To Cindy Riskin: Cindy, let's get that lump taken off and examined before we get all upset. As I have offered to others on the list, I would be happy to examine the tumor for you once it is removed. I look at ferret tissue on a daily basis, much more than any other veterinary pathologist I know of in the country. I'll be happy to process and look at the tissue for no - no charge- if your vet would like to send it to me. He can send it to: Dr. Bruce Williams Department of Veterinary Pathology Armed Forces Institute of Pathology Washington, D.C. 20306-6000 The same offer is extended to any other list member who needs tissue (either autopsy or biopsy) examined. Because the AFIP is keenly interested in the diseases of ferrets (from a diagnostic standpoint only - NO ferret research is done here), we are accepting ferret tissue from private practitioners and individuals. At any rate - we need the biopsy results back before we can discuss this situation further. There are a lot of benign tumors in the skin of the ferret, also--- To Robert Updegrave (and intersted other parties) Re: Marshall Farms There has been a lot of rumors going around recently concerning Marshall Farms ferrets. I'm not sure where they got started, but let's try to put this subject to bed. Sure, Marshall Farms ferrets develop tumors. So do ALL ferrets. We don't know why ferrets develop most tumors - we knwo that they are most likely to develop them between the ages of 4 and 6, but not why. But it is certainly not Marshall Farms' responsibility when a ferret that they sold two years ago develops a tumor... To my knowledge - there are no inherent "defects" with Marshall Farms ferrets. Occasionally, ferrets will have extra toes, as will dogs or even people. This is more a fact of life than anything else. I don't consider this a "defect", although Marshall Farms prefers to sell these animals rather than use them as breeding stock. I consider that far better than just euthanizing them. What other types of "defects" have people heard about? Don't get me wrong - I know that Marshall Farms is the biggest breeder of laboratory as well as pet ferrets. I don't condone laboratory research on ferrets, or other animals for that matter and I don't do any. But I have never seen any problems with Marshall Farms ferrets that I could relate to Marshall Farms. I have a Marshall Farms ferret. He is over 7 years old and perfectly healthy. I would have no worries about getting another Marshall farms ferret from a health standpoint should the opportunity present itself again. Bruce Williams, DVM [log in to unmask] [Posted in FML issue 0629]