Sodium plays a vital role in a horse’s diet, functioning alongside chlorine and bicarbonate to maintain the balance of positive and negative ions in body fluids and tissues. It helps retain water in body tissues and is crucial for various bodily functions. Horses typically obtain sodium through salt or mineral supplements, as forage may not provide sufficient amounts.
Why is Sodium Important for Horses?
Sodium is the principal extracellular ion that helps hold water in body tissues. A deficiency can disturb the tissue-water and acid-base balance, which is important to good nutritional status. The most frequently observed sodium deficiency occurs when excessive heat causes heavy perspiration, thus reducing body water and sodium to the extent that gross dehydration affects normal activity patterns.
What Happens if a Horse Doesn’t Get Enough Sodium?
Symptoms of sodium deficiency may include feelings of weakness, apathy, and nausea, as well as cramps in the muscles of the extremities. Taking additional salt can be a preventive measure, and persons may use increased amounts of table salt on their food to supplant sodium lost during dehydration and sweating.
How Can You Ensure a Horse Gets Enough Sodium?
Good quality grass-legume pastures, in addition to iodized or trace-mineralized salt, will supply adequate nutrients to maintain an adult horse at light work or mares during pregnancy.
What are the Best Sources of Sodium for Horses?
Horses receive sodium primarily in the form of table salt (sodium chloride).
How Much Sodium Does a Horse Need?
The specific and exact nutrient requirements of horses are poorly understood. Usually, these may be supplied economically from pasture forage, harvested roughages, and concentrates.
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