How Do You Know if Your Mini Pig Is Really a Mini Pig

Mini Pigs

I of the pet trends in recent years is the sale of then-called mini or teacup pigs. (They're as well called micro-mini, Juliana, nano or dandie pigs.) Is information technology all hype or is there such a thing every bit a mini pig?

The truth is that very modest pigs do be, only producing a tiny hog comes with negative repercussions for both the hog and the owner, such every bit a shorter life expectancy and costly medical issues. And sometimes breeders use deceptive tactics to convince buyers that they're getting a modest hog.

Baby pigs having babies

One of these tactics is convenance young pigs to one some other so when a potential heir-apparent comes to look at the parent pigs, the breeder can say, "Here are the parents; look how pocket-size they are. The pig produced from these two will surely be pocket-sized as well." The trouble is that pigs can breed at iv months of age, but they typically achieve total peak at around three years of age, and can continue to fill out and add weight until they are 4 or five years old.

Size is one of the primary reasons that pet potbellied pigs are surrendered to rescue groups and shelters. They are relinquished because their unsuspecting owners had no idea their pigs would abound so large. Fifty-fifty if two 75-pound pigs are bred together, there's no guarantee that the pigs born of those parents will as well be merely 75 pounds. A pig from that litter could be anywhere from 50 to 150 pounds when full-grown.

Extremely restrictive diet

Another tactic that some breeders use is sending their piglets out to new piggy parents with a contract stating that the squealer should be fed exactly what the breeder recommends — no more, no less. Often, the prescribed amount of food is nowhere near enough to support a growing baby grunter. The upshot is that the sus scrofa's growth can become stunted, which can cause major medical issues.

The lack of nutrient tin also crusade nutrient-aggressive behaviors. Think almost it: If you lot were hungry all the time, you'd probably get cranky. The same thing tin happen with underfed pigs. If they don't get enough to eat, they tin become very food-aggressive: charging the dinner table, biting people's legs or anxiety while they're preparing meals, and even violent apart cupboards, couches and carpets in search of whatever tiny morsel of food. It is not uncommon for pet pigs to be surrendered to rescue groups and shelters for this reason.

Inbreeding of pigs

Inbreeding is another tactic that breeders utilise in their attempts to create very small pigs. Continually breeding parents to their babies or convenance siblings with one some other are unsound convenance practices. It may result in offspring with the desired trait, only they usually also have unintended undesirable traits. Inbreeding tin can indeed create smaller and smaller pigs, only it can also produce animals with low bone density, reduced immunity, failure to thrive and decreased mental capacity. People who buy these pigs sometimes get overwhelmed by the pigs' medical issues and, you guessed it, stop upwards relinquishing them to a shelter or rescue group.

At All-time Friends, we took in one micro pig who was then delicate that her pink peel bruised at the lightest touch. Another tiny grunter who came to the Sanctuary had been on a strict diet of yogurt and oatmeal (per her contract from the breeder). She ended upwards with intense front leg and shoulder pain, which our vet suspected was caused by a fracture due to depression bone density.

Beliefs problems

Another deception of many breeders is touting their mini pigs as the perfect indoor pet. However, rare is the pet pig who prefers to live inside 100 per centum of the time. Potbellied pigs bask being part of the family and love to spend some of their fourth dimension inside the dwelling house watching TV, lounging on a soft bed and getting petted. Only pigs likewise demand to spend fourth dimension outdoors with their snouts in the dirt, sniffing, rooting and eating whatever tasty tidbits they observe. Pigs in the wild may spend upwards to 40 pct of their time rooting; if they don't become to satisfy this natural behavior exterior, they volition practise it inside, at the expense of the family unit's furnishings.

A hog named Sullivan was living in a minor home and he had no admission to the outdoors, causing naughty bitter and destructive behaviors. His family surrendered him when they realized that they were not able to provide the proper socialization and stimulation for Sullivan to be a well-behaved pet pig.

For more information about 'teacup pigs'

Thank you for taking the time to educate yourself about teacup pigs. Here are some links that provide more than information:

• Visit the Facebook page of Esther the Wonder Hog, a farm hog who was misrepresented as a micro sus scrofa.
• Read about why veterinarian Dr. Patty Khuly cringes when people buy teacup pigs.
• The Southern California Association for Miniature Potbellied Pigs has information on their website about teacup pigs.
• "The Trouble with Teacup Pigs" is an entertaining and informative web log post from Andrew David Thaler.

The pig adoption selection

If you are looking for a porcine friend, delight make adoption your merely option. There are many reputable sanctuaries beyond the nation and we are happy to refer yous to one located near yous.

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Source: https://resources.bestfriends.org/article/mini-pigs

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