Feeding Pot Bellied Pigs

Pot bellied pigs generally have voracious appetites and will eat nearly anything that you offer them. Unfortunately they are also very prone to obesity which can lead to foot and joint problems as well as other health problems. In addition to the health implications they can also become very persistent and pesky beggars and can even learn to open the refrigerator in their search for tasty treats. Feeding the proper diet, limiting treats and developing a feeding routine can help prevent problems.

Pot bellied pigs need a good quality diet that is high in fiber and low in calories. Ideally, a food formulated specifically for pot bellied pigs or mini pigs should be fed, and these can now be found at some feed stores and pet stores. If your local store doesn't carry these diets they may be able to order them in for you, or you could also check to see if your veterinarian can order them. Here are some examples of pot bellied pig diets:

• Mazuri (whose parent company is Purina) - choose Mini Pig from the menu at the right of the screen
• Ross Mill Farms - you can buy online from their online Pig Store
• Heartland Pet Pig Products - carries a full line of pet pig diets available online through HappyPigs.com

If you feed a commercial food meant for farmed pigs make sure you choose a maintenance ration - especially avoid the grower and finisher type foods which are meant for optimum growth and are too rich for pot bellied pigs. The

Young piglets can be fed a commercial pig starter diet, but only up to about 2-3 months of age.

As a rule, in non-breeding adults feed about 1/2 cup of maintenance food per 25 pounds of the pig's weight (so a 75 pound pig would get 1 1/2 cups of food). The total amount should be divided into 2 meals a day. However, this amount is a guideline and should be adjusted based on the pig's body condition. If the pig is developing rolls of fat around the face and you have a hard time feeling the hip bones, the pig is becoming obese and should be fed less. Conversely, if the pig feels skinny you should feed more. Piglets up to 6 weeks of age can be fed starter ration free choice (as much as they want) but from 6 weeks to 3 months gradually limit the starter food down to about 1 to 1 1/2 cups per day. Nearing 3 months, make the gradual change to the adult diet.

In addition to the formulated diet, you can feed a good variety of fresh vegetables to make up about 25% of the pig's diet. Foods such as celery, cucumbers, peppers, carrots, potatoes and some greens are good choices (but try to limit the starchy vegetables like potatoes). Some fruits can be feed as well but only in moderation due to the high sugar content. Most pigs love treats like apples, grapes and raisins, but these are good to reserve as treats to be used in training.

Pigs should also be allowed opportunity to root in soil and graze on grass (not treated with chemicals or fertilizer). Pigs are susceptible to selenium deficiency but in most areas if they are allowed to graze and root in the soil they will get enough. If you live in an area with soil deficient in selenium you may need a mineral supplement. Check with your veterinarian for advice on this.

Extra fiber can be provided by feeding hay (e.g. alfalfa), and some experts recommend adding bran to the diet. In summary:

• feed a diet specifically made for pot bellied pigs if possible
• do not overfeed - never feed as much as they will eat since pigs have voracious appetites
• do not feed dog or cat food (much too high in protein)
• avoid fatty foods, particularly animal fats
• absolutely avoid chocolate or salty snacks
• ensure plenty of fresh water is always available
• do not give into begging or your pig is likely to become a pest and beg constantly
• do not feed directly from the fridge or your pig may quickly become an expert at opening the fridge

Holistic pet care

Holistic pet care is gaining popularity by the droves. Holistic medicine involves everything from homeopathic treatments to acupuncture for dogs and other pets. Holistic veterinarians say these treatments can successfully treat and cure many chronic and acute diseases like cancer, liver disease, pancreatitis, allergies, asthma, urinary tract problems and behavioral problems.

So what should you consider when deciding on whether to treat your pup with traditional medicine or take the less traveled road and join those who have decided to explore a natural approach?

With holistic health care the emphasis is on the patient rather than the disease. Signs and symptoms are not the total issue. They simply represent imbalances in the patient’s body. The holistic practitioner has a large number of tools to support and motivate the body to heal. Natural therapies have the ability to allow the body to self-regulate and heal itself.

Holistic veterinarians will tell you they have seen acupuncture, homeopathy and good nutrition help cases that had seemed incurable with conventional therapy.

A holistic approach is focused on preventing disease. Part of that process includes feeding your dog natural dog food free of harmful chemicals and by-products. A natural diet is known to minimize cell damage.

Additionally, the holistic approach minimizes vaccines and the use of medications and toxins. Finally, a well-prescribed supplement regimen can reduce inflammation and oxidation in your pet’s body, decreasing the chances of your pet developing chronic diseases.

We wrote an article on this topic for That Mutt blog which was just published. It gives several reasons to consider holistic pet care. They include:

1. Holistic pet care can prevent disease

2. Holistic pet care minimizes drug intake

3. Holistic pet care heals the “whole” pet rather than the disease

4. Holistic pet care can save you money

5. Holistic pet care minimizes vaccinations

If you are interested in checking out the full article, which expands on these five reasons to consider holistic pet care, click HERE.

Miniature pot belly pigs

Author: Pot Belly Pigs

I don’t know about you but I think miniature pot belly pigs are just absolutely the most adorable pigs ever. Miniature pot bellies actually have quite a fascinating history behind them. All Pot belly pigs started out as “miniature” and so they start to grow. They get bigger and bigger. But whatever the size of the pig is, it still comes with great responsibility. Perhaps you are looking for a miniature pot belly pig as a pet or maybe you already own one, but whatever the circumstance is, it is important that you know enough information about them so that you can be good owner for them.

If you are searching for a miniature pot bellies pig as a pet, it is important that you know what a responsibility it is to take care of such pet. Miniature pot bellied pigs are not like small dogs or cat. Matter of fact that is one of the many mistake people make when they are considering getting a miniature pot bellied pig. Many just don’t know much about the care and maintenance of this type of animal. Such as - how to control the pig’s aggression or Control Social Hierarchy and what to feed them to improve your pig’s immune system. The point is you need to be well aware of the responsibility that comes with owning a pot belly pig.

Now if you already own a pot belly pig, then it is very good that you are endeavoring to find out more information about it. Many potbellied pig owners are trying to learn more about their pet so as to find better ways to train them and better ways to take care of them. For most Pot bellied pig owner, it is the training of their pig that can prove to be a challenge. The question is how can you house train a pig? Especially it is used to live out door. Or how can you reduce the aggression in your pig? How to know how much your pig weighs without using a scale?

And my favorite, how can one pig be introduced to the other without much problem? Solution, Introduce them through a fence. Letting them Fence fight. After two weeks, introduce them for a few moments at a time. If they fight, use a timber board to separate them from each other. Be prepared, they will fight and may get minor scratches on each other. And one more thing, make sure they are the same size and age.

In addition to the questions above, learning how to train your Pot belly pig is the first step in being a good owner, find out how to train your pig at http://tinyurl.com/yctfb6w Need more Pot Belly Pig Information? Get it at http://tinyurl.com/yctfb6w

PIGS AND DOGS - A BAD COMBINATION

Potbelly pigs and dogs are not a good combination. Pigs are prey to dogs, which are predators. If you get a pet pig and have a dog, NEVER leave them alone together.

We have heard way to many stories about pigs being attacked by the family dog and being severely injured, or killed. Many times these are animals that have lived together for years. Normally it will be the pig that starts the problem by going after the dogs food, toys, etc.

Yes, there are exceptions to everything but do not take the chance.

Pot belly pig care, and pet pig care in general, requires different treatments and approaches than other exotic animals or more common pets, like cats and dogs.

We suggest you go through our FAQ's links to the right. There is a great deal of information here and many of your questions will be answered there.

SPONSOR A PET PIG

If, after you have read through these pages, you decide a pig is not for you, you can still sponsor a pig at many sanctuaries around the country. If this is something that may interest you, we suggest sponsoring a pig at Pig Pals Sanctuary. This is one of the best and most dedicated sanctuaries around.

Potbelly Pigs and What You Absolutely Need to Know Before Getting a Potbelly Pig

The first thing that you should know is that these little guys are in serious need of your help, and that every year many die because of ill-informed owners. The first thing that you need to understand, is that although they are cute, without the proper research an owner will do more harm than good. Make sure that you always do your studying up on any animal before purchasing it. Many potbelly pigs are up for adoption and in need of a good home, but its the home environment that should be looked at first.

If you are considering getting a potbelly pig, make sure that you understand that it can be aggressive, and get itself into a lot of trouble. On the other hand it is true that they can be wonderful pets, so long as someone understands the prep work involved and how to handle them.

Other animals are probably not a good idea to have around if you plan to have a pig in your home. These guys are pretty notorious for not getting along with other creatures, and your other animals may not like your new buddy either.

Now, there are many outstanding qualities about them as well. They can be affectionate, and are very much like a dog in behavior. Pot bellied pigs can also be a blast to have around the house, and people who are allergic to most other pets rarely have problems with them. The problem is that they are very smart, and matching wits with them can be tricky.

Its really no different than getting a dog. You wouldn't get your grandmother who walks with a cane a rambunctious little yippy dog that's a handle for her to take care of, would you? Do your studying and see how a potbelly pig could potentially fit into your home environment.

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