Message Number: YG7351 | New FHL Archives Search
From: Pam Sessoms
Date: 2001-09-20 11:33:00 UTC
Subject: Re: [Ferret-Health-list] Fat or swollen neck in baby?

On Thu, 20 Sep 2001 wolfysluv@a... wrote:
> On each side of her neck right above the shoulder blades are two
> large, soft areas. I don't know if they are fat pockets, her lymph
> glands (where is a ferrets lymph glands?), her scent glands in her
> neck, or what. You can't palpitate a discernable mass on each side
> really.... just big fat grabable

From what you are describing, it sounds like they are in the area of her
lymph nodes. The ones in front of the shoulder blades (do ferrets even
*have* shoulders? *g*) are called "prescapular lymph nodes," if I'm not
mistaken. Now, ferrets routinely put lots of fat around their lymph
nodes, leading to these big mushy lumps. In fact, I brought one of mine
to the vet a few months ago all in a lymphoma panic over these particular
nodes having gotten really big. They were, indeed, just surrounded with
fat.

> ... somethings on each side. Should I be concerned or probably not?

That I'm not really qualified to answer. One concern with big nodes is
lymphoma, but they can blow up for other reasons, or of course, they can
just be surrounded by fat. Your girl is quite young - I don't think
juvenile lymphoma usually presents this way. Also, you say she's a
chunker, so that fits with the fat theory. :-) But a vet could try to
biopsy the nodes and do bloodwork to see if anything pointed to any
problems. With her active, fat, and happy, that sure sounds encouraging!

Definitely not a vet,

-Pam S.