Use of squeeze-induced somnolence for routine plasma administration in healthy neonatal foals

Reasons for performing study:

A nonchemical method of restraint to facilitate neonatal foal handling and minimally invasive procedures would be highly useful.

Objectives:

To investigate squeeze-induced somnolence for providing adequate restraint of healthy neonatal foals for the purpose of plasma administration. Study design: Prospective clinical study.

Methods:

Squeezeinduced somnolence of neonatal foals was performed by use of a soft rope restraint as previously described [1] to allow intravenous catheterisation and plasma administration. Physiological and clinical parameters were monitored pre-, during and post squeezeinduced somnolence.

Results:

Squeeze-induced somnolence and plasma administration was performed on 14 foals within the first day of life without any adverse effects. Mean time to recumbency during squeeze restraint was 53 s, mean time to stand and mean time to nurse from dam following release of restraint were 46 s and 163 s, respectively. Over 50% of foals gave some reaction to subcutaneous injection of local anaesthetic but only one foal reacted strongly. The restraint technique was performed without any difficulty in 8/14 foals, 5/14 foals became less somnolent latterly in the procedure (around 17–18 min) and one foal never became fully somnolent.

Conclusions:

Squeezeinduced somnolence provides adequate restraint for plasma administration, without the need for sedation, in the majority of neonatal foals. Squeeze-induced somnolence can be used to allow nonchemical restraint of neonatal foals for routine procedures. Further refinement of the technique is required to maximise its potential usefulness.