As I’ve mentioned in previous posts I have recently adopted a “mini” Potbelly Pig from a family who raised him as an indoor household pet. We have a lot of animals here on the farm but we didn’t have any pet pigs and while I have learned a lot so far about what it takes to care for all of these different animals (and believe me I still am learning), I didn’t have a clue what things you need to know to care for pet pigs.
Before we brought Oliver home, I had had been wanting a pet pig for a while. We didn’t have any pigs on our farm and it sounded like a good excuse to finally get one.
However, when it comes to any big decisions I’m the kind of person that does A LOT of research beforehand.
The decision to own an animal is a BIG decision. One that I believe everyone needs to take very seriously and only after considering it for a while should you decide to get one.
Animals are 100% reliant on our care, and when you get any animal their lives and quality of living are now your responsibility every single day until they pass.
So while I wanted a pet pig and it sounded like so much fun to have an unusual animal like that as a pet I first needed to know the absolute necessities on how to care for a pet pig.
I spent tons of hours and days reading through blog posts and any resources I could find on the subject before Oliver and his circumstance fell into my lap. Then when we brought him home I really felt prepared and knew what I was getting into.
We’ve had Oliver for several months now, and even after reading all the articles and warnings and feeling confident, I understand now what people talked about when discussing pet pig habits and their needs.
If you haven’t yet you can read all about Olivers Piggy Palace I’m currently building for him in a previous post!
I’ve heard a lot of people say they want a pet pig. I know that research like this can be overwhelming because there are a lot of things people have to say when it comes to animal care, and you should continue to read other articles than just this short list of what I consider are the very basic things you need to know to care for a pet pig. Whether you’re a beginner or have been around farm pigs before. I hope these tips will be useful!
Now that some time has passed and we’ve had Oliver for a while, I thought it would be helpful to provide a good starting point. Help break it down a little and share what I feel are the absolute need-to-knows first. So this is the Pet Pigs | Top 7 Things You Need To Know To Care For Them.
1. Discipline Your Pig Immediately When Bad Behavior Occurs
Many people are surprised by this but pigs are very smart and very stubborn. They will most definitely test your patience and do naughty things.
Just like children, dogs, and other animals need to be taught manners, and so does your pig.
Pigs are so smart so it is very important to try and discipline your pig as fast as you can when they misbehave.
Letting your pig get away with unwanted behavior will encourage them to do it again. This makes breaking bad habits much more difficult. Discipline can be handled very similarly the way you treat other pets. Such as a time-out in their room, or a good strong “NO” or “BAD BOY/GIRL”.
2. Stay Up To Date On Vaccinations and Hoof Trimming
Like all other pets, pigs also need to have a few vaccinations and regular hoof trimming. Since pigs are becoming a common pet in households a lot of veterinary offices will see pet pigs as well.
Often they are required to have the first round of vaccinations done per state regulations. In which case get all necessary paperwork and vet history. Discuss any vaccinations that still need to be done or upcoming.
3. Know Your Pet Pigs Personality and Temperament
If your pig is going to be around other animals like a family dog or cats, acclimate them to their new friends as soon as possible.
As your pig get bigger he or she will likely start to try and test the pecking order. Try to establish dominance over you and the other animals which can be dangerous if they are not properly watched.
Oliver is very stubborn and thinks he’s the boss. At times he will attempt to snap at the dogs if they get too close. In this case, we have to immediately reprimand him so he knows that’s not okay.
Also, if you plan to make your pig primarily an indoor pig and want to cuddle or hold them early on start picking them up and touching them on their feet and other areas.
I will warn you now, your pig will likely hate this at first and squeal very loud as an attempt to put them down. It is SO SO important you continue to hold them until they stop. DO NOT put them down until they have stopped squealing completely.
Any earlier, and they will quickly realize that they need to squeal any time they don’t like something. You’ll never be able to hold them. Acclimating them to handling will prove helpful when it’s time to take your piggy to the vet.
4. Mini Pet Pigs Are Prone To Obesity
Pigs are heavy-set animals already, but mini pigs, in particular, are even more prone to obesity. Unfortunately, when they gain the weight it’s pretty hard for them to shed it. This can lead to several health problems for your pig.
Sadly this was the case for Oliver, he was incredibly overweight when we adopted him. He was much bigger than we thought, in fact, he was and still is completely blind.
I’m not sure if his previous owners knew about his impairment or not. They didn’t tell us when we got him but we quickly realized he couldn’t see anything.
He had gotten so overweight that the fat rolls above his eyes became so large they eventually completely covered his eyes.
Oliver is not the only pig this has happened too. In fact, I’ve read that some owners will actually have their pig undergo surgery to fix this problem. We decided to put Oliver on a diet instead.
We limited the amount of sugar he consumed, his past owners were feeding him marshmallows. This is a BIG no-no and in my opinion almost animal abuse. You should regularly monitor the amount of sugar your pet pig is fed:
- only give them fruit as treats occasionally
- try to incorporate exercise into his or her feeding and snack times. I like to freeze frozen fruit in a bowl with a string and hang it.
This makes it a game too (because Ollie is still blind it’s hard for him so I use other games). Doing this is not only a great way to incorporate exercise but it’s alss an Enrichment Activity, so it’s also fun for them.
5. Be Aware Of Unsafe Foods
Pigs love to eat, they’ll eat pretty much anything. Your pig should be given a serving of vegetable a day along with their pig food.
Most foods are pretty safe for your pet pig to eat. However, there are many foods that are severely or mildly hazard to pet pigs. Unfortunately, your pig will try and eat everything it can.
A lot of hazardous foods include the leaves and roots of safe to eat fruits and vegetables. Many types of Ivy are poisonous, it’s wise to try and stay clear of all varieties just to be safe. The same goes for many types of seeds, and the skin and pit of avocados. You can find a lot of resources that list of poisonous foods.
This one from The American Mini Pig Association is fairly basic but a good list to save somewhere.
6. Provide Plenty Of Enrichment Activities
As mentioned before pigs are incredibly smart animals and when they get bored they get destructive. This was the reason why Olivers last home gave him up, and Tyler’s first owners.
It’s not the animals’ fault.
While sometimes difficult, try to keep in mind that pigs have only recently become house pets. It’s instinctual to do things like root around in the dirt or shred paper and other items.
Your job is to provide them with alternatives, they enjoy mental stimulation and being challenged.
These are called Enrichment Activities and they help redirect pigs natural behavior that would normally occur in the wild. Activities include:
- food and treat dispensers
- potty training
- teaching your pig tricks
- rooting boxes, foraging mats, treat scavenger hunts, ball pits, fabric ropes, hanging frozen treats, just to name a few.
Pinterest can be a good place to find ideas for this but I also highly recommend The American Mini Pig Associations website. They have tons of really good information on all things mini pigs, it can be a little overwhelming so I recommend reading this first and then using their site when you need answers to more specific questions.
I’ve linked some toys you can get on Amazon. They are made for dogs but will work great for your pet piggy.
7. Know-How Your Pet Pigs Body Works
Pigs don’t sweat and are not able to cool themselves down. This is why you commonly see pigs in photos and movies covered in mud.
This is a common way for them to cool themselves off. Pigs suffer from severe dry skin so simply giving them a pool of just water will worsen their skin. In addition, pet pigs they sunburn very easily.
If your pig has white fur or exposed skin you need to apply sunscreen before they go outside for playtime.
Make sure to sunscreen and have a place they can use to cool themselves. A shady spot to lay and get out of the sun when needed.
I hope this list of The Top 7 Things You Need To Know To Care For Pet Pigs was helpful if you’re are thinking of getting a pet pig.
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