Hepatic Carcinoma in Richardson Ground Squirrels

摘要

Richardson's ground squirrels (Urocitellus richardsonii) are popular pets in Portugal and are usually imported and adopted at a young age. We present 4 clinical cases that occurred with a similar history of weight loss, anorexia, and prostration. In all cases, we performed history, physical examination, CBC, biochemistry, full body x-ray, and ultrasound. In 2 cases, we performed abdominal laparotomy and biopsy and reached definitive diagnoses. The patients in the other two cases were euthanized due to weak general condition and prognosis and samples were sent to histopathology. The tumors were classified as an osteosarcoma in 1 case, and 3 cases as hepatocellular carcinoma. Some squirrels had metastatic disease in the small intestine and kidney. Fewreferences are available for this species, and information about clinical approach or practical points of view is lacking.