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Discussion on Horse is eating a lot of salt
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Member:
kaylab
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Posted on Saturday, Dec 20, 2008 - 3:43 pm:
My TB rescue is just about back to normal weight, though he still has some muscle atrophy. Mostly he seems to be in good weight and spirits, but I'm noticing that he is eating his mineral salt block at the fastest rate I've ever seen. I think he hadn't had salt for a long time, but I've had him for 3 months now so he's had easy salt access for that amount of time.
Is there anything to be concerned about, or should I assume he is self regulating?
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Moderator:
DrO
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Posted on Sunday, Dec 21, 2008 - 8:45 am:
Excessive amounts of salt consumption can be indicative of health problems or be toxic kayla. The question is how much salt is he eating in ounces per day and also what is the status of other body systems, particularly urinary and endocrine function as it relates to the bodies mineral balance.
For more on this see including a discussion on toxicity of minerals see Horse Care » Equine Nutrition, Horse Feeds, Feeding » Minerals and Electrolytes for Horses, an Overview.
DrO
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Member:
sryder11
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Posted on Sunday, Dec 21, 2008 - 10:37 am:
my TB who is 17 now and in good health and weight likes to "devour" his salt block too. I notice he consumes it faster in hot weather. As an alternative you can try giving him a daily scoop of loose mineral salt mixed in his feed, I think the recommended amount is in Dr O's article.
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Member:
dres
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Posted on Sunday, Dec 21, 2008 - 11:18 am:
I also think sometimes out of boredom they will stand and lick / lick / lick.. like some do eating the barn walls .. I say this cus my gelding in the winter i bring him into the barn for lack of shelter outdoors.. he will consume a small white salt block in a week.. and i have always free fed loose minerals..
I feel his is boredom..
On the first day God created horses, on the second day he painted them with spots..
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Member:
wgillmor
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Posted on Sunday, Dec 21, 2008 - 1:01 pm:
DrO,
In the article you reference you write:
Occasionally you run into a horse that will over indulge his salt block and since toxicity can result, the block is removed and lose salts can be added directly to the concentrate. Though you should always read the instructions about 2 oz. mineral salt per 1000 lbs of horse body weight (bwt.) per day is about right.
From this, 2oz per day per 1000 lbs is not toxic, but I can't find a reference as to what amount is toxic. Did I miss it?
Thanks,
Wiley
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Moderator:
DrO
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Posted on Monday, Dec 22, 2008 - 11:41 am:
I am not sure we can define an amount with any assurity Wiley. The amount of salt that might be toxic to a horse will vary tremendously depending on a myriad of factors including now long he has been consuming it, temperature, humidity, exercise level, water consumption, kidney function, level of adaption of the endocrine system to salt consumption...etc. As a rule of thumb and as the article points out "As long as good quality water is freely available poisoning is very unlikely."
DrO
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