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Home / Equine Research Bank / Anim Sci J / Sensitivity of ponies to sodium in the drinking water.
Animal science journal = Nihon chikusan Gakkaiho2022; 93(1); e13697; doi: 10.1111/asj.13697

Sensitivity of ponies to sodium in the drinking water.

Abstract: Horses lose high amounts of Na through excessive sweating. These fluid losses can often not be replaced completely by voluntary water intake, requiring saline solutions as rehydration therapy to regain electrolyte balance. The experiment aimed to evaluate the sensitivity and tolerance of Shetland ponies towards different Na concentrations in their drinking water and contained three phases: (1) control: only fresh water provided; (2) pairwise-preference test: choice between fresh water and saline solution with stepwise increasing sodium chloride (NaCl) concentration (0.25%, 0.5%, 0.75%, 1.0%, 1.25%, or 1.5%); and (3) free-choice test: six simultaneously provided buckets containing NaCl concentrations of 0%, 0.25%, 0.5%, 0.75%, 1.0%, or 1.25%. During the pairwise test, the ponies did not distinguish between fresh and 0.25% NaCl-water but demonstrated clear preference for 0.5%, whereas >0.75% NaCl was avoided/rejected. During the free-choice test, a pronounced preference of fresh over saline water was exhibited. The Na intake via salt lick was not reduced as response to higher Na intakes via water. The ponies exhibited a remarkable sensory discrimination capacity to detect different NaCl concentrations in their drinking water. The acceptance of solutions with low NaCl levels (0.25/0.5%) without adverse effects demonstrates potential as rehydration solution for voluntary intake.
© 2022 The Authors. Animal Science Journal published by John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd on behalf of Japanese Society of Animal Science.
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Publication Date: 2022-03-03 PubMed ID: 35233887DOI: 10.1111/asj.13697Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

This research paper is about the sensitivity of Shetland ponies to different sodium levels in their drinking water, and the implications this has for managing their hydration.

Research Purpose and Methodology

  • The stated aim of this research was to investigate the sensitivity and tolerance of Shetland ponies to different levels of sodium, or Na, in their drinking water.
  • The researchers performed an experiment that involves three phases: control, pairwise-preference test, and free-choice test.
  • In the control phase, ponies were only given fresh water. In the pairwise-preference test, the ponies were given a choice between fresh water and saline solution with gradually increased sodium chloride (NaCl) concentrations (ranging from 0.25% to 1.5%). The free-choice test involved giving ponies six buckets of water with varying NaCl concentrations (from 0% up to 1.25%) simultaneously. This was designed to observe their voluntary intake of these solutions.

Results and Findings

  • During the pairwise-preference test, the results showed that ponies did not differentiate between fresh water and 0.25% NaCl water.
  • Interestingly, the ponies demonstrated a clear preference for the water with 0.5% NaCl concentration. However, they avoided or rejected water with NaCl concentrations that were greater than 0.75%.
  • In the free-choice test, the ponies exhibited a strong desire for fresh water over saline water.
  • Surprisingly, the study found that the sodium intake from salt lick was not reduced as a reaction to increased sodium intakes via drinking water.

Implications of the Findings

  • The study concluded that the ponies have remarkable sensory discrimination capacity to detect different NaCl concentrations in their drinking water.
  • The fact that they accepted solutions with low NaCl levels (0.25% and 0.5%) without any negative effects has potential applications in veterinary medicine for managing their hydration by voluntary rehydration solution intake.

Cite This Article

APA
Enke N, Brinkmann L, Südekum KH, Tholen E, Gerken M. (2022). Sensitivity of ponies to sodium in the drinking water. Anim Sci J, 93(1), e13697. https://doi.org/10.1111/asj.13697

Publication

Animal science journal = Nihon chikusan Gakkaiho
ISSN: 1740-0929
NlmUniqueID: 100956805
Country: Australia
Language: English
Volume: 93
Issue: 1
Pages: e13697

Researcher Affiliations

Enke, Nick
  • Department of Animal Sciences, University of Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany.
  • Institute of Animal Science, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany.
Brinkmann, Lea
  • Department of Animal Sciences, University of Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany.
Südekum, Karl-Heinz
  • Institute of Animal Science, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany.
Tholen, Ernst
  • Institute of Animal Science, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany.
Gerken, Martina
  • Department of Animal Sciences, University of Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany.

MeSH Terms

  • Animal Feed
  • Animals
  • Drinking / physiology
  • Drinking Water
  • Horses
  • Sodium
  • Sodium Chloride
  • Sodium Chloride, Dietary

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