![]() Likewise, without an outlet for play, exercise and emotional health, pet pigs may become depressed, destructive or aggressive. They can get into trouble if you don’t have a safe area from them to scamper, dig, root, forage and roam in. Pigs are highly intelligent and inquisitive and require a great deal of mental stimulation. 6 He also recommends keeping pigs outdoors in a paddock or garden, not in your house. “Never keep a pig on its own, that’s just downright cruel,” Kersley told The Guardian. Remember, too, that pigs are herd animals and should be adopted in pairs or more. Before adding a potbellied pig to your family, check out your local (city and county) ordinances to avoid potential heartbreak. What’s more, owning a pig may not be legal where you live, and if it is, there may be size or number restrictions. As such, you’ll need to find a veterinarian who specializes in such animals, which means you may need to travel some distance and be able to transport your very large pig for regular veterinary care. Most cat and dog veterinarians don’t treat pigs, which may be considered farm animals, not pets. There are other common problems with owning a pig as a pet, such as where to find veterinary care. These pigs are in big trouble.” 5 Pet Pig Problems 4 Sue Parkinson of Lil’ Oprhan Hammies told CBS News, “There are not enough homes out there anymore. The problem has gotten so bad that the North American Potbellied Pig Association estimated that 90% of pigs adopted as pets in the U.S. ![]() A veterinarian told her the pig was actually starving.įurther, the pig, which was supposed to grow to be only 12 inches tall, ended up reaching 20 inches tall and 180 pounds, at which point she was brought to a pig rescue, Lil’ Orphan Hammies, in California. One woman was feeding her micro pig one-half cup of food twice a day at the breeder’s instruction, only to find it raiding the pantry and trash can. Pig Inn Heaven, a U.K.-based pig sanctuary, explains, “A micro pig is a piglet, then it grows.” 3 Sadly, breeders may even tell new owners to feed their “micro pig” only a small amount of food in order to keep it small. pig could be very difficult to transport, and it will probably suffer many health problems.” 2 potbellied pig is not uncommon if it is overfed, and a 300 lb. weight is only achieved with a strict diet. mature pig is actually very rare, despite long standing myths to the contrary. The California Potbellied Pig Association (CPPA) explained: The idea that your tiny piglet is going to stay small or only grow to the size of a small dog is one of the greatest misconceptions surrounding pigs as pets. Speaking with The Guardian, Kevin Kersley, who breeds knee-height KuneKune pigs, calls micro pigs a “fallacy,” stating, “Unscrupulous people tend to breed the runts of the litter to try to decrease the size of the pig, but genetically the original size is built into the offspring, even though its parents may be small.” 1 Micro Pigs Are a Myth Unable to adequately handle and care for an animal that weighs hundreds of pounds, many owners surrender their “micro” pigs to rescue organizations, which are feeling the strain of the micro pig myth. Fast-forward a few years later, however, and the owners find themselves with a pig that has kept growing and growing. This allure has made pigs popular pets in the U.S., especially because breeders often promise that the micro pigs will stay small. Pigs can make excellent companions and may even be trained to go for walks, do tricks and use a litterbox or go potty outdoors. They’re undoubtedly adorable and have above-average intelligence when it comes to barnyard animals. At first glance, micro or teacup pigs, which are said to be small versions of their farmyard counterparts, seem like a perfect pet.
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