OSSIFYING FIBROMA IN A SHEEP

A young adult sheep from a commercial feedlot was presented for necrop sy because of a firm mass protruding from the rostral mandible which i mpaired mastication, resulting in weight loss. The mass was diagnosed as ossifying fibroma. Ossifying fibroma is an uncommon benign tumor of the jaw which is most frequently diagnosed in the horse, and which ma y be underreported in ruminants. To our knowledge, this is the first p ublished report of ossifying fibroma in a sheep. Surgical removal of o ssifying fibroma is usually curative. Treatment of ossifying fibroma c ould be warranted in valuable young ruminants including those used in research and breeding programs. (C) 1998 Published by Elsevier Science B.V.