# Are animals salt fans?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-animals-salt-fans/274876>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [November 15, 2004, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-animals-salt-fans/274876 "2004-11-15T16:38:57Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Staggerlee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/staggerlee/32/3134_2.png) [@Staggerlee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Staggerlee)\
**Post date:** [November 15, 2004, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-animals-salt-fans/274876/1 "2004-11-15T16:38:57Z")

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I know that animals, or at least mammals, need a certain amount of salt in their diet - the deer across the road have a salt-lick for instance. But left to their own devices, do they stay within the equivalent of their Recommended Daily Allowance? Or do some just keep at it, and die of an early heart attack?

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**Author:** ![Tranquilis](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tranquilis/32/3639_2.png) [@Tranquilis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tranquilis)\
**Post date:** [November 15, 2004, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-animals-salt-fans/274876/2 "2004-11-15T19:54:06Z")

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Ever watch horses and cattle go after a salt block? They’ll stop when they’ve had enough, IME.

I doubt many ungulates live a lifestyle conducive to death by coronary artery disease, hypertension, or stroke, anyway… The can probably stand a bit of sodium over-dose.