From:
Ferrethealer@aol.com
Date: 2002-10-16 02:57:22 UTC
Subject: Re: [ferrethealth] Digest 16 Oct 2002 00:09:34 -0000 Issue 116
To: ferrethealth@smartgroups.com
Message-ID: <106.19ec7205.2ade2f92@aol.com>
In a message dated 10/15/02 8:32:37 PM Eastern Daylight Time,
ferrethealth-digest-help@smartgroups.com writes:
> Today the biopsy results came in and it said that my baby girl has skin can=
> cer. The lesions she had were cancerous mass cell tumors.
Mast cell tumors are very common in ferrets and are almost always a benign
mass in this species. In other species, especially dogs, they are very
aggressive, nasty tumors, and your vet may be thinking of their behavior in
dogs rather than in ferrets. I would think twice, then think again, before
even considering chemotherapy of any kind for mast cell tumors in ferrets.
Usually removal is completely curative, and I have known many ferrets whose
owners opted to not have them removed who did fine with the exception of a
scabbed and sometimes itchy mass.
Dr. Ruth
*****************************************
Save lives - spay or neuter your pet.