One of the most popular pets in recent years has come straight from the farm: the domestic pig. This species has rapidly made the transition from farm animal to pet pig. While it may be tempting to adopt an adorable piglet, it’s important you can supply the necessary care for these intelligent animals. Learn more about caring for pigs and what to consider when adopting a pet pig.
With the right care, every piglet in a sow’s litter can lead a long and healthy life.
On average, domestic pigs that are well-cared for live for fifteen to twenty years. This is considerably longer than the life span of wild pigs (estimated at four to eight years), given the hazards of living in the wild.
A Vietnamese potbellied pig, which is a very common pet breed, usually lives fifteen to eighteen years but can live past twenty. A miniature pig (also known as a teacup pig, micro pig, or mini pig) is any small-breed pig. A mini pig may have a shorter life span, as they are more likely to suffer from health concerns.
Like any pet, a pig will live longer with proper medical care and right nutrition. Regular visits with a vet will help you prevent and treat common health issues, including gastrointestinal parasites and mites. Your vet can also help with hoof care and tusk trimming.
Feeding you pig a balanced diet is vital to their health. Many pigs will overeat, leading to obesity and other health issues and decreasing their life span.
If you’re considering adopting a pig, prepare to meet its needs for up to two decades. Be sure you know what your pig needs to enjoy a long and healthy life.
Pigs are opportunistic eaters, meaning that they will eat almost anything! This doesn’t mean you should feed them just anything though.
A pig has six general nutritional needs: water, carbohydrates, fats, protein (amino acids), minerals and vitamins. Pigs are omnivores and can meet their nutritional needs with a variety of foods.
If you have more than one pig, it’s a good idea to separate them for feeding. They can become aggressive and compete for food. Feeding each pig separately will help ensure that the more submissive pigs get enough to eat.
You can feed your pig a variety of fruits and vegetables, including:
Limit the amount of fruit your pig eats - too much sugar is not good for them. Avoid feeding your pig unshelled nuts, unpitted fruit or meat.
Most veterinarians recommend feeding your pig pelleted chow designed for them. The right chow will depend on the age of your pig. Don’t feed your pig dog or cat food.
Hay and fresh grass to graze on will add more fiber to your pig’s diet.
Pigs are remarkably smart and can learn to perform a wide variety of tasks.
Pigs are incredibly intelligent. Research has shown that these animals are smarter than both dogs and three-year-old human children.
In a study at Penn State, pigs showed that they could manipulate a joystick with their snout to play a video game. Chimpanzees are the only other animal that has proven this ability.
Pigs also excel at completing puzzles and navigating mazes. They show the ability to adjust plans based on new information and use tools—behaviors shown by only the most intelligent animals on earth!
Since they are so smart, you can train your pig to do tricks. You can teach your pig to sit, stay, come, retrieve objects, and walk on a leash. You can also train your pig to walk up ramps (such as into your car), to sit in pet carriers, and to roll over, which can be very helpful for trimming their hooves.
Pigs can learn more complex things as well, such as how to count, find colors, or open doors.
First, decide if you want to train your pig to use a litter box, go outside, or some combination of the two. Leave some feces in the litter box to help remind your pig that it's the place to go. Every two hours, take your pig to the litter box or to a particular place outside. When your pig goes in the litter box/outside, praise them and offer a reward, such as a treat or some loving scratches. If you find your pig eliminating inside, firmly say “No” and take them outside. Clean the area well so that no odors stay. Keep your pig confined to small areas you can easily supervise until they’re reliably trained.
As with other pets, consistency and practice is key. Establish a routine for eating and going outside or to the litter box and stick with it.&
Miniature pigs have become especially popular in recent years. However, there are some important things to keep in mind if you’re considering adopting a mini pig—most importantly, that they might not stay so mini!
The term “miniature pig” can refer to any small-breed pig, and most people use it interchangeably with “teacup pig,” “micro pig” or “mini pig.” Miniature pigs are not, in fact, an actual breed.
Mini pigs are often of the Vietnamese potbelly breed, but they may also be Juliana pigs, KuneKune pigs, or a combination of up to fourteen other recognized breeds.&
While the full-grown size of a mini pig varies, most typically weigh between 70 and150 pounds. Be sure to verify that a breeder is reputable; some breeders are dishonest about how large their animals grow to be. As a result, many uninformed pet pig owners end up sending their larger-than-expected animals to a pig sanctuary.
In the worst cases, breeders will deliberately underfeed pigs to keep them small, leading to a wide range of health issues. Selective breeding can result in smaller pigs, but breeders must do this very carefully to limit harmful and excessive interbreeding.
Before adopting, ask about the pig’s lineage and any medical concerns. Learn about the specific breed of your potential pet. Support a breeder that prioritizes the health of their pigs. If you want to rescue an animal that has suffered from malnourishment and/or inbreeding, thoroughly research the care your pet will need. Consider meeting with a vet to discuss the specific health issues of your potential pet.
Pig-proofing your home is much like baby- or dog-proofing your home. Secure cabinets and trash cans and remove anything that could be dangerous (such as medications, antifreeze, or rodent poison). Pigs will eat almost anything: if it’s not food and can fit through a paper towel roll, it probably shouldn’t be accessible to your pet. Keep cords and houseplants out of reach.
Keep in mind that pigs are very intelligent and may be able to jump fairly high. Childproof locks and baby gates often work quite well.
Additionally, provide your pig with plenty of activities and stimuli: destructive pets are bored pets.
If you take the time to learn what a pet pig needs and decide that you can provide it, pigs can make wonderful companions. To learn more about welcoming a pet pig into your home, check out this helpful guide.
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