Dental Disease in Mill Suriviors

We are often asked why most of our mill survivors, even the younger ones, have few if any teeth.   

Romeo lost 1/4 of his lower jaw 

The food that is fed in puppy mills is often the lowest cost and therefore the lowest quality available. It is sometimes made of the sweepings from the floor.  Some millers make their own “dog food” from suet and ground oats. It is so devoid of nutritional value that the dogs' teeth rot at early ages. Severe dental disease and jaw bone abscesses are a common finding in mill dogs of fairly young age.

7 year old Maltese without any teeth

Another reason for dental disease in the mill dog is the lack of drinking water in a bowl.  Most mills use a type of watering system or “rabbit water bottles” that require the dog to lick a metal ball to get drops of water.  These drops of water are not enough to help rinse food debris from the teeth during drinking.  Dogs who are offered water in a bowl tend to have less tooth decay than those with water bottles.

When a tooth becomes decayed, an infection is common. Bacteria under the gum line secrete toxins, which contribute to the tissue damage.  When these infections are not treated, they can travel into the bone of the jaws and actually cause the bone to deteriorate as well. Unfortunately it does not stop there.  The toxins from can be released into the circulatory system and travel throughout the body.

Many of our mill survivors come in with heart murmurs, mostly caused by dental disease. The bacteria can also travel to the kidneys causing them to function inadequately.  The lack of care these dogs receive while in the care of their breeder is criminal, and sadly, it is the dog that pays the price. 

Juliette's murmur disappeared after treatment

Thankfully, once in our rescue and under the care of a veterinarian, the dental issues are the first to be addressed. Antibiotics are prescribed, and infections controlled.  Dentals are usually done within 2 weeks of arrival if the dogs overall health will permit.  In some cases, the heart murmur disappeared after antibiotic treatment and removal of decayed teeth. 

Once a dental has been done, any remaining teeth need protected. Although most mill survivors will not tolerate having their remaining teeth brushed there is something you can do. A water additive can help in preventing further tooth damage and increase overall oral health. 

Products containing zinc gluconate have been shown to act as an antibacterial agent, and can slow the tartar buildup on the dogs remaining teeth. There are several of these water additives on the market so I suggest you do the research and find one that will work for you and your mill dog. 

Keep smilin’.

 

A foot to stand on

Can you imagine living your entire life in a room where the ceiling was so low you were not even able to stand up?  You never have enough room to stretch your cramped legs or stretch out to sleep. The floor consists of rusty dirty wire that cuts the bottoms of your feet.  Well, that is what life is like for some puppy mill dogs.  These living conditions are horrid, yet it is the norm for many USDA inspected puppy factories.

Many of the mill rescue dogs we take in have foot problems. Swollen, bleeding feet are unfortunately the norm. Infections from walking in their own waste are commonly seen. Overgrown and ingrown nails are also a common issue with mill rescue dogs. 

Overgrown nails is something we see on a regular basis. With no solid surfaces to walk on, the nails are never worn down and often grow into hooks that can become caught on the wire floor and tear or rip from the nail bed. Occasionally the nails will grow full circle and through the bottoms of the feet. When these dogs try to walk on "solid" ground, the nails can put painful pressure on the toe joints causing lameness. 

Foot injuries and sores are a common issue with mill survivors. Wire can leave cuts and scrapes on or between the pads, causing infections and occasionally the loss of toes. Since these dogs rarely get veterinary attention, infections can lead to kidney failure or even death.

Interdigital cysts are common in dogs who spend their lives walking on wire.  The most common cause is a deep bacterial infection. These cysts generally occur in the webbing between the toes and can be quite large, purple to red, very painful, and often will break open and bleed. 

The dog suffering from these cysts will often limp or hold the foot up, they may lick or chew at the cyst or just refuse to walk at all. 

In some cases, a foreign body such as a piece of rusted wire imbedded into the foot may be the cause.

Antibiotic treatment is necessary to clear the infection and ease the pain of these cysts.

Lack of muscle tone in the feet and legs, vitamin deficiency, as well as untrimmed nails can cause "flat feet" in the mill dog. This condition can also cause discomfort and the inability or unwillingness to walk. Sometimes just trimming the nails short and increasing the vitamin C intake can solve the problem.

Lack of general and veterinary care can cause many foot problems in the mill survivor. Be vigilant! Limping or lameness in the mill survivor is a sign of a problem that should never be ignored.