Meat Dog Farming Precautions and Common Disease Prevention and Treatment Techniques
The meat dog is a carnivore-oriented omnivorous animal, and it is also an important agricultural farming project. Dog meat is not only delicious, but also has high nutritional value and therapeutic benefits. We should pay attention to daily farming management. Below is an introduction to meat dog farming techniques and common disease prevention and treatment techniques for meat dogs.
I. Living Habits of Meat Dogs
1. Dogs have emotional changes. A dog's facial expressions and its joy, anger, sorrow and happiness can be revealed without concealment through changes in all parts of its body. Mastering a dog's emotional changes is very important for feeding and management.
2. Dogs' sweat glands are not well developed and their coats are relatively thick, so dogs have poor heat tolerance. The suitable temperature in summer is 15-17 degrees. If the temperature is higher, the body temperature begins to rise. If the relative humidity exceeds 65%, the dog's heat dissipation is severely hindered, shown by opening the mouth and extending the tongue, relying on saliva to lose heat.
3. Puppies have little subcutaneous fat, thin skin, sparse hair, imperfect body temperature regulation and low liver glycogen reserves, so they are afraid of cold and dampness. Attention should be paid to keeping them warm, otherwise they are prone to freezing to death or being crushed to death.
4. Dogs like foods with a fishy smell and can eat both meat and vegetarian food, but dogs are carnivorous animals, and their nature determines that what they like to eat most is animal protein and fat, such as various meats and fish.
5. The suitable breeding age for dogs is 1.5-2 years for males and 1-1.5 years for females. Most dogs come into estrus once each year in spring and autumn. The estrus period can be divided into proestrus and estrus, lasting 14-20 days during this time. Dogs generally conceive in a single mating. The gestation period of dogs is 62 days, and litters are multiple.
II. Preparations Before Meat Dog Farming
1. Site preparation: For large-group dog housing, choose sandy soil land with relatively high terrain, dry, flat and slightly sloped, sheltered from the wind and facing the sun, shaded and ventilated in summer, and warm with full sunlight in winter. The underground position of the dog house should be low to avoid low-lying dampness. The dog house should face south or southeast, and should be downwind of residential areas, in a relatively secluded place, with sufficient water sources, good water quality, convenient transportation, easy power supply, and a certain distance from residential areas, main traffic routes, livestock and poultry farms, sewage pits and chemical plants.
2. Facility preparation
There are two types of dog raising: high-density pen raising and factory-style intensive cage raising:
(1) High-density pen-raising rapid method: one pen per 10 sq m, with 10 to 12 dogs per pen. Males and females are raised in separate pens and separate sections. The advantages are isolation from the outside, a quiet environment, benefit to disease prevention, convenience for feeding, labor and effort saving, and easy operation. According to comparative feeding, free-range dogs require more than 1200 grams of cooked food per dog per day, while pen-raised dogs, due to reduced activity, need only 800 to 1000 grams, and their weight gain speed is 20%-30% higher than free-range, with market readiness more than 20 days earlier.
(2) Factory-style intensive cage raising method: If raising large numbers in limited space, bamboo, wood or iron cages can be used to raise dogs. The cage is 100 cm long, 80 cm wide and 80 cm high, with 1 dog per cage. If further density increase is needed, two layers can be used for three-dimensional raising. The advantages are low cost, high density, large capacity, uniformity, easy operation, fresh air, sufficient light, convenient observation, and benefit to uniform food intake by dogs and disease prevention and control. It also benefits consumption, thereby rapidly fattening them.
3. Technical preparation: Raising a few or a few dozen dogs requires relatively simple techniques, but large-scale meat dog raising requires strong feeding techniques. Therefore, one should study through books, newspapers and magazines, and can also study in columns such as "Meat Dog Knowledge Lecture" in this website's online school or the electronic publication "Dog Raising Technology Collection" to continuously improve and enrich feeding techniques.
4. Feed preparation: Meat dog feed mainly includes: cornmeal, wheat bran or rice bran, meat or animal offal and a small amount of bone meal 3%, salt, and green feed. Feed ingredients can be selected according to local resources.
5. Epidemic prevention preparation: There are many kinds of dog diseases, which can cause mass outbreaks and death, so great attention should be paid. Strengthen daily feeding management, do a good job in dog house hygiene, strictly implement disinfection, strengthen control of transmission by animals such as rats, mosquitoes and flies, and strengthen quarantine and preventive vaccination.
6. Preparation for introducing breeding stock: Before introducing breeding stock, one should comprehensively and from multiple aspects understand the supply sources, master relevant knowledge, follow the principle of purchasing from units qualified to deal in breeding stock, adhere to the principles of comparing quality, price and service, adhere to the principle of buying nearby, and control the quality, price and structure of breeding stock.
III. Meat Dog Farming Management Techniques
1. Feed should be diversified. Dogs need many nutrients, and a single feed is unbalanced and incomplete. Therefore, multiple feeds must be combined with each other to meet the needs of meat dog growth and development.
2. Reasonably prepare feed. Different preparation methods should be adopted according to different feeds. Root tubers, stem tubers and green feed should be washed clean and cut fine. Soybeans and feeds rich in carbohydrates should be cooked before feeding.
3. “Four fixed” feeding. Feeding should be fixed in time, quantity, temperature and quality. Feeding at fixed times can help dogs form conditioned reflexes and is conducive to improving feed utilization. Generally, feed twice a day, and puppies can be fed 1-2 additional times per day. Fixed quantity means providing a certain amount of feed according to the dog's age and growth stage, not too much or too little. Generally, feeding until about 80%-90% full is sufficient. Fixed temperature means adjusting the temperature of feed and drinking water according to different seasons, achieving warmth in winter, coolness in summer, and warmth in spring and autumn. Fixed quality means ensuring feed quality; rotten and spoiled food must not be fed.
4. Gradually change feed. Feed changes should be increased or decreased gradually, and cannot be completely replaced all at once, otherwise it is easy to cause indigestion.
5. Pay attention to drinking water. When drinking water, pay attention to water quality, water temperature, water quantity and time. Drinking water should be clean and free of harmful substances, pathogenic microorganisms, etc. As for water quantity, it varies with seasons, with the largest amount in summer, and generally should not be interrupted. The water temperature should be suitable: drink cool water in summer, and warm water in winter, late autumn and early spring. The time for drinking water should be chosen after eating.
6. Feeding utensils should be dedicated. Each dog or several dogs should use one set of feeding utensils, which must not be changed, and must be cleaned and disinfected after use, generally disinfected once a week.
7. Feeding taboos. First, avoid strenuous activity before feeding; second, avoid gnawing chicken bones, pig bones, fish spines and fish bones; third, avoid eating squid, octopus, crab and spicy food.
IV. Prevention and Treatment of Meat Dog Diseases
1. Stomatitis
(1) Causes: mainly caused by eating feed mixed with sharp foreign objects, or by the dog's own unevenly worn teeth piercing the oral mucosa, followed by secondary bacterial infection. Some cases are caused by accidentally eating irritating substances or high-concentration irritating drugs, and others are secondary to certain diseases or nutritional deficiencies.
(2) Key diagnostic points: The sick dog eats cautiously and chews slowly, eating only soft liquid food, with drooling, reddened oral mucosa, increased oral temperature, refusal of oral examination, and foul-smelling breath. Vesicular inflammation is manifested by blisters of varying sizes on the mucosa. Ulcerative stomatitis involves erosion, ulcers and necrosis of the oral mucosa, and enlargement and hardening of the submandibular lymph nodes.
(3) Prevention and treatment measures: For treatment, first find and eliminate the cause, then rinse the mouth with 1% saline or 2%-3% boric acid, or 2%-3% sodium bicarbonate, or 0.10% potassium permanganate solution, 2-3 times daily. After rinsing, apply iodine glycerin or 1% gentian violet to the ulcer surface, 1-2 times daily. If necessary, inject multivitamins as auxiliary treatment.
2. Gastroenteritis
(1) Causes: caused by eating feed containing toxins or moldy, spoiled or insect-damaged feed, or accidentally eating toxic substances, damaging the intestinal mucosa and its deeper tissues. Some cases are caused by improper feeding, sudden feed changes, or irritation from foreign objects contained in the feed, and others are secondary to gastrointestinal catarrh, intestinal obstruction, and the course of infectious diseases and parasitic diseases.
(2) Key diagnostic points: The sick dog is depressed, with reduced or absent appetite, and drinking desire often decreases too. Later, due to diarrhea and dehydration, drinking desire increases. The mouth is dry and foul-smelling, with dark red oral color. In the early stage of defecation, there is mucus. When inflammation develops to the large intestine, diarrhea occurs, discharging soft or watery foul-smelling feces mixed with undigested feed, blood, mucus or shed necrotic tissue. In severe cases, anal relaxation and fecal incontinence may be seen. As the condition develops, autointoxication and dehydration worsen, skin temperature becomes uneven, ears, nose and limbs become cool, conjunctiva becomes congested, sometimes accompanied by jaundice. Some develop neurological symptoms such as excitement, spasms or lethargy and die quickly.
(3) Prevention and treatment measures: Anti-inflammatory and sterilization: gentamicin 10,000 units/kg body weight, intramuscular injection twice daily, with oral dosage doubled. Fluid supplementation and detoxification: glucose saline 30 ml/kg body weight, 5% sodium bicarbonate 2 ml/kg body weight, intravenous drip. Antiemetic: metoclopramide 1-2 mg/kg body weight, intramuscular injection twice daily. Hemostasis: etamsylate, 15-20 mg/kg body weight, intramuscular injection, twice daily, or Vk3 0.20-0.30 mg, Vk1 0.10-0.20 mg/kg body weight intramuscular injection, twice daily.
3. Common Cold
It often occurs in early spring and late autumn when the climate changes drastically.
(1) Causes: sudden cold stimulation, or sudden weather changes, improper feeding management, and large temperature differences during long-distance transport, rain after sweating, or wind exposure.
(2) Key diagnostic points: The sick dog is depressed, with head and ears drooping, conjunctiva congested and dark red, swollen, serous nasal discharge, sneezing, elevated body temperature, accelerated breathing, and reduced appetite. Simple cold, if treated promptly, can be cured quickly. If treatment is delayed, puppies may develop secondary bronchopneumonia.
(3) Prevention and treatment measures: Strengthen feeding management, prevent cold stimulation and secondary infection. Bupleurum injection 1-2 ml/kg body weight, intramuscular injection, twice daily. Penicillin 50,000 units/kg body weight, intramuscular injection, twice daily.
4. Pneumonia
Commensal bacteria parasitic in the respiratory tract or non-pathogenic microorganisms outside the body multiply in large numbers, with enhanced virulence, causing inflammatory changes in the lungs, or it is caused by inhaling irritating gases and aspiration, etc.
(1) Causes: caused by improper feeding management, vitamin deficiency, or induced by certain diseases.
(2) Key diagnostic points: The sick dog has obvious systemic symptoms, is depressed, with reduced or absent appetite, conjunctiva flushed or blue-purple, difficulty breathing, elevated body temperature, sometimes high and sometimes low, showing remittent fever type, runny nose, cough, crackles on chest auscultation, and small areas of dullness on percussion.
(3) Prevention and treatment measures: Anti-inflammatory: commonly used antibiotics combined with sulfonamides can improve efficacy. Antitussive and expectorant: ammonium chloride 0.20-1 g/time. 10%-20% acetylcysteine (mucolytic) spray to the throat and upper respiratory tract, 2-5 ml/time, 2-3 times daily. Bromhexine (expectorant), 6-15 mg/time, 3 times daily. General cases are treated for 4-6 days; severe and chronic cases should continue medication. Stop exudation: promote absorption of inflammatory exudate, intravenous injection of 10% calcium gluconate, or mixed intravenous injection of 10% caffeine sodium benzoate 2-3 ml, 10% sodium salicylate 10-20 ml, 40% methenamine 3-5 ml. Symptomatic treatment: for cardiac support and relief of dyspnea, use 5% sodium bicarbonate injection to prevent autointoxication.
5. Conjunctivitis
It is one of the most common eye diseases characterized by conjunctival congestion and increased eye discharge.
(1) Causes: caused by various stimuli such as foreign objects, nasolacrimal duct obstruction, drugs, trauma and other factors, called primary conjunctivitis. Some are secondary to various infectious diseases and parasitic diseases.
(2) Key diagnostic points: Photophobia and lacrimation, conjunctival congestion, eyelid spasm and pain. In the initial stage, the conjunctiva is red, swollen and congested, with watery discharge, the hair below the inner corner of the eye becomes wet, and the eye is half-closed. As inflammation develops, eyelid swelling is obvious, eye discharge changes from watery to mucous or purulent, the upper and lower eyelids stick together, and the inner corners are covered with yellow-white discharge.
(3) Prevention and treatment measures: Primary conjunctivitis: rinse the eyes with 2%-3% boric acid water or physiological saline. If discharge decreases, apply 0.50%-1% zinc sulfate solution eye drops, and apply cold compresses with rivanol solution. For severe pain, 2% hydrochloric acid can be used as eye drops. Purulent conjunctivitis: after cleaning the affected eye, apply tetracycline eye ointment, chlortetracycline eye ointment, etc.
6. Otitis
Ear canal inflammation includes three types: external otitis, otitis media and internal otitis. It is caused by bacterial reproduction in the ear canal or eustachian tube infection, etc.
(1) Causes: Dirt present in the ear canal is a good place for bacterial growth and reproduction, especially in dogs with large drooping ears, and parasitic diseases (canine ear mite disease) can also cause it.
(2) Key diagnostic points: Dogs with external otitis and otitis media show restlessness by shaking the head and itching, scratching the ears with the hind limbs. Yellow-brown discharge can be seen in the external ear canal with a scattered odor. When complicated by internal otitis, the head rotates obviously, and the dog may circle toward the affected side. Falling is often seen. When inflammation invades the brain, neurological symptoms may be seen.
(3) Prevention and treatment measures: For bacterial otitis media, gentamicin solution can be dipped in cotton to thoroughly clean the dirt in the ear canal. Use ear drop oil, 2-3 times daily, or use a mixture of neomycin, dexamethasone and lidocaine as ear drops, 2-6 drops/time, 3-4 times daily. If caused by ear mites, wash and treat with trichlorfon solution. For severe infection, systemic antibiotic treatment can be carried out.
7. Dystocia
(1) Causes: caused by weak uterine contractions and straining, premature rupture of water and uterine hernia (expulsive dystocia); caused by uterine torsion, cervical stenosis, or vaginal and vulvar stenosis, etc. (birth canal dystocia); caused by the fetus (fetal dystocia).
(2) Prevention and treatment measures: Correcting fetal position in the dog's uterus is difficult, but after identifying the cause, decisive measures should be taken. For expulsive dystocia, oxytocin 1 unit/kg body weight can be injected intramuscularly, once every 20 minutes, generally 2-3 injections are sufficient. For dystocia caused by birth canal and fetal abnormalities, cesarean section should be performed.
8. Abscess
(1) Causes: secondary to local injury, cellulitis and various traumas, forming an abscess after infection with pyogenic bacteria. Some are aseptic subcutaneous abscesses formed by mistakenly injecting irritating drugs (1% calcium chloride, 10% sodium chloride) under the skin.
(2) Key diagnostic points: During the disease period, the affected part swells, temperature increases, there is pain, and it is slightly hard, then gradually enlarges and softens, with a sense of fluctuation. When the abscess matures, the skin becomes thin, local hair falls off, and the abscess breaks and discharges pus. During abscess formation, some cases may cause systemic symptoms such as elevated body temperature. After the abscess breaks, body temperature returns to normal.
(3) Prevention and treatment measures: In the early stage, apply compound lead acetate powder, ichthammol ointment, or use 0.50% procaine hydrochloride 20-30 ml and penicillin G 400,000-800,000 units for blockade to promote regression of inflammation. When fluctuation appears in the abscess, it should be incised promptly to drain pus, flush the abscess cavity, use gauze drainage or open therapy, and if necessary combine with antibiotics for systemic therapy.
9. Food Poisoning
(1) Causes: food poisoning caused by eating spoiled and deteriorated feed. It contains large amounts of Staphylococcus, Salmonella, Clostridium botulinum, etc.
(2) Key diagnostic points: Staphylococcal toxin poisoning can cause severe vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea and acute gastroenteritis symptoms. The sick dog is depressed, with heart failure, and body temperature normal or slightly decreased. In severe cases, it causes convulsions, restlessness, difficulty breathing and severe seizures.
(3) Prevention and treatment measures: In the early stage, intravenously inject the emetic apomorphine at a dosage of 0.04 mg/kg body weight. If necessary, perform gastric lavage, fluid supplementation, and timely appropriate symptomatic treatment. At the same time, carry out starvation therapy for the poisoned dog and stop feeding. For poisoning caused by Clostridium botulinum, antitoxin serum can be used early for treatment.
Through the above introduction, we now know meat dog farming techniques and common disease prevention and treatment techniques for meat dogs. Dog meat is not only delicious and nutritious, but also has medicinal value such as tonifying the kidney and strengthening yang. With the improvement of people's living standards, the prospects for meat dog farming are broader, and it is a project with important economic benefits.