Potassium Chloride

Potassium chloride comes from potash mining and brine processing, industries that mainly supply fertilizer. Producers separate it from other salts, then purify a portion for food or feed use.^5,6

1. 01 // Source Ore or brine Underground deposits and natural brines contain potassium chloride mixed with other mineral salts.
2. 02 // Process Salts separated Producers separate potassium chloride from mixed salts by flotation or crystallization.
3. 03 // Process Further purified Food grade material undergoes further purification to remove impurities from the separated mineral stream.
4. 04 // Output Crystalline salt Dry crystals arrive as a measured mineral ingredient for blending into a recipe.

1. 01

   Normal muscle and nerve function

   Potassium runs nerve impulses and muscle contraction. Puppies fed a diet with 0.01% potassium on a dry matter basis developed neck and hind leg paralysis, which improved at 0.34%. Potassium chloride is one standard way to supply it.¹¹

   1. Strong
   2. Some
   3. Thin
   4. None
2. 02

   More drinking and more dilute urine

   In one short trial run by Royal Canin employees, 22 healthy dogs drank 50.3 mL per kg daily on the higher potassium chloride food versus 43.9 mL on the lower one. No study shows this prevents stones.¹

   1. Strong
   2. Some
   3. Thin
   4. None

1. 01

   Adds required potassium

   Formulators use it to adjust potassium in the finished food. AAFCO sets a potassium minimum for complete dog food, regardless of which ingredients supply it.^4,7

2. 02

   Supplies chloride without sodium

   The same crystals add chloride without adding sodium as part of the compound. That gives formulators another mineral source when they use less table salt, though food grade material can contain a little sodium.^5,6,7

3. 03

   Uses an existing mineral supply

   Potash producers already separate potassium chloride from ore and brine at scale. Further purification turns part of that supply into a consistent food or feed ingredient.⁵

4. 04

   Dilutes urine at tested levels

   In a short dog trial, the higher potassium chloride diet increased drinking and urine volume. The result does not show that routine recipes prevent stones.¹

How much One controlled dog trial compared diets containing 0.6% and 2.5% potassium chloride; those experimental amounts do not show what commercial recipes typically contain.¹

1. Brands say

   It supplies potassium dogs need

   Evidence

   1. Strong
   2. Some
   3. Thin
   4. None

   Pure potassium chloride is 52.4% potassium, and AAFCO's dog food profiles set a 0.6% dry matter potassium minimum. The ingredient supplies that mineral, but its presence alone cannot show whether the complete food meets the target.^4,7

2. Brands say

   It adds saltiness without adding sodium

   Evidence

   1. Strong
   2. Some
   3. Thin
   4. None

   Potassium chloride contains potassium and chloride rather than sodium. USDA describes its salty flavor and use in place of table salt. A food grade specification still allows a small sodium impurity, and the rest of the recipe determines total sodium.^5,6,7

3. Brands say

   It makes dogs drink more water

   Evidence

   1. Strong
   2. Some
   3. Thin
   4. None

   In one industry-funded crossover study, 22 healthy dogs produced more urine on the higher potassium chloride diet: 27.3 versus 19.7 mL per kg daily. Each diet was fed for only 10 days, and the higher addition was experimental.¹

4. Brands say

   It prevents calcium oxalate stones

   Outruns the evidence

   Evidence

   1. Strong
   2. Some
   3. Thin
   4. None

   In the 22-dog trial, a urine measure of calcium oxalate crystallization risk fell from 15 to 11 on the higher-potassium diet. Researchers studied healthy dogs briefly and did not measure whether stones occurred or recurred.¹

5. Owners say

   Potassium chloride poisons healthy dogs' kidneys

   Outruns the evidence

   Evidence

   1. Strong
   2. Some
   3. Thin
   4. None

   An AAFCO review retained a 0.6% potassium minimum and judged toxicity from ordinary dietary levels an impractical concern. That judgment does not cover dogs with high blood potassium or impaired potassium control.^3,4

1. 1995 // Feeding trial, 3 chloride levels

   High chloride food cut bromide drug half-life by two thirds¹²

   Beagles fed 3 test diets

   Found. Raising dietary chloride from 0.2 to 1.3% dry matter cut bromide's elimination half-life from 69 to 24 days. Dogs on the high chloride food would need about 43 mg/kg of bromide daily, versus 15 mg/kg, to stay in range.

   What it means. If your dog takes potassium bromide, a food with more or less chloride will shift drug levels. Switch foods only with blood level monitoring.

2. 2021 // Feeding trial, 2 foods

   Extra potassium chloride made dog urine more dilute¹

   22 healthy female dogs, plus 17 cats

   Found. Two dry foods differed only in potassium chloride content. On the higher one, dog urine specific gravity fell from 1.049 to 1.041, meaning more dilute urine. Royal Canin funded the study, and its employees wrote it.

   What it means. Potassium chloride does dilute urine in healthy dogs over days. Whether that prevents stones in a dog prone to them remains untested.

3. 2010 // Review of hospital records

   Nearly half of dogs with kidney disease had high potassium¹³

   152 dogs with chronic kidney disease at one hospital

   Found. 47% of 152 dogs with kidney disease had at least 1 high potassium reading, some while eating renal diets. In 18 dogs followed up, a potassium-reduced home diet lowered blood potassium from 6.5 to 5.1 mmol/L.

   What it means. For a dog with kidney disease, blood potassium should guide food choice. Ask the maker for the finished food's potassium level.