Salt is an essential mineral.  As it is added to chinchilla pellets, additional salt is rarely required.  Here are some generic facts and figures ......

 

THE PRO'S

 

Most mammals bodies only contain about 0.2% sodium - it is essential for life and is a highly controlled mineral (by the body). Half of the sodium is contained in the soft tissues (muscles, organs etc) - the other half in the bones. Sodium (and it's derivatives) are major minerals in the blood and helps to regulate blood pH. Sodium also plays a main role in transmitting nerve impulses and the maintenance of normal heart action. It also helps the small intestine absorb amino acids (protein building-blocks) and monosaccharides (simple sugars/carbs).

 

The other nutrient in salt - chloride - is also essential for life. Chloride is the primary element in blood. Chloride is also an essential part of the hydrochloric acid produced by the stomach - which is required to digest most foods.

 

People assume that if the sodium requirement is met, the chloride requirement will be met also - however, certain studies indicate this may not always be so!!

 

THE CON'S

 

Dietary sodium chloride can also cause increased calciuresis (calcium excretion) and this leads to subsequent loss of bone density (over time), and related calcium deficiency problems (cramping, tetany ** etc). This is because the body must excrete calcium along with sodium. (Please remember that calcium/phosphorus/magnesium imbalances cause excessive calcium excretion too - so does a diet too high in protein and so does an imbalanced dietary acid-base).

 

My conclusion is ........

 

Dietary sodium chloride intake should not exceed (this is purely my opinion based on my own readings - as I do not have access to a laboratory!!) ........

 

0.3g of sodium per kilo of DM food

0.3g of chloride per kilo of DM food

(DM = dry matter)

 

Check your pellets to see how much sodium chloride they have added to them!!  I am sure you will find that there is no need to give chinchillas additional salt.

 

Although wild chinchillas would have access to mineral deposits, I would imagine that they would not consume mineral salts in dangerous quantities, and it must be bourne in mind that their natural food would not have salt added to it anyway!!