Caring for a Pig as a Pet: The Pot-bellied Pig and the Micro Pig

The Evolving Popularity of the Pig as a Pet
Pigs are not only popular commodities in the form of pork products, but they are bred to be pets as well. While the pot-bellied pig has been considered a pet for some years, the micro pig which is bred to stay small, is emerging as a new kind of miniature pet hog.

Introducing the Pot-bellied Pig or PBP
The pot-bellied pig (PBP) was a trendy choice for a pet in the 80s and at that time, was available in black. Today, the pig can be adopted in colors such as tan, gray, or white, or in a pinto (spotted) variation too. Male pigs are classified as boars, females are defined as sows, and females who have not produced a litter are referred to as gilts.

The pig originates from Vietnam and China and is crepuscular (active during twilight) or nocturnal in nature. However, the pig can adapt to daytime hours if acquired as a pet. While the animal's eyesight is not so good, the pig does possess excellent senses of hearing and smell. The little heavyweight stands around a foot to a foot and a half in height, and can get as big as 150 to 175 pounds. You can litter train or housetrain a pot-bellied pig and teach it commands as well.

The PBP is different than a regular pig as it exhibits a longer snout, has ears that are more upright, and possesses a straighter tail. A pet PBP does not like to be hugged (he perceives a hug as a threat). So, you’ll have to refrain from hugging your pig as he doesn’t view the action in the same way as a dog or cat.

Training Your PBP: Let Him Know You’re The Leader of the Herd
That being said, you still need to make sure that your pig knows that you’re the leader of the herd. That means practicing patience when teaching your pig to obey as he may become pigheaded when he is being trained. As long as you stay consistent in your teaching approach, your pig will grow up to be a well-behaved pet.

Again, pigs can be trained to sit or stay and can be either housetrained or litter trained. A PBP is a highly intelligent animal, so make sure that what you teach him does not work against you. Pigs have been known to open cupboard doors and get into other off-limit areas that are not secured.

Provide Your Pig with Enough Space Outdoors
If you do make the decision to adopt a pot-bellied pig as a pet, make sure you have enough space outdoors to accommodate his needs for exercise as well as rooting and foraging. Because a pot-bellied pig is considered to be a herd animal, he fares well in a yard that gives him ample room to roam as well as to dig and graze. If you live in a less roomy space, you can teach your pot-bellied pig to walk beside you on a leash.

Bedding for Your Pig
Also, to make sure your pig is optimally content, provide him with a large dog bed or several soft and comfortable blankets in which he can relax. Wood shavings, or shredded flannel or cardboard can also be added to his bed.

Tick Prevention and Control
Always make sure that the place where your pig sleeps is clean and disinfected to prevent the possibility of infection. Examine your PBP for ticks periodically as they can also be a problem. While a pig’s tough hide can be hard for a tick to penetrate, the tiny bloodsucking bug can make its way into such areas as the pig’s neck, ears, or groin area. Ticks not only make the pig feel uncomfortable, but they can spread Lyme disease and cause anemia.

Ticks with both soft and hard bodies are known to affect pigs and look like small raisins when found on the animal. Use treatments or sprays that are designed specifically for tick control.

Trimming Your Pig’s Hooves
Have your PBP’s hooves trimmed annually or every two years. If you exercise or walk your pig regularly, his hooves won’t need to be shaved down as frequently.

Nutrition and Basic Care
Pigs will eat anything. So, keep your pig trim and healthy by feeding him plenty in the way of veggies, fruits, and roughage. If your pig spends some time indoors, you might opt to feed him a specially formulated pig chow recommended by your vet. In addition, you’ll need to vaccinate your pot-bellied friend and have him wormed as well.

Toxic Plants to Pigs
Because pigs naturally like to root for insects as well as eat plants, you’ll have to make sure that the plants inside and outside your home are not poisonous. Some of the plants that can be fatal to pot-bellied pigs include azaleas, mistletoe, or types of oleander. So, keep your pet away from these plants.

Make Sure Chemicals or Medicines are Kept Out of Reach and Away from Your Pet
Also, keep any products used for cleaning away from your pig, some of which can harm the animal’s digestive tract, tongue, mouth, or snout. Only give medications that are recommended by your vet as human medicines can have adverse or fatal side effects. For example, a mere 500 mg of acetaminophen can damage the liver a small piglet.

Other Toxic Substances
Chocolate is also off-limits if you own a pig as the substance can result in pancreatic difficulties. Other items or substances that are toxic or lethal to pot-bellied pigs include the following:

Mothballs
Pennies
Dryer sheets
Salt
Potpourri
Dishwasher detergents
Playdough
Batteries
Coffee grounds
Motor oil
Antifreeze
Windshield washer fluid
Alcoholic beverages
Cigarettes

Precautions to Take
Also, be careful about using herbicides, fertilizers, and insecticides in your yard. Keep your pet away from any spot that’s sprayed until it is completely dry. In addition, refrain from discarding spoiled food, old prescriptions, over-the-counter medicines, or chemical products in the garbage. Certain food molds can cause severe digestive problems too.

When is a PBP Considered Full-grown?
A pot-bellied pig is considered full-grown when it reaches three years old. If you take good care of your pig, he should live from 12 to 15 years. The gestation period for pigs is just under four months. Pigs, contrary to popular belief, convey little, if any, odor.

The Evolution of the Mini Pig as a Pet
As mentioned, the micro or mini pig has emerged today as a new kind of pet pig. While the regular-sized PBP was considered a miniature hog during the 80s and 90s, miniature pigs today can weigh as little as 20 or 30 pounds.

That’s quite a difference from regular pigs, which are raised for food, that can get as big as 1,000 pounds. Needless to say, a large 500 or 600 pound hog is just too damaging to one’s furniture if it’s taken in as a pet. Not to mention quite weighty if it sits on your lap, (it would most likely cause damage to your body if a full-grown pig jumped into your lap).

Over the past two decades then, a smaller pig has evolved by selective cross-breeding and breeding practices. At first, pigs were bred smaller for the purposes of scientific research. However, breeders found that by breeding more diminutive pigs, they could be adopted as pets as well.

Examples of Miniature Pig Breeds
Miniature breeds that are now featured as popular pigs for pets include the following:

Miniature Potbellied Pigs (PBPs). The miniature PBPs are well-liked as they are docile in nature and intelligent. Averaging around 18 inches in height, they generally weigh no more than 100 pounds.

The Guinea Hog (also referred to as the African Pygmy). This miniature pig weighs, on average, around 30 pounds and generally stands between a foot and a foot and a half at the shoulder. Unlike PBPs, guinea hogs have straight rather than swayed backs. The little pigs make ideal pets as they are quite affectionate.

The Painted Miniataure Pig (Juliani). This miniature breed stands around 14 inches high and can weigh between 20 and 60 pounds. Gentle in nature, the pigs also love to play. A painted miniature has a longer snout and legs than a miniature PBP.

The Mexican Hairless Pig or Yucatan. Yucatans are bred in small and larger sizes. Smaller pigs weigh between 60 and 100 pounds, while the larger pigs can weigh as much as 200 pounds. The pigs usually stand between 18” and 24” at the shoulder.

The Ossabaw Island Pig. Weighing between 30 and 90 pounds, these pigs stand around a foot and a half in height. The highly intelligent Ossabaw is a preferred pet as it bonds well with its human companions and can be easily trained. What’s more, the healthy and hardy little pig can live two decades or more.

The classifications listed below further define the differences between the smaller pig varieties.

Miniature PBPs weigh up to 100 pounds and grow to a height of around 18 inches.
Micro Pigs stand, on average, about 14” at the shoulder. They weigh less than mini PBPs and exhibit a straight back, longer legs, and smaller stomach.
Mini Micro Pigs grow to an average height of about a foot. They look like a micro pig except that they're smaller in size.
Mini Juliana Pigs stand around 12 to 14 inches, on average. The spotted pigs, also referred to as painted pigs, have the distinction of being the smallest of the mini pig breeds.

Nutrition for the Mini Pig

Pig Chow for Mini PBPs
As overfeeding can be a problem when caring for miniature breeds, it’s important to learn the proper foods to give your pig as well as the foods to avoid. A number of companies manufacture pig chow for mini PBPs. Organic chows are produced that supply the protein a pig requires that he can’t get on their own. No fillers, such as corn or soy, are added in the mix.

Mini PBPs that eat chow need the food as they don’t have easy access to the worms, bugs, soil, and vegetation that they do in the wild. Pigs should be fed at the same times, twice a day. The chow should contain about 12% protein.

What You Shouldn’t Feed Your Mini Pig
Never feed your mini pig cat food or dog food as the protein levels in both kinds of meals are too high for a pig. If your pig grazes a good deal, then you can reduce the amount of food given at feeding time. Also, never give your mini pig such foods as onions, meal scraps, junk food, corn, potatoes, or tomatoes.

Recommended Vegetables and Treats
Instead, feed your pig darker hued vegetables. Include such foods and treats as carrots, green peas, peppers, and leafy greens. Mini pigs also like popcorn and shredded wheat. Supply your mini pig with fresh, clean water every day.

Watch the Following Video

Mini pigs are featured on the following video: