Clinical technique: Ferret thoracocentesis

Respiratory distress due to pneumothorax and/or pleural effusion is an emergency situation that must be quickly resolved. Thoracocentesis can be an invaluable lifesaving technique in these patients. This article describes how to perform thoracocentesis in ferrets for therapeutic and diagnostic purposes, with an emphasis on the unique thoracic anatomical differences between ferrets and other domestic species and on potential complications of thoracocentesis.