To Cindy Sooy,
 
        Cindy, even though your ferret has had two mast cell tumors, I don't
think you have to worry about one turning up in the spleen.  Mast cell tumors
are very common in the ferret skin, and as yet, metastasis to internal organs
has not been seen (at least not by me).  I have only seen one mast cell tumor in
the viscera of the ferret, and that one did not have any skin tumor.
 
        While you ferret may develop more mast cell tumors over time, just
remove them as they crop up, and you should be in good shape.
 
       Bruce Williams, DVM                 Department of Veterinary Pathology
       [log in to unmask]         Armed Forces Institute of Pathology
       (202) 782-2600/2602                 Washington, D.C.  20306-6000
[Posted in FML issue 1080]