How to Care for Potbellied Pigs
Potbellied pigs came to the United States in 1985 from breeds developed in China and Vietnam. These little pigs, with their pot bellies, short noses, sway backs, little ears and straight, wagging tails, endear themselves to their owners with their intelligence and easy, docile temperaments. With no significant body odor and an inability to shed like a cat or dog, allergy sufferers may find them the ideal housepet, advises Dr. Arlen Wilbers of Belly Draggers Ranch, a potbellied pig sanctuary. Caring for your potbellied pig means learning about the specific needs of your pet.
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Things You'll Need
- Commercial exotic pig food
- Soft blanket or large dog cushion
- Protective outdoor cover with pine bedding
- Washcloth or wet brush, plus other grooming tools
Instructions
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Feed your pig commercial food specially developed and balanced for potbellied and exotic pigs. Sows require 2 to 2.5 percent of their body weight split into three or four feedings daily; boars need 2 to 3 percent of their weight. Treat your pet with raisins or small pieces of fruit or vegetables as positive reinforcement when training.
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Provide your pig with a soft blanket or cushion as a "nest," and fresh water daily, if keeping your pet in the house. The pig needs hay or stable bedding under a protective cover if staying outside because they sunburn easily and suffer hypothermia in cold, wet weather.
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Handle your pig daily to accustom it to human companionship. Check the folds of the skin for sores and parasites; look in the ears for signs of inflammation and infection; examine the hooves for cracks and overgrowth. Clean the teeth weekly with a washcloth or wet brush.
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Find a veterinarian familiar in the care of potbellied pigs. Your pet needs its hooves trimmed regularly to prevent foot soreness and, if male, requires tusk trimming yearly. A qualified veterinarian can recommend necessary annual vaccinations, and spay or neuter your pig if you choose.
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Monitor your pig for disease symptoms including runny eyes or nose, excessive snorting, lameness, emaciation or a failure to eat. Some pigs develop entropion -- inverted eyelids cause the eyelashes to rub against the cornea of the eye and result in scarring and infection. Prone to digestive disorders due to their innate curiosity and willingness to eat anything, potbellies with excessive diarrhea and vomiting need veterinary treatment.
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Check local municipal and county ordinances before bringing a pig into your home to determine if potbellies, still considered commercial swine by governmental agencies, are allowed within your city limits. Your pet may need to be blood tested for brucellosis and pseudorabies -- contagious diseases -- and receive a clean health certificate from a vet before being allowed in your residence.
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Tips & Warnings
Train your inside pig to use a litter box with pine litter bedding the same way you would train a cat, recommends veterinary technician Maria Verderaime in "The Basics of Potbellied Pig Care." Cedar bedding is toxic to pigs.
Your potbellied pig needs a securely fenced, outside area for exercise and a pet crate to stay in while you are not at home. Basic grooming tools include a grooming brush (rubber equine curry combs work well), hoof conditioner, and a spray bottle with water/glycerin mixture for skin conditioning.
Training your pig should begin the day you get it home. Teach your pig to walk on a halter and leash, and reinforce good behavior the same way you would a pet dog. Because of their high intelligence, gentle discipline works best when they misbehave. Their curiosity and predisposition to look for food requires potbellied pig owners to secure cupboards, remove toxic plants, tie down garbage can lids, and place small breakables above reach just as when "toddler-proofing" a home.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit GK Hart/Vikki Hart/Photodisc/Getty Images
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Comments
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We had a potbellie for 17 years, the best pet ever, smart, clean and lovely. We sure miss him, he passed on April 19,2011. I advice anyone to get one, they are simple the "BEST".
