What is salt toxicity?
Salt toxicity results from either a high concentration of salt in an animal’s diet or water deprivation. All livestock species are susceptible to salt toxicity. Animals prone to salt toxicity are those that are deprived of salt and not acclimated to high levels of salt. When animals are given access to high salt concentrations, whether through free access, feed, or water, salt toxicity could occur.

Salt toxicity can also occur because of water deprivation. When an animal is deprived of water or has reduced intake due to poor quality, sodium will accumulate in the serum and all tissues of the animal, including the brain. In instances of water deprivation, the term “salt toxicity” is misleading, as there is no excessive sodium; instead, it is concentrated in the cells due to the animal’s dehydration. In these dehydrated animals, when access to water is restored, water from the bloodstream rushes to the brain due to the residual high sodium content there. Cerebral edema, or brain swelling, is the result. Salt toxicity is also called water (salt) intoxication.

Salt Toxicity Symptoms
Symptoms affect the gastrointestinal tract and central nervous system, including abdominal pain and diarrhea, followed by circling, blindness, seizures, partial paralysis, and death.

Animals can also display aggressive behavior.

Contact your veterinarian if you suspect salt toxicity because symptoms of salt toxicity are similar to polioencephalomalacia (polio) due to sulfate toxicity and other nervous system disorders.

Managing Dehydrated Animals
If your animals have been deprived of water or their consumption has been reduced, contact your veterinarian.

To prevent the severe effects of salt toxicity, animals should be introduced to fresh water slowly, in frequent small amounts. The animal’s body needs to acclimate to the water over time. Free access to water will lead to severe clinical signs of salt toxicity.

Gradual access to water can be achieved by filling tanks half full, allowing cows to drink it, waiting, and then repeating the process until the animals are acclimated.

If you rely on dams, dugouts, and creeks, managing water consumption is more challenging. They may need to be fenced out and water pumped into a tank(s) or water hauled. Monitoring water consumption and limiting intake to small amounts is critical.

Preventing Dehydrated Animals
Avoid animals becoming excessively dehydrated. Provide a consistent supply of high-quality water to your animals.

Test all wells and surface waters, including those from spring-fed sources. Water quality can change quickly. Poor-quality water can reduce water intake, leading to dehydration. SDSU Extension offices offer a quick test to help determine the suitability of livestock. Contact Robin Salverson, SDSU Extension Cow/Calf Field Specialist, to find a testing location near you.

Natural disasters, such as high winds, lightning, and blizzards, could affect electricity, shutting down wells, and cold weather can also freeze water tanks. These all lead to animals being deprived of water or making animals drink from potentially poor-quality dugouts and dams. Keep tanks clean of moss.

If you suspect problems, contact your veterinarian. For further information on livestock water, view the articles Performing Field Test for Livestock Water Quality and “How Important Is Water Quality to Livestock?”.