From:
sukiec@optonline.net
Date: 2004-08-10 18:09:49 UTC
Subject: RE: [ferrethealth] Strange umbilicus on a puppy
To: ferrethealth@smartgroups.com
Message-ID: <3673171.1092161389708.JavaMail.root@thallium.smartgroups.com>
Agreed, it could be xiphoid process but it's hard to tell from that photo.
It may help it you find the xiphoid process on yourself. This is the sboney part located at the end of your sternum which is in danger of being broken and sometimes causing internal laceration if people do the stomach thrust too high on someone who is choking (which is why you do that about midpoint between the xiphoid process and the belly button). If that doesn't ring any bells here is how you find it. Trace your hand down the center portion of your chest. Note that your sternum is the bone which goes down the center and the ribs move in to it and meet it to form the boney cage of ribs, vertebrae, and sternum that encases your thorax, protecting the organs within, helping you breath, helping you stand, etc. At the very end of the sternum below where your final ribs hook in you'll notice a part which is sometimes tender; that's where your xipoid process is.
Is this where the lump is on your ferret?
Notice also that in one of the past posts below rib abnormalies also get mentioned.
See also these past posts:
http://fhl.sonic-weasel.org/browse.php?msg=YG6393
and
http://fhl.sonic-weasel.org/browse.php?msg=YG5562
which in combination with Dr. Sue's excellent answers will be extremely helpful to you of this is what you are encountering.