Key Technical Points for the Rearing and Management of Tibetan Mastiff Puppies

In order to carry out scientific rearing and management of Tibetan Mastiffs, appropriate rearing and management should be applied at different biological stages. A small Tibetan Mastiff from birth to weaning is called a puppy mastiff. Correct rearing and management at this stage is extremely important; it is the key period determining whether the puppy mastiff is strong and healthy and improving the survival rate of Tibetan Mastiff puppies.

1. Pay attention to cold protection and heat avoidance: newborn puppy mastiffs have very poor ability to regulate body temperature. Therefore, environmental temperature has a great influence on the life activities of puppy mastiffs, and special attention must be paid to maintaining the indoor environmental temperature. The puppy mastiff kennel should use a semicircular iron frame net made of thick iron bars. In winter, lay plastic film over the iron frame net to prevent cold wind from invading, and seal the front and rear windows tightly with plastic film; in summer, the plastic film should be removed, and grapes, gourds and other climbing plants should be grown on the iron frame net to provide shade for the Tibetan Mastiff puppies. The suitable environmental temperatures for Tibetan Mastiff puppies of different ages are: 0—7 days old: 28—32℃, 8—21 days old: 27℃, after 28 days old: 23℃, and attention should be paid to keeping the room dry and preventing drafts. 2. Strengthen lactation: nutrition of the mother Tibetan Mastiff. The milk yield of the lactating mother mastiff gradually declines after 20 days, while the milk requirement of the puppy mastiffs increases day by day. Therefore, supplementary feeding should be carried out in a timely manner, supplying the mother Tibetan Mastiff with fresh, high-quality, easily digested and absorbed animal-based and plant-based feed to ensure that the mother Tibetan Mastiff has sufficient milk. 3. Improve the nutritional value for Tibetan Mastiff puppies: Tibetan Mastiff puppies develop rapidly in the first month after birth and have a strong appetite; breast milk can no longer meet their needs, so supplementary feed should be given, feeding some liquid food with high nutritional value, easy digestion and absorption, and good palatability. For example, add milk powder, meat broth, cooked egg yolk, thin porridge, etc. to fresh milk, plus some cod liver oil, multiple vitamins and bone meal, etc.; otherwise, the puppy mastiffs will be thin and weak due to malnutrition, affecting their growth and development. 4. Feed puppy mastiffs in appropriate amounts: Tibetan Mastiff puppies have a small gastrointestinal capacity, so it is advisable to feed small amounts more frequently, feeding 5—6 times per day. As the age in days increases, the diet concentration and daily feeding amount should be gradually increased to adapt to the increase in daily weight gain of the puppy mastiffs. 5. Ensure clean drinking water: when supplying drinking water, pay attention to water quality, water temperature, water quantity and timing. Tibetan Mastiff puppies must be supplied with a clean water source in a timely manner; it must not contain harmful substances, pathogenic microorganisms, etc., and the water trough should be scrubbed once every day. Drinking water quantity differs with the seasons; in summer the drinking water quantity is the greatest and must not be interrupted. The water temperature should be suitable: drink cool water in summer, and drink warm water in winter, late autumn and early spring. The drinking time should be chosen after feeding. 6. Do a good job in disease prevention and control: before the mother mastiff gives birth, the birthing den should be thoroughly disinfected. Caustic soda (prepared as a 2%—3% hot water solution), 3% Lysol and 5% formalin can be used alternately to disinfect the birthing room, birthing box and the activity areas of the Tibetan Mastiff puppies. Disinfect feeding utensils regularly with 2% potassium permanganate. After Tibetan Mastiff puppies are born, give levamisole at 1 tablet per 2.5 kg of body weight; deworm twice at 30 days, with very good results; and carry out regular vaccinations at 2 months of age.