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Animals : an open access journal from MDPI2017; 7(9); 69; doi: 10.3390/ani7090069

Survey of Veterinarians Using a Novel Physical Compression Squeeze Procedure in the Management of Neonatal Maladjustment Syndrome in Foals.

Abstract: Horses are a precocious species that must accomplish several milestones that are critical to survival in the immediate post-birth period for their survival. One essential milestone is the successful transition from the intrauterine unconsciousness to an extrauterine state of consciousness or awareness. This transition involves a complex withdrawal of consciousness inhibitors and an increase in neuroactivating factors that support awareness. This process involves neuroactive hormones as well as inputs related to factors such as cold, visual, olfactory, and auditory stimuli. One factor not previously considered in this birth transition is a yet unreported direct neural reflex response to labor-induced physical compression of the fetus in the birth canal (squeezing). Neonatal maladjustment syndrome (NMS) is a disorder of the newborn foal characterized by altered behavior, low affinity for the mare, poor awareness of the environment, failure to bond to the mother, abnormal sucking, and other neurologically-based abnormalities. This syndrome has been associated with altered events during birth, and was believed to be caused exclusively by hypoxia and ischemia. However, recent findings revealed an association of the NMS syndrome with the persistence of high concentrations of in utero neuromodulating hormones (neurosteroids) in the postnatal period. Anecdotal evidence demonstrated that a novel physical compression (squeeze) method that applies 20 min of sustained pressure to the thorax of some neonatal foals with this syndrome might rapidly hasten recovery. This survey provides information about outcomes and time frames to recovery comparing neonatal foals that were given this squeeze treatment to foals treated with routine medical therapy alone. Results revealed that the squeeze procedure, when applied for 20 min, resulted in a faster full recovery of some foals diagnosed with NMS. The adjunctive use of a non-invasive squeeze method may improve animal welfare by hastening recovery and foal-mare interactions that minimize health problems. This would also avoid or reduce costs arising from hospitalization associated with veterinary and nursing care that sometimes leads owners to elect for euthanasia.
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Publication Date: 2017-09-05 PubMed ID: 28872596PubMed Central: PMC5615300DOI: 10.3390/ani7090069Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

This research is about the use of physical compression or “squeeze” procedure in managing Neonatal Maladjustment Syndrome (NMS), a disorder affecting newborn foals. The study reveals that this non-invasive method expedites full recovery, improves animal welfare, and potentially reduces hospitalization costs.

Research Background

  • The authors begin by explaining the critical milestones a newborn horse must achieve for survival, including the transition from intrauterine unconsciousness to extrauterine consciousness.
  • This transition process involves neuroactive hormones and several environmental inputs like cold, visual, olfactory, and auditory stimuli.
  • The research introduced a new consideration in this birth transition process – a direct neural reflex response to labor-induced physical compression of the fetus in the birth canal, commonly referred to as “squeezing.”

Neonatal Maladjustment Syndrome (NMS)

  • NMS is a disorder in newborn foals characterized by altered behavior, low affinity for the mare, poor awareness of the environment, failure to bond to the mother, and abnormal sucking, among other neurologically-based abnormalities.
  • Previously, NMS was believed to be caused exclusively by hypoxia and ischemia, which are altered events during birth.
  • Recent findings have associated NMS with the persistence of high concentrations of in utero neuromodulating hormones (neurosteroids) in the postnatal period.

Physical Compression (Squeeze) Method

  • Anecdotal evidence showed that applying a novel physical compression or squeeze method (that involves 20 minutes of sustained pressure to the foal’s thorax) could hasten recovery in some neonatal foals suffering from NMS.
  • The surveyed veterinarians provide information about recovery outcomes and timelines, comparing foals treated with the squeeze method to those treated with traditional medical therapy alone.

Research Findings

  • Results revealed that the squeeze procedure, if applied for 20 minutes, led to a faster complete recovery in some foals diagnosed with NMS.
  • The use of this non-invasive squeeze method could improve animal welfare by accelerating recovery and foal-mare interactions, thereby minimizing health issues.
  • The squeeze method could also reduce costs associated with hospitalization, veterinary care, nursing care, and even the potential decisions by owners for euthanasia due to excessive costs.

Cite This Article

APA
Aleman M, Weich KM, Madigan JE. (2017). Survey of Veterinarians Using a Novel Physical Compression Squeeze Procedure in the Management of Neonatal Maladjustment Syndrome in Foals. Animals (Basel), 7(9), 69. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani7090069

Publication

Animals : an open access journal from MDPI
ISSN: 2076-2615
NlmUniqueID: 101635614
Country: Switzerland
Language: English
Volume: 7
Issue: 9
PII: 69

Researcher Affiliations

Aleman, Monica
  • Department of Medicine and Epidemiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USA. mraleman@ucdavis.edu.
Weich, Kalie M
  • Department of Medicine and Epidemiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USA. kmweich@ucdavis.edu.
Madigan, John E
  • Department of Medicine and Epidemiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USA. jemadigan@ucdavis.edu.

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors declare no conflicts of interest. The founding sponsors had no role in the design of the study; in the collection, analyses, or interpretation of data; in the writing of the manuscript, and in the decision to publish the results.

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Citations

This article has been cited 7 times.
  1. Bienboire-Frosini C, Muns R, Marcet-Rius M, Gazzano A, Villanueva-García D, Martínez-Burnes J, Domínguez-Oliva A, Lezama-García K, Casas-Alvarado A, Mota-Rojas D. Vitality in Newborn Farm Animals: Adverse Factors, Physiological Responses, Pharmacological Therapies, and Physical Methods to Increase Neonate Vigor.. Animals (Basel) 2023 May 4;13(9).
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  2. Holdsworth SE, Kells NJ, Vallée E, Ward N, Mellor DJ, Beausoleil NJ. Evaluating the Behavioural Responses of Healthy Newborn Calves to a Thoracic Squeeze.. Animals (Basel) 2022 Mar 26;12(7).
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  3. Holdsworth SE, Kells NJ, Chidgey KL, Vallée E, Ward N, Mellor DJ, Beausoleil NJ. Characterisation of the Behavioural Effects of a Thoracic Squeeze in Healthy Newborn Piglets.. Animals (Basel) 2021 Aug 22;11(8).
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