Message Number: SG7003 | New FHL Archives Search
From: "Sue Liszewski"
Date: 2003-12-05 17:57:48 UTC
Subject: RE: [ferrethealth] Tests/ fine needle aspirate on oral mass?
To: ferrethealth@smartgroups.com
Message-ID: <Law12-F125x7nyeKzGZ0000f08b@hotmail.com>

If oral masses are malignant (not benign) then tend to be pretty aggressive.
Even removal is not assured a cure. These masses tend to be highly
aggressive and often other then trying to remove them won't change the
outcome. Sure you have the options of radiation and rarely chemo but in my
experience aren't worth the expense considering the outcome is often the
same.

That said, your choice, rathere then a needle aspirate would be a treatment
trial with antibiotics, plus or minus pred (for inflamation) and see if it
improves or resolves. How are the teeth, since if it is inflammation usu it
is scondary to something in the mouth. I would not invest the money in a
needle biopsy.

You need to decide, if it were malignant, what will you want to do or what
you can afford to do. If you can't do anything aggressive anyway you might
want to try antibiotics and pred. If nothing else if usu helps for a bit.
If you want to be more aggressive, spend the extramoney to have it rem'd and
get the most accurate picture. I find that if doing the procedure is not
going to change what you will do then don't do it.

I know many may not aggress with this approach, but I also find if it is
malignant you often lose time by trying to remove it because it grows back
faster and with a more aggressive flare. I hope this helps and I don't
offend anyone with this type of philosophy. I understand that all people
are not made of money and need to make the best decisions for themselves and
their aniimals. If the long term prognosis is poor, is it worth putting an
animal thru a whole lot of procedures? Let them be happy and live their
life the best way they can.

Good Luck to you and I hope this helps put things in a perspective that you
can think about options and make the best decisoin for your individual case.

Dr. Sue

>From: mcculloh.2@osu.edu
>Reply-To: ferrethealth@smartgroups.com
>To: ferrethealth@smartgroups.com
>Subject: [ferrethealth] Tests/ fine needle aspirate on oral mass?
>Date: Fri, 5 Dec 2003 14:46:07 +0000 (GMT)
>
>I wanted some advice on my ferret's oral mass. I just noticed the mass
>this week--it is a little smaller than a pencil eraser on her last right
>upper molar. She was just at the vet 3 weeks ago, so unless they missed it
>at her checkup it has popped up quite quickly. The vet said the only way
>we could figure out what it is was to remove it and do histology on it. I
>was wondering if it would be possible to do a fine needle aspirate on
>somethng this small. The vet said it was too small to do anything unless
>she had surgery. The only procedure done was a visual exam. The mass is
>inflamed and hurts when I touch it. Should I have the mass removed or are
>there any other tests that can be run prior to surgery? I am a student and
>the $400-650 quote is pretty steep for me if the mass is just inflamation.
>Any ideas on what it could be?
>
>Thanks,
>Joanna
>
>
>
>
>
>
>--
>If you want to share pictures, use the calendar, or start a vote
>visit http://www.smartgroups.com/groups/ferrethealth
>
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