Diagnostic Challenge

A 3-year-old female chinchilla (Chinchilla lanigera) was presented for a mass located at the vertex of the head and appeared after a fall in the cage the day before. The husbandry practices and diet provided to the patient were appropriate. The chinchilla had no medical history and appeared healthy. A close examination of the animal's head revealed a soft, painless mass approximately 3 centimeters in diameter (Fig.  1). The mass appeared to be filled with air suggesting subcutaneous emphysema. The chinchilla was bright and alert and had mild dyspnea associated with the upper respiratory tract with audible wheezing but no nasal discharge.
Source: Journal of Exotic Pet Medicine - Category: Veterinary Research Authors: Tags: Diagnostic Challenge Source Type: research