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Sodium Toxicosis
Other Names: Salt Poisoning, Salt Toxicity, Hypernatremia, Water Deprivation–sodium Ion Intoxication
Sodium Toxicosis is caused by ingestion of excessive amounts of salt (sodium chloride, NaCl). It is often associated with the chickens not having access to fresh drinking water, but there have been an increasing number of incidents related to feed mill mixing errors.
Younger chickens are more sensitive to the adverse affects caused by ingestion of too much salt and have a higher risk of dying than older birds.
Case 1: Salt toxicity in a Broiler chickens Salt toxicity was diagnosed in a 17-day-old flock of broiler chickens. Twelve birds were submitted to the Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory (TVMDL) in Center. Clinical history noted increased mortality starting at 2-weeks-old. At necropsy examination, all the birds had an edematous brain with poorly defined cerebellar folia and cerebrum lobes, thin blood, and darkened livers; one bird had moderate accumulation of a clear, gelatinous material in the subcutaneous tissue of the abdominal area. Histologically, there were areas of vacuolation in the cerebellar white matter and cerebrum. Toxicology analysis on five brain samples revealed high levels of sodium in all of them, with a range from 8,810 ppm to 14,300 ppm. Sodium levels above 7,600 ppm in the brain of chickens are considered toxic. Ref
Remove water and feed sources and replace with fresh water from a non-contaminated source.
Supportive care
Isolate the bird from the flock and place in a safe, comfortable, warm location (your own chicken "intensive care unit") with easy access to water and food. Limit stress. Call your veterinarian.
Gabriel Senties-Cue. Salt Toxicity in Broilers Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory (2019)
Perelman, B., Farnoushi, Y., Krispin, H., & Rish, D. Salt Intoxication in Commercial Broilers and Breeders–a Clinical and Pathological Description.. Israel Journal of Veterinary Medicine (2016)
