Are people mills Dogs unhealthy? If yes, why? ?

Question

We've bought an extremely attractive Pomeranian approximately 3 years ago at the Mall. Ever since using Yahoo! Answers I have got to understand Puppy Mills dogs are not preferred by many dog owners, or even say buyers. I have also came across statements made by dogs owners suggesting Puppy Mills dogs are unhealthy.

We have ran a complete test on our handsome Pomeranian at the vet couple weeks ago, and tests showed that my dog's health is excellent.

My question is: Why Puppy Mills dogs are considered unhealthy?

Thanks.

Dad

Answer 1

Many puppy mill dogs are considered unhealthy because some of them are inbreed. Mothers are too old, or too young.

I bought a Schnauzer 4 years ago from a flea market, we had a feeling he was from a puppy mill seeing how the person was only selling males. Took him to the vet after we got him and he was given a clean bill of health

our feeling was confirmed at the beginning of this year my mom and I were watching the news when we saw that the breeder was arrested for running a puppy mill

besides having the common allergy problems most dogs have, he is a healthy well built dog.

I don't think people believe that they are unhealthy, it is the fact on how puppy mills are run and how cruel conditions the dogs are kept in.

It is all on the view point. Yes some puppy mill dogs sold are unhealthy but with the proper treatment they can get a clean bill of health. But mind you only the so called "healthy" looking ones are sold

Answer 2

Puppy mill dogs are often emotionally unhealthy. These dogs are kept in kennels constantly - never having human interaction until they are either put in a box and mailed to the mall, or moved to another kennel to mate. They generally have all of their shots, but are exposed to hundreds of other dogs at a time - they often have fleas, mites, skin and ear disorders.

I'm happy to hear that you got lucky with your dog. I also have a puppy mill dog that was purchased at a pet store. Unfortunately, puppy mills are only into breeding for the money, not for the love of animals.

Answer 3

Puppy mill dogs come from unhealthy conditions, and from parents that are often ill. Breeder often work to make sure that the dogs they are breeding are free from genetic and health defects(hip hip dysplasia, generation of cancer free animals, etc). Puppy Mills simply throw together a male and female, with no concern for health or temperament.

Not all dogs from puppy mills will be sickly or develop illness, but the likelihood is high. Illness can also show up later in life, you could have a dog that is at a high risk for cancer, kidney failure, etc, all things that would not show up until later in life. There is no guarantee that any dog will not develop illness, but the odds are better if you can see that the genetics are good(ie-parents, grandparents, great grandparents, etc are free from defects and illness).

Answer 4

The rates of certain kinds of problems do tend to be much higher in these dogs than in 'kennel-bred' dogs, but it still isn't 100%. Even if the rate triples from 30% to 90%, 10% are still going to be alright.

Responsible breeders don't breed dogs with genetic problems, often at all but certainly not to each other. Puppy mills usually aren't careful about this, often resulting in much higher rates of genetic problems in the pups (but not 100%).

Puppy-mill breeders also rarely keep the animals in good conditions or get them regular veterinary care. Just as with people in these circumstances, the babies' health can be negatively affected, and some illnesses can leave them permanently weakened. (In many cases, the conditions at these places are so bad they qualify as animal abuse, and many dog-lovers feel it's wrong to patronize a business which profits from cruelty.)

I'm glad to hear that your Pom checked out ok - sounds like you both got lucky!

Answer 5

So you happened to get a healthy one, bravo. The conditions the puppies are raised in are atrocious, and you asked this question before. You seem to think puppy mills are fine because you got one healthy dog. Again, as many have already told you, the dogs are raised as a business they get no care they live in filthy crates with no place to lie down or get off the wire mesh at the bottom of the cages. Many die, others get sold and many have underlying health problems that are not always seen at time of purchase so basing puppy mills on the one healthy dog you happened to get is not only disingenuous it is ignorant. The only way you will be able to grasp the concept is to actually visit a puppy mill and see first hand what the animals are subjected to.

Answer 6

Reason why puppy mill dogs are unhealthy

Puppy mills breed dogs with TEMPERMENT ISSUES, GENETIC FAULTS & BEHAVIOURAL ISSUES

These places breed for MONEY, NOT THE HEALTH OR SOUNDNESS OR FOR GOOD TEMPERMENT.

Many puppy mill don't fed the pregnant mother to give her and the puppies enough nutrients to develope and grow properly.

Also purebred dogs are bred in puppy mills, these dogs are NEVER taken out for walks and alot of puppy mill, DON'T even clean the cages from dog poo! So  the puppy's are surrended by bacteria and are very suscepital to illness and disease. They DON'T EVEN SEE VETERINARY ATTENTION!

Question: What is a puppy mill?

Answer: A puppy mill is a place that breeds dogs for profit only, without a care to health, temperament or behaviour. Puppy mill puppies are almost always poor in health, and can often be unstable of temperament. It is not unheard of for puppies to be sold as purebred dogs, but are, in reality, mixed breeds that resemble the purebred.

Owners who buy from pet stores or puppy mills, even backyard breeders often face serious illnesses requiring extensive veterinary care shortly after bringing the dog home. In some cases the dog has long-term and ongoing problems.

http://dogs.about.com/cs/newtodogs/f/pup...

Let's look at what defines a responsible breeder, shall we?

    * A responsible breeder must know where their puppies are going.

    * A responsible breeder will interrogate the potential buyer about their home, family, living arrangements, other people that share their house, their past, and their future. Police interrogations have nothing on a breeder trying to find the best possible home for his or her dogs. One I spoke with a few years ago sent a five page questionnaire, on top of the fifty or so questions she asked me over the phone.

    * A responsible breeder will sell with a contract.

The Contract:

      When you buy from a responsible breeder you will be signing a binding contract stating that if something (anything) happens, to this dog the breeder is the first to be told. This may seem a little extreme, but there is a very legitimate reason behind this. If your new dog develops hip dysplasia four or five years down the road, she'll know to pull the parents from the breeding line.

      You sign that if something happens to you, and you can no longer care for your dog, she will be notified, so she may take the dog back into her care or find it a new home. (See #4)

      You agree to spay or neuter your new pet as soon as possible to help prevent unwanted litters if your dog was bought as a companion.

      You agree to abide by any other terms and conditions set forth in the contract. If that means getting hips certified at age two, or eyes certified, you do so.

      As daunting as this is, if you think this over, you will realize that she has done this to protect her dogs. And most people have no trouble signing these contracts with a clear conscience.

    * A responsible breeder will take back into her care, any dog at any time that has been bred from her breeding lines. And often even dogs that were not.

    * A responsible breeder will do her very best to make sure that none of her dogs ever end up in a shelter.

    * A responsible breeder can guarantee your new dog's freedom from genetic diseases and defects for life, knowing that she has done the very best to breed best possible parent to the best possible parent and both were free from genetic problems.

http://dogs.about.com/cs/generalcare/a/p...

Watch these Video's

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gEFyU3yWW...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A3P0HXRmf...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RIV5l4gd_...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2HM8UmHM8...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WCNr-VrkX...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4HTkOfyN4...

Answer 7

Puppy Mill is a term used to describe unethical breeders in the pursuit of the almighty dollar by using dogs as their venue.

They care little to nothing about the love, care, health and happiness that a dog requires.  They could care less about the quality or genetics of the dogs, only that they produce as many puppies as possible in as short a time as possible.  Puppies are usually totally neglected until ready to leave their facility.  

The dogs often forced to live in deplorable conditions.  Cramped into cages, filthy, neglected, often starving.

I could go on, but you get the idea.

These breeders are usually USDA licensed and inspected.  They have to be in order to broker their pups to places like pet stores.  USDA is required to follow the laws as written in the Animal Welfare Act and Animal Welfare Regulations manual.  These are the laws that must be revised and changed in order to eliminate puppy mills altogether.

These USDA licensed breeders either contact the pet stores directly, or have brokers they sell to who supply the pet stores.  This is why it is not advisable to purchase a pup at a pet store.

Pet stores purchase puppies from these breeders for roughly $100 to $200 tops and resell them for hundreds of dollars more.  

As far as your puppy, well you are just one of the lucky ones who got a healthy pup.  So far.  But you don't know what problems still might arise in the future because of poor breeding.  Which I am sure is the case.  Puppy mill brokers don't aim for quality, just quantity.  If you research the standard for your breed and show your pup to a reputable breeder for evaluation, you will most likely find it is a poor specimen.  I don't say this to be mean to you, or to say your pup is not a cute and loving pet.  It is just the most probable result.

So in the future, please don't advise anyone to buy from a pet store.

Answer 8

Look up puppy mills on youtube or just on google.  You'll see exactly why dogs from those places aren't exactly choice pets.  They aren't taken care of.  It's disgusting.  You got very lucky with your dog.