How to Care for a Mini Pet Pig
Mini pigs come with their own unique needs and caring for them is different than a cat or a dog. Here you'll find information on how to properly care for a mini pet pig.
Exercise
Mini pigs, just like dogs, require a good amount of exercise throughout their day. Daily exercise will stop your mini pig from becoming bored. On rainy or cold days, playing in the house with your pig will help keep your pig occupied throughout the day. Harness training your mini pig is a great way of ensuring your pig will be safe while on any outings. Most pigs are easy to harness train and most breeders, like us here at This Little Piggy, have started harness training with their piglets before they go to their new homes. In the beginning, it might be best to bring some tasteful snacks to encourage your mini pig to walk with you.
Mini pigs require access to the sun for exposure to Vitamin D, but please keep in mind that exposure to the sun for long periods of time will also cause your pig to get sunburned. You can apply child/infant sunscreen to your pig for protection from a burn, but make sure you avoid their mouth and eyes. We find using aerosol sunscreen is best for protection from sunburn as it gets beneath their hair with ease.
Mini pigs require access to the sun for exposure to Vitamin D, but please keep in mind that exposure to the sun for long periods of time will also cause your pig to get sunburned. You can apply child/infant sunscreen to your pig for protection from a burn, but make sure you avoid their mouth and eyes. We find using aerosol sunscreen is best for protection from sunburn as it gets beneath their hair with ease.
Feeding
Your pig's daily diet should also consist of vegetables and mini pig pellets. The selection of vegetables should vary and also be fed fresh, this will ensure your pig is receiving the maximum count of vitamins the vegetables offer. Good choices of vegetables are; broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, cucumbers, romaine lettuce, green beans and zucchini.
Mini Pig pellets are also a necessity for your pig's daily diet - **Please keep in mind to only feed MINI PIG pellets** - this will provide your pig with vitamins and minerals that the vegetables do not offer and that are required to maintain a healthy diet for your pig. Remember, regular pig pellets are manufactured to put weight on a pig in a very short time, this in turn will make your mini pig overweight which will lead to health problems, such as back and knee issues. It is just as important to not overfeed your pig, as it is to not underfeed.
Canine and feline food is not healthy for your pig. These foods will bloat a pig and make them quite uncomfortable. Canine and feline foods also are manufactured using lots of dyes and are very high in protein. Mini pigs should be fed a more natural PIG diet. Caffeine and chocolate are toxic to pigs and should not be kept at a level that is not easy for your mini pig to get into. Fruit and corn are high in sugars and should only be fed in small amounts. Yams, potatoes, and sweet potatoes are very starchy and also high in calories and should only be given occasionally. We do not give our Mini Pigs tomatoes as we find them to be highly acidic. If feeding spinach, your pig needs to have access to clean drinking water as it is high in sodium but is a great source of iron.
Our pigs love plain Cheerios and fruit (cut up grapes, apples, and strawberries) as treats or rewards. A variety of nuts are a great way to provide your mini pig with protein. They also work great for training!
Mini pigs require a large amount of water to properly digest their food. If your pig is not consuming water throughout the day, soaking his pellets in water before you feed them will help ensure he stay hydrated. Your mini pig should have easy access to water at all times throughout the day. Young piglets do not drink very much. Some breeders suggest adding fruit juice to their water to entice them to drink. However, it is very common for the pig to then only drink the water when there is fruit juice added. We have found that putting a few Cheerios in their water bowl will encourage drinking. As your mini pig starts to mature, you will notice they drink a lot more.
Mini Pig pellets are also a necessity for your pig's daily diet - **Please keep in mind to only feed MINI PIG pellets** - this will provide your pig with vitamins and minerals that the vegetables do not offer and that are required to maintain a healthy diet for your pig. Remember, regular pig pellets are manufactured to put weight on a pig in a very short time, this in turn will make your mini pig overweight which will lead to health problems, such as back and knee issues. It is just as important to not overfeed your pig, as it is to not underfeed.
Canine and feline food is not healthy for your pig. These foods will bloat a pig and make them quite uncomfortable. Canine and feline foods also are manufactured using lots of dyes and are very high in protein. Mini pigs should be fed a more natural PIG diet. Caffeine and chocolate are toxic to pigs and should not be kept at a level that is not easy for your mini pig to get into. Fruit and corn are high in sugars and should only be fed in small amounts. Yams, potatoes, and sweet potatoes are very starchy and also high in calories and should only be given occasionally. We do not give our Mini Pigs tomatoes as we find them to be highly acidic. If feeding spinach, your pig needs to have access to clean drinking water as it is high in sodium but is a great source of iron.
Our pigs love plain Cheerios and fruit (cut up grapes, apples, and strawberries) as treats or rewards. A variety of nuts are a great way to provide your mini pig with protein. They also work great for training!
Mini pigs require a large amount of water to properly digest their food. If your pig is not consuming water throughout the day, soaking his pellets in water before you feed them will help ensure he stay hydrated. Your mini pig should have easy access to water at all times throughout the day. Young piglets do not drink very much. Some breeders suggest adding fruit juice to their water to entice them to drink. However, it is very common for the pig to then only drink the water when there is fruit juice added. We have found that putting a few Cheerios in their water bowl will encourage drinking. As your mini pig starts to mature, you will notice they drink a lot more.
Litter Box Training
Mini pigs are very easily litter boxed trained. We use pine shavings with all of our pigs. We find it easy to scoop but you might want to put a litter mat in front of it to catch any loose shavings. Pine pellets are a good choice for less mess. They are easy to scoop and much cleaner for your floors!
Cedar shavings are not a great choice. Cedar has been known to cause allergic reactions and respiratory issues. Clay cat litter can cause intestinal issues with pigs, so please do not use it.
It is important to always give positive rewards to your pig when he uses his litter box. This will encourage him to "go" in the same place. If you find that your mini pig is having repeated accidents, put some of his "mess" from the floor into his litter box. This would help to encourage him to use his litter box. Sometimes also limiting their access to the house will help with litter box training. If your mini pig has access to a large area, they might not be able to make it back to the litter box in time.
Mini pigs could also be taught to do their "business" outside. Training your mini pig to use the yard is much the same as you would a puppy. When you first take home your new baby and have built up a bond, encourage him to use the yard by offering tasty rewards. About a half hour after your pig has had a meal or a drink, take him out into the yard to do his "business". Sometimes having a litter box inside will help with accidents in the house while he is learning to use the outdoors.
Cedar shavings are not a great choice. Cedar has been known to cause allergic reactions and respiratory issues. Clay cat litter can cause intestinal issues with pigs, so please do not use it.
It is important to always give positive rewards to your pig when he uses his litter box. This will encourage him to "go" in the same place. If you find that your mini pig is having repeated accidents, put some of his "mess" from the floor into his litter box. This would help to encourage him to use his litter box. Sometimes also limiting their access to the house will help with litter box training. If your mini pig has access to a large area, they might not be able to make it back to the litter box in time.
Mini pigs could also be taught to do their "business" outside. Training your mini pig to use the yard is much the same as you would a puppy. When you first take home your new baby and have built up a bond, encourage him to use the yard by offering tasty rewards. About a half hour after your pig has had a meal or a drink, take him out into the yard to do his "business". Sometimes having a litter box inside will help with accidents in the house while he is learning to use the outdoors.
Interactive Toys
Good strong toys are essential for your pig's urge to play. Yes play! These little guys are extremely playful. They love to chew and toss toys. Strong dog toys work the best for them. Make sure when picking out proper toys they are not made of soft latex material, as these are very easy for your pig to rip and eat any small pieces. You can find stuffed dog toys with a “chew guard” at your local pet stores. These are great for them to toss and shake around and will last much longer than plush toys. We find that with rotating their toys every few days they tend not to get bored with them. You can also get some dog toys such as "Kong" products that you can stuff with treats to keep your pig busy for awhile.
Skin Care
Mini pigs need a healthy quality diet to assist in proper skin maintenance (see feeding above). Most pigs suffer from dry itchy skin. Adding flax seed oil or coconut oil to their food once a week will help to add essential oils back into their skin. For pigs that have severe dry and/or itchy skin you can rub some coconut oil on their skin. This can be done twice a week to help relieve their discomfort.
Brushing their coats daily will help to keep your mini pig's hair healthy. This will also help to build the bond between you and your pig. And let's be honest.... your pig will LOVE it!
Bathing your mini pig should be done only when needed. Excessive bathing will help to dry out your pig's skin. When bathing is needed, using a hypo allergenic shampoo will be best for your pig. Offering tasty treats will also make bath time a little more pleasant for both you and your pig.
Brushing their coats daily will help to keep your mini pig's hair healthy. This will also help to build the bond between you and your pig. And let's be honest.... your pig will LOVE it!
Bathing your mini pig should be done only when needed. Excessive bathing will help to dry out your pig's skin. When bathing is needed, using a hypo allergenic shampoo will be best for your pig. Offering tasty treats will also make bath time a little more pleasant for both you and your pig.
Harness Training
Learning to walk on a harness and a leash is easy for some mini pigs and more difficult for others. Positive rewards will help with them feel comfortable in a harness. The first step to putting a harness on your mini pig is allowing them to sniff it. Reward that behaviour using your voice and treats. Sometimes holding your piglet will ease the stress when putting the harness on. Using a "step in" harness works best. This way you can just slide the harness under your piglets feet and you do not have to put anything over his head, which many pigs do not like. Don't forget to reward every step. Patience is the key when training any animal and especially with Mini Pigs. They are extremely intelligent animals and will pick up on your calmness when dealing with new experiences.
Once you have the harness on, let him wear it around the house. Keep in mind for safety reasons, if you are not there to supervise your pig, take the harness off. This way your pig will not hurt himself or get the harness caught on anything. After you have put the harness on for a few days and your pig is comfortable then you can hook up the leash to the harness. Its important to start walking your piglet inside the house where he feels comfortable. Using treats will help encourage your piglet to follow you while on the leash. Once he is comfortable walking indoors and has learned to follow you, move the training outdoors. A fenced in yard may be the best place to start when outdoors. Always remember to have tasty treats on hand during training to keep your piglet motivated.
Once you have the harness on, let him wear it around the house. Keep in mind for safety reasons, if you are not there to supervise your pig, take the harness off. This way your pig will not hurt himself or get the harness caught on anything. After you have put the harness on for a few days and your pig is comfortable then you can hook up the leash to the harness. Its important to start walking your piglet inside the house where he feels comfortable. Using treats will help encourage your piglet to follow you while on the leash. Once he is comfortable walking indoors and has learned to follow you, move the training outdoors. A fenced in yard may be the best place to start when outdoors. Always remember to have tasty treats on hand during training to keep your piglet motivated.
Health Concerns
A main health concern with mini pigs is mange mites. Sarcoptic mange is the most common type in swine. These mites become an irritant to your mini pig. Your pig will become extremely itchy. You may find your pig scratching himself on furniture or even the corners of walls. Sometimes you may find him shaking his head from side to side in discomfort. Sarcoptic mange mites can easily be treated with Ivomec injections or Dectomax (which are both administered by your veterinarian). With annual routine visits to your veterinarian and recommended Ivomec vaccinations, your Mini Pig should live a happy mite-free life.
Feeding excessively high-sugar foods will cause your mini pig to gain unnecessary weight. Excessive weight on your pig may lead to joint and hoof problems. These may include arthritis in the knees and ankles, sore backs, and split hooves. Your mini pig should have a nice round belly that looks proportioned with the rest of his body. Also on this note, be careful not to underfeed your mini pig. You should never see hip bones on your pig. This is a major sign of your pig being under fed.
Mini pigs may suffer from urinary tract infections. This is more common in males than females. The most common first sign is your mini pig drinking a large amount of water, or finding blood in their urine. If you suspect a urinary tract infection take a urine sample to your vet as soon as possible. Medications from your vet such as Clavamox, is help for treating UTIs in pigs. You can also give him real cranberry juice to help speed up the recovery. Urinary infections are not something that should be overlooked. Your mini pig would need medication right away, as their bodies are so tiny that the infection could move rapidly through his body and become fatal. A good way to help prevent urinary tract infections is to feed your Mini Pig cranberry tablets daily, in addition to a healthy diet.
Feeding excessively high-sugar foods will cause your mini pig to gain unnecessary weight. Excessive weight on your pig may lead to joint and hoof problems. These may include arthritis in the knees and ankles, sore backs, and split hooves. Your mini pig should have a nice round belly that looks proportioned with the rest of his body. Also on this note, be careful not to underfeed your mini pig. You should never see hip bones on your pig. This is a major sign of your pig being under fed.
Mini pigs may suffer from urinary tract infections. This is more common in males than females. The most common first sign is your mini pig drinking a large amount of water, or finding blood in their urine. If you suspect a urinary tract infection take a urine sample to your vet as soon as possible. Medications from your vet such as Clavamox, is help for treating UTIs in pigs. You can also give him real cranberry juice to help speed up the recovery. Urinary infections are not something that should be overlooked. Your mini pig would need medication right away, as their bodies are so tiny that the infection could move rapidly through his body and become fatal. A good way to help prevent urinary tract infections is to feed your Mini Pig cranberry tablets daily, in addition to a healthy diet.
Rooting
Rooting is a natural behaviour in all pigs and so mini pigs are no different. Rooting is when a pig uses his nose to dig up roots and grubs when they are out in the yard. This is a behaviour that should not be corrected. Offering your pig an area in the yard to root will help fulfill this need.
You may find that your mini pig will root up his blankets when trying to get comfortable in his bed. He may even try to root on your feet or ankles. Its best to immediately correct this behaviour by gently pushing him away and saying "No". Building a "rooting box" for your pig indoors will help with this behaviour. You can build a small box with wood on the bottom and about 2" high sides all around. Put some large smooth beach type rocks and medium sized plastic balls in the box and sprinkle some tasty treats in the box. This will allow your mini pig to do what comes naturally to him without leaving your feet sore. After saying "No" to him for rooting on your feet, bring him over to his rooting box and sprinkle some snacks in for him and say "Root". This will help encourage him to do his natural rooting behaviour in a specific location.
You may find that your mini pig will root up his blankets when trying to get comfortable in his bed. He may even try to root on your feet or ankles. Its best to immediately correct this behaviour by gently pushing him away and saying "No". Building a "rooting box" for your pig indoors will help with this behaviour. You can build a small box with wood on the bottom and about 2" high sides all around. Put some large smooth beach type rocks and medium sized plastic balls in the box and sprinkle some tasty treats in the box. This will allow your mini pig to do what comes naturally to him without leaving your feet sore. After saying "No" to him for rooting on your feet, bring him over to his rooting box and sprinkle some snacks in for him and say "Root". This will help encourage him to do his natural rooting behaviour in a specific location.
