Clinical judgment required. This calculator is a decision-support tool, not a substitute for veterinary consultation. For poisoning emergencies, call the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at 888-426-4435 or your nearest emergency veterinary hospital.

Salt / Sodium Toxicity CalculatorCanineFeline

Calculate salt (sodium chloride) toxicity risk in dogs and cats. Estimates total sodium intake in mg/kg based on product type and amount ingested. Covers table salt, rock salt and ice melt, soy sauce, homemade and commercial Play-Doh (a common veterinary toxicology case), seawater, and paintballs. Sodium toxicosis causes hypernatremia, cerebral edema, seizures, and death. Toxicosis occurs at 2–3 g/kg NaCl (800–1200 mg/kg sodium), and 4 g/kg NaCl (~1600 mg/kg sodium) can be fatal. Play-Doh ingestion is a frequent cause of salt poisoning in dogs. Used for hypernatremia assessment, salt ingestion emergencies, Play-Doh toxicity, saltwater poisoning, and ice melt exposure triage. Common queries: 'dog ate Play-Doh', 'dog drank saltwater', 'dog ate rock salt', 'dog ate paintballs', 'salt poisoning in dogs'.

Body Weight

Product Type

Amount Ingested

g (or mL)

Total Sodium

—mg

Sodium Dose

—mg/kg

400 mg/kg

800 mg/kg

1200 mg/kg

1600 mg/kg

Non-toxic

Mild

Moderate

High

Lethal