Fostering Raising Techniques for Young Raccoon Dogs
The fostering raising techniques for young raccoon dogs are provided by the Agricultural Website Directory. The litter size of raccoon dogs is generally high, with one female raccoon dog typically giving birth to 8-10 pups, and sometimes even more. Due to the special nature of raccoon dog lactation, any pups exceeding the number of the mother's teats may likely die from lack of access to maternal milk. Another scenario is when the mother dies after delivery for various reasons, leaving the pups without maternal milk to consume. In these two situations, breeders must decisively take measures to find a "foster mother" for the young raccoon dogs to avoid losses. In general, the following methods are feasible and effective.
1. Find a "dog mom." Since raccoon dogs and dogs both belong to the Canidae family, their nursing methods are basically the same. Therefore, finding a "dog mom" as a "foster mother" is also an excellent choice. One dog mom in her lactation period (preferably a pet dog or small dog like a Pug) can foster about 4 young raccoon dogs. In the first two to three days, the owner needs to supervise and let the young raccoon dogs nurse a few times. Afterward, the dog mom can feed them independently and will also naturally help the young raccoon dogs defecate (by licking and consuming the waste). During the fostering process, breeders need to monitor the daily feeding frequency of the young raccoon dogs, usually three times a day, every 8 hours. After the young raccoon dogs have eaten enough and excreted, they should be returned to their own nest for rest and should not stay with the dog mom.
2. Substitute milk feeding. When the aforementioned "foster mothers" cannot be found, lamb's milk or cow's milk can be used for feeding. When choosing lamb or cow milk, try to select fresh milk, and use a syringe or baby bottle for feeding. Feeding should be done multiple times a day with small portions each time. The only inconvenience of this method is that the young raccoon dogs' bowel movements need manual assistance. After feeding, gently tap the young raccoon dog's abdomen with your index finger to stimulate urination.
3. Find a "stepmother." This practice is relatively common. Look for female raccoon dogs that have recently given birth but have fewer offspring, and entrust the aforementioned young raccoon dogs to these "stepmothers" for care. The specific method is to coat the entire body of the young raccoon dogs with the feces of the "stepmother," then place them in her cage and mix them with her biological offspring. Since lactating female raccoon dogs only recognize their own scent and identify the pups solely by smell rather than appearance, as long as the operation is carried out correctly and the fecal coating is evenly applied (not too much), the "stepmother" will treat the "adopted children" as her own.
In normal circumstances, the "fostering" period for young raccoon dogs does not exceed 3 weeks. Afterward, they can start eating feed and can be considered to have successfully completed the fostering period.