The effects of salt loading via two different routes on feed intake, body water turnover rate and electrolyte excretion in sheep.

The effect of dosing identical amounts of sodium chloride, via 2 different routes, on feed intake and water and electrolyte balance was investigated in sheep. Feed intake and plasma sodium concentrations were unaffected by salt loading, while water intake, fractional turnover of body water, plasma and urine potassium concentrations and urine sodium concentration changed significantly from control values (P less than 0.05). With a few exceptions, parameters were in general similar irrespective of the route whereby sodium chloride was administered.