bones. Dogs’ food should contain salt to aid this.
DEFICIENCY OF SALT IN DOGS FOOD LEADS TO:
Abnormalities in the heart’s rhythm
An adequate quantity of mineral salt maintains normal heartbeat in a dog. Deficiency of salt interferes with the pumping of blood/ blood circulation hence abnormal heartbeat.
Restlessness
Research shows that a dog with insufficient supply of mineral salt is a restless dog. Perhaps its restless is as a result of incomplete diet hence a dog is restless in search of mineral salts in order to make the diet complete.
Dry mucus membrane
Dogs whose diet contain mineral salt tend to have thirst which makes them take water and in the process the mucus membrane remain wet as required. However, insufficient uptake of salt makes a dog drink less water hence causing a dry mucus membrane.
Excess urination
This will cause fluid imbalance ratio in a dog, the dog will lose a lot of water making it have health complications.
CONCLUSION
It is ,therefore, enough to conclude that salt used in dog's food has advantages and it also poses a little threat to dog's health. The kind of minerals that a dog should be given should be organic salt. Inorganic mineral salt contain toxins and are cancerous therefore putting a dog at a great health risk. Not to forget the quantity of salt a dog should take per day should be proportional to a dog's weight and age. A veterinarian should approve the correct quantities such that the dog should neither take too much nor too low mineral content.
A dog should not take too low mineral content per day since through urination, a dog loses sodium and phosphorus. An uptake of salt should replace the minerals lost. On the other hand, a dog whose food has a lot of mineral salt has a danger of overstretching the organs like kidneys posing a great health hazard. Human beings should take the life of a dog seriously. They should also account for anything a dog takes.
