Malignant Plasma Cell Neoplasia in Ferrets: A Review of 6 Cases

Malignant plasma cell neoplasms are rarely documented in ferrets. This article reviews the clinical findings for 6 ferrets with histopathologically confirmed malignant cell neoplasia. The most common clinical sign was hind limb ataxia or paresis (5/6), although hyperglobulinemia was identified as the most consistent hematologic abnormality (5/6) between cases. At the time of diagnosis, the malignancy had disseminated into >4 locations in most of the ferret patients. The clinical presentation of malignant plasma cell tumors in the ferret may be similar to that of multiple myeloma in other species. Practitioners should consider malignant plasma cell neoplasia when encountering ferrets with unexplained ataxia, paresis, and palpable masses, especially when accompanied by increases in gamma globulins.