The Condition and Welfare

Both the condition and its treatment are painful and distressing for the animal. Early examination of any symptoms indicating excess salivation and difficulty in mastication is important to enable early treatment and minimal suffering.

If the treatment if not initiated early or the lesion is already "bony" at detection, no treatment should be attempted and the animal should be humanely slaughtered.

Removal of predisposing feed or grazing is also important from the animal welfare point of view, in order to prevent further cases.