Can dogs eat salt?
Toxic. Not in quantity. Large amounts of salt cause hypernatremia, and Merck reports increasing cases in dogs from acute salt consumption.
How much is dangerous?
Merck gives no single canine threshold, and stresses that the outcome depends on water availability as much as the dose. The practical sources are homemade salt-dough ornaments, drinking sea water, and large volumes of salty snacks.
Why it does harm
Excess sodium raises plasma sodium faster than the body can compensate. Merck notes that salt toxicosis is unlikely while sodium-regulating mechanisms are intact and fresh water is available, which is why access to water matters as much as the salt itself.
What to look for
- Increased thirst and urination
- Vomiting and diarrhea
- Unsteadiness and disorientation
- Tremors and seizures in severe cases
What to do
- Call a vet. Do not withhold water, and do not flood the dog with it either — correcting sodium too fast is itself dangerous, which is why this is a veterinary decision.
- Say what was eaten and whether the dog has had free access to water since.