From:
"Bruce Williams, DVM"
Date: 2007-03-11 16:24:05 UTC
Subject: [ferrethealth] Re: Sudden lump on cheek
To: ferrethealth@yahoogroups.com
--- In ferrethealth@yahoogroups.com, "Julianne" <julianne.gentile@...>
wrote:
>
> I have a 5 year old male ferret that looked perfectly fine last night,
> but woke up today with a round swollen area on his cheek, below his
> left eye. There are no sores on his face and his teeth are in great
> shape. I brush his teeth, and he had a professional dental cleaning in
> October. He is en route to the vet, but I am concerned because it is
> the weekend and our small animal specialist is not in today. He will
> be seeing someone who does not usually see ferrets. Does anyone have
> any suggestions or ideas? He is otherwise healthy, he is not on any
> medication, he has not come into contact with any poisons, gotten into
> any fights, or fallen. I have no idea what would cause something like
> this to spring up so quickly.
>
> Julie
>
Dera Julie - a tooth root abscess is a possibility, but one of the key
things that you mention is how sudden it popped up. Yes, as Mary
mentioned, nerve sheath tumor is common on the face, and there are
other types of tumros, but they usually don't pop up quickly. One
other thing that should be included int he differential for a rapidly
appearing mass (like overnight or a few days at most) is a sialocele.
Sialoceles often occur around the orbits, and result from the rupture
of a salivary duct. Most appear on the head, but I have seen them on
the side of the face as well.
Was an X-ray doneof the head or oral cavity to further ensure the
possibility of a tooth root abscess. Was a followup visit scheduled?
If there is no response to the antibiotics, I would consider an X-ray
bony tumors occasionally show on the face) and certainly a fine needle
aspirate of the growth. With kindest regards, Bruce Williams, DVM
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