From:
ferrethealer@aol.com
Date: 2002-04-01 18:35:00 UTC
Subject: Re: Digest Number 671
In a message dated 04/01/02 9:49:31 PM Eastern Standard Time,
Ferret-Health-list@yahoogroups.com writes:
How many of you actually have a
pathologist look at skin tumors once they are removed? I know
that,
from a scientific standpoint, it is great to know exactly what
you're
dealing with. But, I'm curious how many of you have changed
anything
you have done as a result of a pathology report on a skin tumor.
Speaking as a veterinarian, I *always* recommend bloodwork before
anesthesia - because it can help avoid problems with the anesthesia
if we find problems before hand. I also *always* recommend
histopathology. Even if I'm 99% certain of what a mass is, I could
be wrong. There are malignant skin masses out there in ferrets, as
well as in our other animals, and I'd hate to miss the rare
cutaneous lymphoma or other malignancy because most skin masses are
benign.
Dr. Ruth (who just sent out the adrenal mass from one of my own
ferrets. Yes, I'm almost positive it's benign - but I want to
*know*.)
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