Weaned colt.... problems...

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Did you say ALMOST 3 months? Gee, Id never wean before 3 months.
I mean unless it was a HAVE TO CASE. Depression is a serious issue in foals. Serious. Ulcers can develope. Watch his stools, watch watch watch.

Can you put the mare just on the other side of the fence from him? If you have a good safe set-up, that's what I would do... I weaned mine at 3-4 months this year, but I made sure the mares and babies can still touch noses if need be.

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I think as long as the foal is eating well on his own and acting independent, there's nothing wrong with weaning at 3 months, in fact a mare's milk quality starts going down at 2 months. I did mine all at 3-4 months this year for a few reasons... one Oobi is a HUGE pig and I want him to go back to his home (I bought the mare with him at side with the agreement I'd care for him until weaning he's 4mo now) ..two, Walter's Ma was going to be leaving soon, and he's also a HUGE pig... and three, Flopsy's Mom needs to go home because I don't want to get attached to her (she's bred to Phenom, and her owner's evil plan was to give me Flopsy to nurse back to health, meanwhile getting me to want to buy her Mama )

Anyway...how long ago did you wean? I'd be tempted to give him back to Mom if she still has a bag...this isn't the foundered mare is it? Can you up her feed?

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I wouldn't suggest giving bute to any baby, whatsoever... causes ulcers big time.

did the vet think bute was ok on an already stressed colt? are you giving gastrogard with it? I sure wouldn't give it w/o something to prevent ulcers you are asking for a problem in this colt at weaning with giving bute just a thought. Get some gastroguard if the colt has been on bute more than a day or 2.

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I have a 4 mo old filly getting bute at the vet clinic 1 gram daily but is getting gastroguard for protection would never give a foal this w/o gastroguard these colts are very prone to ulcers they have very delicate stomaches and this filly hasn't been pulled from momma as she is having some health issues so we didn't want to stress her at all. It doesn't take 5 days of bute to cause an ulcer in any horse esp an already stressed horse/foal- gastroguard is prescription and worth every penny!

A girlfriend of mine thinks the paste bute is safer than the liqued form... I'm not sure what I think about it...

You said it's a stifle..Ivan, my now gelding, had a locking stifle as a two year old, my Dad wasn't sure what we should do, so he consulted with another vet he was in school with back in "the day" ...this other vet spent many moons on the track...and he said it's best to use bute as little as possible, BUT that in a low enough dosage, and on enough forage, it could be given for as long as 30 days safely...like I said though, this was a two year old...

I've always thought banamine for muscle, bute for joints, hooves, and bone... is it stifle then? or more muscle?

When I wean, the babies and mothers cannot see each other. I would not wean that way.. There are many ways to do it and none of them wrong. I think that just prolongs the stress. I leave foals in the big barn where they are safe and mothers go to a different area. After about 2 to 4 days the stress is all over..

I HATE WEANING..