|
|
|
MEMBERS: you have not been authenticated, log in at the top of the page. Tired of Logging-In? As you log-in edit your profile so the site remembers you!
Salts, Minerals & Electrolytes as Nutrients for Horses
by Robert N. Oglesby DVM
Introduction
Introduction
»
Summary
»
Macro Minerals
»
Micro or Trace Minerals
»
Amounts in Foodstuffs
»
Minerals Should be Considered Together!
»
Supplements and Recommendations
»
Mineral Toxicity and Deficiency
»
More Info
Horse owners often become confused over the difference between salts, minerals, and electrolytes in their horses diet. In the most general sense salts and minerals are very similar and represents mixtures of atoms, some of them metals, combined together to form solids. Electrolytes are the form these salts and minerals take when dissolved in the blood and fluids of our bodies. Consuming salts and minerals is the way your horse gets his essential minerals and electrolytes for good health.
Salts
From a nutritional standpoint we tend to pull out "salts" from "minerals" to mean the specific compounds of sodium chloride and potassium chloride and there is a good reason for talking about these separately. These three elements, sodium, potassium, and chloride are the main electrolytes that support the blood and cellular characteristics of life. This does not mean the other minerals are not essential but unlike the other minerals these "salt" elements do not have a reservoir to pull from yet are in large concentrations everywhere and can rapidly change based on the balance of intake and output. These salt derived electrolytes are lost in urine, sweat, and feces. Sometimes there is not a net loss of the electrolytes that causes disease but shifts in the relative concentrations in the various compartments of the body.
Minerals
Minerals, including the salts, are inorganic elements or metals that, though critical for health, make up only a small fraction of the body weight. On a weight basis, the horse's body consists of 4% minerals. It is important to know that most essential minerals are toxic when fed in excessive amounts and then there are some nonessential minerals that are always toxic. From a nutritional standpoint minerals can be grouped into four categories:
- The major or macro minerals, which include salts and electrolytes are:
- calcium
- phosphorus
- sodium
- chlorine
- potassium
- magnesium
- sulfur
- Trace, or micro minerals include:
- selenium
- iodine
- copper
- zinc
- manganese
- iron
- cobalt
- Trace minerals needed in the diet but for which deficiencies outside the laboratory have not been found in horses include:
- vanadium
- nickel
- chromium
- tin
- silicon
- arsenic
- possibly fluoride.
- Toxic minerals:
- excessive amounts of the nutritional minerals
- lead
- nickel
- mercury
- arsenic
- aluminum
- cadmium
In summary, salts and electrolytes are a very important subgroup of the nutritional group of minerals. This article discusses how to meet the nutritional salt, mineral, and electrolyte needs of horses. Signs and diagnosis of excess and deficiency of the nutritional minerals are covered along with scientific reports and links to more detailed articles on the most important mineral nutrients.
~Word Count: 2176 words (The average magazine page contains about 600 words);
~Last Updated: May 28, 2008;
How to Access this Article and Much More!
You have just read the introduction to one of our nearly 800 articles on horse care, diseases, and training. It includes a description of the contents of the unabridged version. As a guest you can access this article two different ways, either purchase the article or become a member and take advantage of all the benefits Horseadvice.com has to offer:
ARTICLE PURCHASE: for $7.00 USD you get instant access to the unabridged article. We guarantee your satisfaction or we will refund the purchase price:
JOIN HORSEADVICE: get instant access to this article and all we have to offer! Joining gives you 3 months access and the membership is renewed at this discounted rate. Review us for 7 days and if you are not satisfied, we will gladly refund your money and you may easily cancel at anytime.
Check out our Membership Drive Discount below but hurry this is only for a limited time and joining will never be cheaper! To get your discount on a Full Service or Full Access Membership use the following coupon code during check out:
Coupon code: MEMDRV
We use 128 bit SSL encryption, so your order is completely secure.
|
Your assurance of excellent customer service.
|
So that you know your online experience is safe.
|
Join Us at Horseadvice.com:
-
If you want accurate up-to-date information, 24 hours a day, reviewed by an equine veterinarian and horseman.
-
If you are tired of searching long lists of fluffy material that don‘t answer your questions.
-
If you want to discuss it now, with a experienced qualified expert and get input from over 3000 experienced horsemen.
|
Discussions on Minerals and Electrolytes for Horses, an Overview
|
Subtopics |
Posts |
Updated |
 | High metabolic rate & excess loose mineral consumption | 1 | 3 | Jun 10, 08 |
 | Research Summary: Silicon supplementation in the horse | 1 | 1 | Apr 29, 08 |
 | Is Himalayan rock salt ok for horses | 1 | 19 | Jan 29, 08 |
 | Redmond loose mineral salt? | 1 | 5 | Oct 25, 07 |
 | Anyone heard of LinGro --Supplement for warmblood & ocd candidates | 1 | 7 | Apr 17, 07 |
 | Frequent Urination | 1 | 2 | Nov 24, 06 |
 | Chromium Suplementation | 1 | 20 | Nov 15, 06 |
 | Electrolytes help! | 1 | 14 | Sep 3, 06 |
 | Thoughts on this product? | 1 | 14 | Jul 25, 06 |
 | Frequent Urination on Trail - mineral related problem? | 1 | 2 | Jul 20, 06 |
 | Feed for Peruvian Paso, an "Easy Keeper" | 1 | 6 | Aug 27, 05 |
 | Salt blocks and horses | 1 | 8 | Jul 21, 05 |
 | Iron Content in Water | 1 | 10 | Feb 26, 05 |
 | MSM and selenium absorption | 1 | 3 | Jan 4, 05 |
 | Mineral Supplement | 1 | 10 | Feb 23, 06 |
 | Physitis at 19 months and adjusting feed? | 1 | 4 | Mar 19, 04 |
 | Creatine/Creatinine | 1 | 2 | Nov 15, 03 |
 | Molasses | 1 | 7 | Oct 16, 03 |
 | Validity of Hair Analysis tests | 1 | 4 | May 12, 03 |
 | Map of United States for Selenium Levels | 1 | 2 | Jan 25, 03 |
 | Free choice loose minerals -- too much? | 1 | 5 | May 4, 01 |
 | Hard Water as a Source of Calcium | 1 | 2 | May 22, 01 |
 | Dirt eating mare. Why? | 1 | 2 | Jul 13, 01 |
 | Archived Discussions | Click link to access data. |
| Start a New Discussion
|
|