Straight from the horse's mouth: The effect of different feedstuffs on oral pH in horses and ponies.
Authors: Daniels S P, Whiteside E J, Martin S, Moore-Colyer M J S, Harris P
Journal: Journal of equine veterinary science
Summary
# Editorial Summary Salivary buffering capacity may offer greater protection against dietary acidification than previously suspected, with only unmolassed sugarbeet pulp producing a statistically significant reduction in oral pH among five common equine feedstuffs tested. Two complementary investigations—one examining acute pH responses to individual feeds (hay, haylage, unmolassed alfalfa chaff and rolled oats alongside sugarbeet pulp) and a second evaluating ponies consuming four different haylages as their complete diet over 15-day periods—found that whilst measurable pH variations occurred post-feeding, saliva rapidly restored oral cavity pH to baseline or higher levels within 30 minutes of ingestion. The studies revealed that feed-associated oral pH changes were short-lived and substantially buffered by salivary secretions, suggesting the oral cavity itself may be more resilient to acidic insult than gingival tissues or subgingival environments. Practitioners should note these findings do not discount feed-related oral disease risk, as the research deliberately focused on oral cavity pH around feeding occasions rather than exploring gingival sulcus chemistry, prolonged acidic exposure patterns, or cumulative effects of sustained dietary challenge. Given that sugarbeet pulp demonstrated measurable acidification potential and that unmolassed formulations specifically triggered the observed pH depression, reviewing individual horse and pony diets—particularly forage composition and concentrate selections—remains prudent for those managing animals with existing periodontal compromise or caries risk.
Read the full abstract on PubMed
Practical Takeaways
- •Unmolassed sugarbeet pulp is the only common feedstuff tested that significantly lowers oral pH; consider alternatives or buffering strategies if oral health is a concern
- •Most forage types, including haylages, do not cause clinically concerning oral pH reductions due to saliva's rapid buffering effect
- •Current findings are limited to immediate post-feeding periods; longer-term monitoring and gingival pH assessment are needed to fully understand dietary effects on equine oral health
Key Findings
- •Only unmolassed sugarbeet pulp caused a significant reduction in oral pH (p<0.001) among five common feedstuffs tested
- •Different haylages produced differences in oral pH response, but post-feeding pH remained at or above basal levels in all cases
- •Salivary buffering capacity rapidly neutralized feed-associated pH changes within 15-30 minutes post-feeding
- •Findings reflect only oral cavity pH around feeding occasions and may not represent gingival pH or longer-term dietary effects