weaning query

[stormyskies]

i have a mare with a 6 week colt foal at foot. The mare has done her hind ligament again and its severe and beyond any help so think the decidion is she will be pts at weaning.

The mare is in a lot of pain. she was started on 2 bute a day and dropped to 1 a day but is still lame quite badly. she is bright eyed and still manages to get around but am wondering whether early weaning may be needed.

How early can you wean and what are the feeding processes after?

[vjc]

firstly i am so sorry to hear about your poor mare as for your weaning question we also had to wean a foal early for simalar reasons and we were advised to keep the foal on untill at least three months as it is about then that the milk starts to decline in goodness anyway. If you do wean early be sure to get your foal eating well in preparation for the weaning, you will probably have to use foal creep pellets as you are weaning so early. If your mare is really suffering then you may have to do it sooner and look at maybe bucket feeding milk and creep pellets.

[bardwellstud]

how sad !! so sorry for you and your mare bless her ,we have weaned at 3mths also and as vjc says creep pellts and bucket milk i the way to go ,as long as your little foal is eating well before weaning you should be fine ,also a small friend wouldnt go a miss there will br lots of little guys out there looking for a play mate good luck keep us posted xxx

[bonnieheather]

So sad, what a horrible situation for you xx

[stormyskies]

thanks. he will have 2 other foals with their mums. i also have a shetlland who he can tortue if needs be.

to make matters more complicated. the mare isnt mine. she was just on a breeding loan due to her previous ligament injury