A preliminary answer to the question of whether cribbing causes salivary secretion

作者：Houpt Katherine A^*

来源：Journal of Veterinary Behavior-Clinical Applications and Research, 2012, 7(5): 322-324.

DOI：10.1016/j.jveb.2011.12.010

• crib biting
• cribbing
• saliva
• parotid salivary gland
• horse
• stereotypic behavior

It has been hypothesized that cribbing, the equine oral stereotypy, may increase salivary production and, therefore, reduce gastric acidity in a species prone to gastric ulcers. To test the hypothesis that cribbing stimulates salivary secretion, parotid salivary duct fistulas were surgically created in 2 horses. In the first experiment, saliva was collected while the number of crib bites was counted. There was no significant relation (r(2) = 0.022) between the numbers of crib bites and the volume of saliva produced. The second experiment involved measuring salivary output when one horse was cribbing and when he was eating, but could not crib. Before feeding, the horse produced 1 (0-2) mL of saliva while displaying 20 crib bites. The horse produced 31(2-212) mL of saliva while eating 200 g of grain. After eating, the horse produced 2 (1-10) mL of saliva while displaying 20 crib bites. There was a significant difference in saliva production associated with eating (Kruskal Wallis statistic = 12.42, P < 0.02). Fifteen to 30 times more saliva was produced while eating than while cribbing. These preliminary findings indicate that in those 2 cribbing horses, saliva production was not increased during cribbing, thereby questioning the hypothesis that saliva production during cribbing leads to decrease in gastric acidity.

• 出版日期2012-10