To Caroline:
 
>...  I was petting Sarah and noticed a scab on her neck.  It looked like a
>scratched bug bite... but by [vet] appointment time the scab was gone.
>The vet said that it probably was just a bug bite, but now she has another
>one in the same general area... Does anyone know what this could be?
 
    Well, first off, it may just be a scab.  Lord knows our crew gets
enough of them - playing with each other.  Now if Sarah is an only ferret -
that pretty well rules that out.
 
    Other things that look like scabs are mast cell tumors, ringworm -
crusty bare patches, mange - uncommon, and soem non-specific probably
allergic conditions.  Best suggestion - if it doesn't go away with some
topical antibiotics/steroids - such as Panalog in a few weeks, have it
taken off and analyzed.
 
Bruce H. Williams, DVM         Dept. of Veterinary Pathology
Chief Pathologist, AccuPath    Armed Forces Institute of Pathology
[log in to unmask]         Washington, D.C.  20306-6000
                               [log in to unmask]
[Posted in FML issue 1241]