From:
Melissa
Date: 2001-05-14 13:23:00 UTC
Subject: Advice sought on oral cyst or tumor
I was wondering if anyone had experience with oral cysts or tumors and if
so, if he or she would share it with me.
I have a 4 year old MF female ferret who developed an approximately 1.5 mm
(diameter)cyst on the left side of her mouth, on the lower, outer
(cheek-facing) gumline; the cyst/tumor is smooth, painful (she fights
letting me see it and cries when another ferret bumps her face), the same
color as her gums, extends out approximately 1 mm, and is on the level of
her teeth, and developed in the last week. I noticed it Thursday, but check
teeth every few days as she is prone to tartar build-up.
She is still eating plenty of kibble, albeit on the right side of her mouth.
Since Saturday, her stool has varied from voluminous, unformed and beige to
scant and green to nearly normal.
Her medical history includes spleenectomy, symptomatic for adrenal disease
for almost 2 years (surgery was attempted and deemed too risky), she gets .3
ml of Arimidex orally per day via syringe (For the adrenal problem - she did
not do well on Lupron), and for the last 2 weeks, ending Friday, she has
been on antibiotic for possible proliferative bowel (I want to say clavamox,
but in tablet form, as she is very difficult to medicate.)
My thoughts are that I possibly injured her gum while giving the oral meds
by bumping it with the syringe (but if so, why hasn't it gotten better by
now?) or that she has developed squamous cell carcinoma. I must say that I
am not hopeful.
We are going to the vet tonight, who at this point plans to excise and
biopsy as much of the bump as possible, and cauterize the surrounding
tissue. This won't take place until mid-morning tomorrow.
Advice or comments welcome
Thanks very much,
Melissa
Mishka, Buttons & Brenna
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