Prevalence and Radiographic Appearance of the Os Clitoridis (Baubellum) in Female Domesticated Ferrets (Mustela putorius furo).

Abstract

There is limited published information on the os clitoridis in veterinary species. This retrospective study aims to provide information on its prevalence and radiographic appearance in client-owned female domesticated ferrets (Mustela putorius furo) presented to an academic veterinary medical center, and investigate any association with age, intact versus spayed status, and adrenal disease. Sixty-six ferrets (37 intact and 29 spayed) with a median age of 39.5 months (range, 2-118 months) met inclusion criteria. An os clitoridis was identified in 49 of 66 animals (74.24%). The mean length was 3.06 ± 1.20 mm and the mean width 0.68 ± 0.18 mm. An os clitoritis was significantly more common in intact (p = .0229) and in older animals (p = .01454). There was no association between an os clitoridis and adrenal disease (p = .2188). The os clitoridis is a normal anatomic structure on radiographs of female ferrets and should not be misinterpreted as an abnormality.