>Rikki one of my males who is a year and a half old has a lump.  This lump
>is not up by his neck.  It is located about half way down his body where
>his rib cage ends.  It feels like one of his ribs has turned up at the
>end.  Everything else about him is normal...eating,sleeping,bathroom
>habits,drinking,playing,etc... I think it is tender if touched because he
>jumps and wants down if you mess with it...Has anyone ever seen or heard
>of anything like this in ferrets before?  Thanks you for any help you can
>give me
 
Abnormalities with ribs are not uncommon.  This could be the rib, or it
could be the xiphoid process (the end of the breastbone) which commonly
turns outward (part of an incidental finding in ferrets called pectum
excavatum).  It does not pose a health problem at all.
 
Unless it starts growing, I wouldn't worry about it - mention it to your
vet at his next check-up, but probably no need to schedule an immediate
visit.
 
With kindest regards,
bruce williams, dVM
[Posted in FML issue 3511]