Thoracic Vertebral Osteoma in a Domestic Ferret (Mustela putorius furo)

A 1-year-old female ferret was presented for an acute onset of hind limb paralysis. The animal had a history of difficulty urinating and defecating for several weeks. A firm, smooth, nonsensitive mass was palpated in the thoracic spine on physical examination. Fine-needle aspirate was compatible with a neoplasia, and the animal was eunthanized because of a poor prognosis. Osteoma was confirmed on histopathologic examination. This is the first reported case of an osteoma involving the thoracic vertebrae in a ferret.