This one's for a friend who has to put her Yorkie on a low salt food as he has a heart condition, which is being treated by same vet, (see previous topic, Hill's Natures Best) who also wants her to buy the Hills' low salt complete food. does anyone know of any other brands of complete that are low in salt. The other alternative is to prepare the food herself using fresh meat and veg. and pasta etc. He's not that keen of biscuits to mix with meat :)
Your help is greatly appreciated as always.

You should be looking for foods with NO added salt.  There is no reason to buy a special "low sodium" diet.  Just choose a brand that does not include added sodium.

Anndee,

Naturediet.  There is no added salt.  In addition, Naturediet says that the only ingredient it is very slighly low on for optimum health is -- salt.  They decided not to add any to their foods because they felt if you feed the dog anything in addition (and most people do) they would get the required salt intake.

So if I had a dog that needed a low salt intake that's the brand I would use (and do, but just because I think it is a very good commercial food.)

Stacey

Hi. Thanks for your response.
Iv'e gone bog-eyed looking at bags and packets to see the sodium contents they all seem to contain it but it rarely gives the exact quantity.
Stacey - Thanks for your previous help on the Hill's Nature's Best. I will certainly tell my friend about the Nature diet. As I said on my other query, I also am thinking about trying it, so its good to hear from someone who is actually using it. Do you just feed it on its own, or do you add biscuit or mixer of any kind?

Hi again Anndee,

Naturediet is a complete food so I do not add biscuit or mixer to it.   If you want to try it I suggest you buy a pack of their regular chicken and rice - I personally think one look and sniff of the contents will convince you.  I'm not that good a cook :-) The Optima range, which has extra herbs and potatoes, is more expensive - but it also looks and smells like a plate full of people food.

If I was feeding very large dogs and wanted to keep the costs down I might mix Naturediet with a complete dry food, like Burns or Arden Grange.  I have two Cairns and between them they only need a pack a day, which costs me 47p.  (They each do get a few snacks during the day and evening, generally leftover meat and veg from whatever I've cooked. )

Even though I have no reason to switch from Naturediet, I am a bag-reader too! The Pets at Home staff must think I am a nutter, I read the labels on bags and cans of food, and all I ever buy from them is a new lead or squeaky toy and sometimes a bag of dog treats.

Stacey

Hi Stacey.
Thanks again for all the help you've given me on both subjects ( Low sodium and Hills).
I have now got some Nature diet sensitive for mine and I've also got some senior Nature Diet for my friends dog to try. So we'll see how we get on. I'm not going to feed my dog it just yet until she's been on the Hills for a little while.
I'm pleased to say (Touch wood!!!) that things seem to be settling down with her. She must be sick of me checking her lips 5-6 times a day but at least they aren't inflamed just pale pink now where they should be black. I'm hoping her pigment will come back but things could be worse even if it doesn't. I'm sure it doesn't count in there for showing purposes. And, she's certainly not scratching as much and her digestive system seems to be fine as well I'm pleased to say
So once again thanks for all the help you've given I appreciate it.
Anne