And remember, always have your vet get those tumors analyzed - while most skin tumors are benign, you and your pet will sleep better knowing about that tumor for sure. Bruce Williams, DVM Dr. Williams is available to help with diagnoses and answer questions. Parker, GA et al. Biology and Diseases of the Ferret. Lea and Febiger, Philadelphia, 1988.
Mast cells are active participants in immune reactions against foreign substances.
Within the cell body are granules which contain chemical substances such as histamine, serotonin, prostaglandins and others that create local inflammation which helps to destroy the foreign substance that has entered the body. The cause of mast cells growing abnormally and creating a tumor is unknown in the ferret. It is an extremely common skin cancer in ferrets particularly in those animals three years of age and older. The appearance is usually that of a raised button-like lesion that is flat on top. A few cases show as a diffuse raised red area that may be larger than one inch in diameter.