Welcome to
BEST
IN
SHOW
Connect with thousands of animal enthusiasts, share your experiences, and explore a world of pets and professionals.
It’s free to join!
Already have an account? Log in
What type of training will my pig need?
The more you interact and work with your pig the more bonded you will be to each other and the happier your pig will be. Pigs can easily learn tricks, such as sitting, turning circles, shaking hands, rolling a ball, retrieving an object, blowing a horn and even sinking a basket. It is not necessary to teach your pig tricks for the sake of tricks, but it is necessary to teach your pig good manners. Teaching your pigs simple things like ‘sit’, ‘be gentle’, ‘good spot’ (for doing your business), etc., you will develop a system of communicating with your pig. Pigs love to learn, and are capable of learning many behaviors and words, even full sentences. A training session with your pig shows him that you are interested in him and that you care. And don’t forget to pay your pig! Pigs are highly food-motivated and will do just about anything for a treat. When it comes to training a piggy; a small piece of treat works as well as a handful. Once your pig has learned a few behaviors, reward him only after he’s followed a series of directions. Reward him with a small treat and with lots of praise and enthusiasm, too! Keep the training fun and short, starting with 3 minute sessions and working up.
Should a potbellied pig be spayed or neutered?
Male pigs should be neutered as soon as possible. Boars (uncastrated pigs) give off a pungent, musky odor that will stick to your clothing and furniture. They display sexual behavior at a very early age and can become quite difficult to handle if left intact. Neutering a male will also retard the growth of his tusks. Females should be spayed as soon as possible, preferably before they come into season. If left unspayed, females frequently have uterine problems, such as tumors and infections. Find a qualified potbellied pig veterinarian to perform the procedure and insist that only isoflurane gas be used for anesthesia. Injectible drugs such as ketamine and cocktails used on dogs can result in serious problems, even death. The older and larger your pig gets, the more anesthesias your pig will require and the more dangerous it becomes. Get your pig neutered and spayed as early as possible!
Does my pig need vaccinations or de-worming?
Pigs should be yearly, weather they come into contact with other pigs or not. All pigs should be given, at minimum, an annual dose of “Ivermectin”, an antiparasitical agent that treats internal as well as external parasites. Some recommend quarterly doses of Ivermectin or other wormer. Yearly vaccinations are highly recommended up to at least the age of five.
What type of health problems do pigs have?
Given proper care, most pigs have few health problems. However, there are several serious problems that occasionally arise. Pigs can become easily constipated, leading to impacted bowels, a life-threatening condition. It is important that you provide your pigs with a high-fiber diet and plenty of fresh water. Male pigs can also have serious urinary tract problems, which can be costly to repair. Keeping your pig well hydrated can also prevent these problems. The biggest health problem in potbellied pigs, unfortunately, is a condition caused by their human caregivers. Obesity is the number one cause of health complications and death in potbellied pigs. Morbidly obese pigs can become blind from fatty skin folds that obstruct their vision. Obese pigs will inevitably have crippling joint problems and sometimes have respiratory problems, both conditions leading to immobility and death. Don’t let your pig get fat!
Do my pig’s hooves and tusks need to be trimmed?
While castrating a male pig will slow down the growth of his tusks, tusks will still have to be trimmed from time to time. Female pigs have very slow-growing tusks that rarely need to be trimmed. Both male and female pigs need to have their hooves routinely trimmed, usually once or twice a year.
The more you interact and work with your pig the more bonded you will be to each other and the happier your pig will be. Pigs can easily learn tricks, such as sitting, turning circles, shaking hands, rolling a ball, retrieving an object, blowing a horn and even sinking a basket. It is not necessary to teach your pig tricks for the sake of tricks, but it is necessary to teach your pig good manners. Teaching your pigs simple things like ‘sit’, ‘be gentle’, ‘good spot’ (for doing your business), etc., you will develop a system of communicating with your pig. Pigs love to learn, and are capable of learning many behaviors and words, even full sentences. A training session with your pig shows him that you are interested in him and that you care. And don’t forget to pay your pig! Pigs are highly food-motivated and will do just about anything for a treat. When it comes to training a piggy; a small piece of treat works as well as a handful. Once your pig has learned a few behaviors, reward him only after he’s followed a series of directions. Reward him with a small treat and with lots of praise and enthusiasm, too! Keep the training fun and short, starting with 3 minute sessions and working up.
Should a potbellied pig be spayed or neutered?
Male pigs should be neutered as soon as possible. Boars (uncastrated pigs) give off a pungent, musky odor that will stick to your clothing and furniture. They display sexual behavior at a very early age and can become quite difficult to handle if left intact. Neutering a male will also retard the growth of his tusks. Females should be spayed as soon as possible, preferably before they come into season. If left unspayed, females frequently have uterine problems, such as tumors and infections. Find a qualified potbellied pig veterinarian to perform the procedure and insist that only isoflurane gas be used for anesthesia. Injectible drugs such as ketamine and cocktails used on dogs can result in serious problems, even death. The older and larger your pig gets, the more anesthesias your pig will require and the more dangerous it becomes. Get your pig neutered and spayed as early as possible!
Does my pig need vaccinations or de-worming?
Pigs should be yearly, weather they come into contact with other pigs or not. All pigs should be given, at minimum, an annual dose of “Ivermectin”, an antiparasitical agent that treats internal as well as external parasites. Some recommend quarterly doses of Ivermectin or other wormer. Yearly vaccinations are highly recommended up to at least the age of five.
What type of health problems do pigs have?
Given proper care, most pigs have few health problems. However, there are several serious problems that occasionally arise. Pigs can become easily constipated, leading to impacted bowels, a life-threatening condition. It is important that you provide your pigs with a high-fiber diet and plenty of fresh water. Male pigs can also have serious urinary tract problems, which can be costly to repair. Keeping your pig well hydrated can also prevent these problems. The biggest health problem in potbellied pigs, unfortunately, is a condition caused by their human caregivers. Obesity is the number one cause of health complications and death in potbellied pigs. Morbidly obese pigs can become blind from fatty skin folds that obstruct their vision. Obese pigs will inevitably have crippling joint problems and sometimes have respiratory problems, both conditions leading to immobility and death. Don’t let your pig get fat!
Do my pig’s hooves and tusks need to be trimmed?
While castrating a male pig will slow down the growth of his tusks, tusks will still have to be trimmed from time to time. Female pigs have very slow-growing tusks that rarely need to be trimmed. Both male and female pigs need to have their hooves routinely trimmed, usually once or twice a year.
Photos
