CALIFORNIA POTBELLIED PIG ASSOCIATION, Inc.
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About Potbellied Pigs - Information
Pot Bellied Pig Information
Potbellied pigs make unique pets. They are intelligent, clean, odorless companions that under the right circumstances are unsurpassed as members of your family. They are not dogs, and they are not cats. They are different and they require different treatment than traditional pets. The following information may give you some idea of what these unique little porcines require to live long happy lives.
"Are males or females better pets?" As long as it is neutered or spayed, it really doesn't matter. Unspayed females suffer from "PMS" and strong mood swings. Intact males produce a pungent oder in addition to displaying other unpleasant traits - neither are desirable pets.
Pet pigs do not like to be picked up or held. Pigs are prey not predators, so being lifted up or restrained causes them extreme alarm. They require time to adjust to domestic life, but with time, patience, and love, they become family. Before bringing your new pig home, make certain it has a quiet place in which it can become adjusted to you, and you can quietly observe it. Proceed slowly to win the pig's trust. Let it come to you. You can place a few treats on the floor to encourage it to explore, and then use them to coax it towards you. Be prepared to spend quite a bit of time sitting quietly and letting the pig get to know you. Please do not ever force your pig. It must be a willing participant in the family, and everyone in the family should be included in training and loving it.
In the wild, pigs forage for food. Your pet should be able to spend time outside foraging. It is important for the pig's overall mental health and well-being, and provides additional vitamins and minerals. We highly recommend that your pig have access to an outside area where it can root undeterred. It's space should be completely fenced to keep the pig in and dogs out. Also, if you have a lawn or garden you wish to protect, make sure you build a short stout fence around it to keep your pig out. Gardens are a favorite delicacy!
When your pig is outside, it will need shade for the summer and a warm shelter to protect it from the winter. During the summer, it also needs a wading pool to go in to stay cool. Pigs do not sweat, they must have access to water to cool off. The ideal outdoor temperature range for a pig is 65-85?F. They must also have a source of clean drinking water, separate from their pool. Some pigs like to urinate in their pool water. It is also very important to provide warmth in the winter. Since these pigs originated in a tropical climate, they must have a warm, dry shelter to protect them from the cold. Also, make sure your yard is free of poisonous plants and mushrooms.
Childproof your home by securing cupboards, closets, and drawers to keep your pig from eating harmful or possibly poisonous substances. Even chocolate, breakfast cereals, or salt can be toxic in large quantities.
Most pigs will lose their bristles (hair) once a year. The time of year varies from pig to pig. Your pig will also loose it's baby teeth at 12-15 months. It will grow tusks regardless of it's sex. Males grow tusks longer and faster than females. Be careful, they can be sharp and can cause serious injury.
DO NOT OVER FEED YOUR PIG! Pigs live to eat, and can become overweight very easily! You should usually feed 1/2 cup of potbellied pig feed twice a day. Supplement this with vegetables and vitamin E (100 I.U. every other day). Have your pig work for it's food and extend it's feeding time by placing it's pellets in a hollow ball, or a cube with holes. These balls are available at pet stores. Sprinkle plain, air-popped popcorn or puffed rice/wheat cereal around the yard to encourage the pig to forage. This promotes exercise and mentally challenges your pig.
Pigs are very smart animals. They get bored easily, which may lead to undesirable behaviors. Pigs are fourth in the line of intelligence:
Humans
Primates
Dolphins
Pigs
Cats look down on you...Dogs look up to you...Pigs look you square in the eye.