Gross Description:

This is the body of an neutered, male Sugar Glider (Petaurus breviceps), approximately 3 years of age weighing 80grams in moderate to good body condition euthanized – 1:00 pm 5/23/09 and necropsied 2:15 pm 5/26/09.

There is focal to multifocal areas of roughness that are tan in color on the sternum and several of the left and right ribs on the heart and on all of the left lung lobes. The areas are less than 0.1x0.1x0.1 cm in size and are focal, gritty and round to oval in shape. Upon opening the abdominal cavity the liver is noted to be grossly enlarged and darkened and has pushed the other abdominal organs ventral and caudal within the abdominal cavity. There is a 1.5x1.5x1 cm mass in the ventral liver lobe that appears lobulated and feels firm on palpation. On cut section, this lobe is dark red and has areas of softness in the center (necrosis). The other liver lobes are slightly enlarged and are moderately firm on palpation.

Gross Finding

Respiratory System:
1. Focal to multifocal white areas on the sternum, several of left and right ribs, left lung lobes and heart. Euthanasia artifact.
Liver:
1. Central liver love mass, most likely inflammatory in nature, possibly neoplastic.
2. Hepatitis and/or hepatic fibrosis of left and right liver lobes.

Gross DX
1. Euthanasia
2. Severe, focally extensive, acute and necro-suppurative hepatitis vx. Hepotoma vs. hepatocellular carcinoma.
3. Severe, diffuse, chronic, fibrosing hepatitis

Gross Comment
The liver mass is the casue of dyspnea as it could have compressed the thorax. This liver lesion could be Neoplasia or acute inflammatory reaction. There are chronic liver changes observed which along with the mass could have deteriorated the health status of the animal.

Nibbles was on the BML diet before he came here, I put him on HPW. I am stil waiting for the results from the tissue samples they sent off and will post those results when they come in.

Thank you for sharing. I know how hard it must have been for you to type that all out.