Various salts have slightly different effects but these differences normally are of no practical significance. While sulfates are laxative and cause some diarrhea, their damage to animals seems no greater than that of chlorides. In the same way, magnesium salts are usually no more of a problem than calcium or sodium salts. The effects of various salts seem to be additive, which means that a mixture of them causes the same degree of harm as a single salt of the same total concentration. At very high salt concentrations, animals may refuse to drink for many days followed by a period where they drink a large amount at one time and become suddenly sick or die.
Younger animals are more prone to harm from salinity than are older animals.
Any factor causing an increase in water consumption such as lactation, high air temperatures or exertion increases the danger of harm from saline waters. Animals seem to have the ability to adapt to saline water quite well, but an abrupt change from low salinity to high salinity water may cause problems, whereas a gradual acclimatization is tolerated. When animals suffering from the effects of saline water are allowed water from a source of low concentration they make rapid and complete recoveries. Salt is sometimes used in the feed to regulate feed intake. In this case special care should be taken to supply a low salt content water.