To Stephanie Brindle:
>Winston has a bald spot on the very top of his ear.  I noticed it on
>thursday.  He is otherwise healthy and I have know idea what the problem
>is.  Could this be caused by another ferret biting his ear?
 
    Stephanie - bald spots on the ear can be due to trauma - thi si sthe
most common cause of baldness in this site.  Unsually, it is due to the
formation of scar tissue which obliterates the hair follicles in this area.
However, we also have to consider one of several types of skin tumors,
especially mast cells which can look similar.  Don't worry, these tumors are
benign, so you haven't waited too long in any case.
 
I'd let your vet take it off and send it in to have it diagnosed.  There's
no sense in taking chances....
 
Bruce Williams, DVM, DACVP
Dept. of Vet Path, AFIP
[log in to unmask]  OR
Chief Pathologist, AccuPath
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[Posted in FML issue 1369]