BIG HEAD.
—Just why bones become soft and frequently are absorbed in normal animals is not known, unless it is due to an absence of some essential bone constituent in the food or water. The disease shows that the bone is absorbed and its structure softened. As a consequence, the bone enlarges, becomes spongy and light.
The disease usually starts as a swelling in the head, hence the name. Often the lower jaws are enlarged, and, as the disease progresses, the legs become affected. At the same time the animal loses weight. The treatment consists of nourishing foods, rich in the mineral constituents. Better consult a veterinarian when the disease is first noticed.