Toxic Food for Pigs

• Avocado
• Mushrooms
• Rhubarb
• All Types of Beans
• Onion
• Garlic
• Flax seeds
• Acorns
• Turnip Roots

Don’t forget to cook these!

• Yucca
• Potato
• Yams
• Sweet Potatoe

Other Items to avoid:

• Processed Human Snacks (junk food)
• All other types of pet food especially dog food.
• Moldy food
• Chocolate
• Salt
• Caffeine
• Gum
• Soft Drinks

Pigs should be kept on vegetarian diets and never fed meat.  

There is a huge misconception when it comes to Miniature Pigs. Some people have the idea that a miniature pig is one of the smallest pets out there on the market. Wrong wrong wrong.

When we are talking about a mini pig, the animal is miniature compared to a regular pig. Not compared to a dog. Mini pigs are bred to be small pigs, small compared to a pig that is raised to be butchered.
Mini pig owners get tired of hearing the same thing over and over, “Oh, I thought it was supposed to be small? That’s the biggest pig I have ever seen! Wasn’t it a tiny baby pig?” So to clear up this misconception, let’s all understand what a Pig is. Since the majority of the public doesn’t seem to know anything about this animal.

The most common pig is the “Domestic Pig” which is used primarily for the consumption of meat. These pigs are usually pink and are the image that usually comes to mind when people talk about pigs. Most people have never seen one of these pigs in real life so they have no idea how wrong they are when comparing them to miniature pigs.
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The average domestic pig can weigh over 700lb and be over 5 feet long when full gown. Below is a picture of what that looks like next to a person. 

These are photos of Esther the Wonder Pig who you can follow on facebook at this link https://www.facebook.com/estherthewonderpig/info/?tab=page_info.

Esther was adopted under the impression that she was a mini pig, but clearly Esther is a domestic pig. This is what typical pigs look like. They are huge! Hopefully this gives you a better understanding of how big an actual pig is. So it’s silly then to compare a mini pig to a standard pig.

And I have also heard, “I thought she was a tiny baby pig?!” Well we all start off that way don’t we? What pet out there can you buy as a baby that won’t grow as it ages? …. …. Hmm? Hmm? Got nothing? Babies grow! Animals get big as they mature, just like humans! Some don’t grow fast, some do grow fast, some get huge, some stay relatively small. But all of them grow!

So its ridiculous to see a tiny baby pig that’s 4 weeks old and think that it is going to stay that size for the rest of its life! But then again, that is the reason why so many dogs are in shelters right? “Oh I got it as a puppy and it grew. It was just so unexpected!”
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So if you want a pet that will be tiny forever, the size of the pig in the photo below, then don’t get a pig! Get a teacup Chihuahua or a guinea pig instead. 

So in regards to the size of a mini pig, they are not tiny pets. Teacup pig/mini pig is not in reference to a dog. As I keep saying, it is in comparison to a pig. Mini pigs will grow to be the size of medium to large dogs.

​They can make great pets, but if a big dog is too much for you, then you have no business buying a pig! But if you are someone with space and means to enjoy the company of large dogs, then by all means a mini pig could be a great pet for you! 

The photo below has a diagram of  different size pigs. The real pig next to the woman is a mini pig. The other pigs are the standard size for different pig breeds, the pink one being a domestic pig and the very large pig is the one that holds the world record for size. 

There is a lot of bad publicity of the supposed “Mini Pig Craze.” There are a lot of people that get these pigs and cannot handle them. But it’s not because “mini pig” is a made up lie to scam people out of money. The majority of cases that have gone bad are because of ignorance, people’s lack of understanding of what a mini pig really is. Either they don’t know what type of breed to buy or they buy the right one not understanding that a pig not a Chihuahua.
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As always, research before you buy. For your own sake and the sake of the animal. 

Photo credit above: Mary Efflandt 

About Animal Care Expert Meghan Arriola
Meghan Arriola is an animal care consultant from Texas that spends her time promoting holistic wellbeing for humans and animals, while also caring for her many pets including dogs, ferrets, reptiles, goats and much more!
Copyright 2015 – All Rights Reserved MJ Arriola Creations LLC 

Mini pigs make exceptional pets and are incredibly small compared to regular stock pigs. Pet pigs are usually described by the terms mini pig, tea cup pig, pocket pig, etc. In truth there is really no such thing as a tea cup pig. A mini pig will reach about the size of cocker spaniel dog. The photos of tiny little pigs on the internet are baby pigs and they will grow. Unfortunately there are a lot of scams out there that you will encounter when looking for a pet pig. In this article I will be talking about different breeds and what to look for in order to avoid scams.

When looking for a pig to buy first ask the breeder or owner, what breed the pig is. If they respond by saying, "It’s a mini pig" or "They are tea cup pigs," then avoid buying from them. Mini pig is not a breed! Juliana or Pot Belly, those are breeds. It is better for the pig to be a mix breed than for them to not know at all what breed it is.

When the breeder says that the pig will stay under 25lb you will know right away that this is a scam. No pig will stay that small. The smallest pig breed will be around 45lb to 60lb. Some breeders do advertise the parents of the pig litter as being around 30lb. Now I don’t consider this lying because in truth these pigs will grow up to the size of a small dog and at a glance they will apparent to be around 30lb. Pigs are made up of some kind of dark matter that weighs so much more than what it looks like! Just kidding, but really pigs do not look as heavy as they really are. I think that if breeders advertised the correct weight of their pigs, people would picture a much, much bigger animal.

The breed I recommend the most for pet pig owners is the Juliana Pig. This is the smallest pig breed and also a very pretty pig. This breed is small, spotted, with a straight back, no hanging stomach and has been bred to live closely with humans. When looking for a Juliana pig to buy it is very important that the pig have spots. If the pig is a solid color you can be almost 100% sure that it is not a true Juliana pig. Fully grown this pig should be between 30 to 50 pounds and under 15 inches tall. Some Juliana pigs do weigh more than this, but they are overweight and should be put on a diet to maintain good health.

For those who have more room and desire a bigger pet pig, there is the Vietnamese Potbellied Pig. These are the most common pigs in the pet trade. They have swayed backs and a big, hanging, belly. They come in a verity of colors, but most are black. These pigs will often be over 100lb.

It’s always a good idea to purchase a pig from reputable breeders who are willing to let you go see their own pigs.

If you have more questions about looking for a pet pig please send me a message!

About Animal Care Expert Meghan Arriola

Meghan Arriola is an animal care consultant from Texas that spends her time promoting holistic wellbeing for humans and animals, while also caring for her many pets including dogs, ferrets, reptiles, goats and much more!

Copyright 2015 – All Rights Reserved MJ Arriola Creations LLC

Deciding to get a mini pig as a family pet is not a decision to be taken lightly. Yes, they are cute, but they are also a hand full! This blog will help you decide if a mini pig is the right pet for your family.

Commitment…

A mini pig’s life span is around 15 years. Many people can’t see their life 5 years from now, and if you don’t know for sure if you can keep an animal its entire life then no pet is right for you. Pigs become extremely attached to their human families and it is not a good idea to rehome them later in life. This can cause severe depression in pigs. My pig gives me a cold shoulder when I go out of town, which brings me to the next thing…

Who will take care of your pig if you are out of town or get sick? Most pet boarding places will not take pigs. You can check if one is willing and will also provide a safe place for your pig away from dogs. Will a family member be able to care of the pig? It’s important to know where the pig will stay if you are away.

A Family Member…

This pig will be a family member once you bring him/her home. If you don’t feel this way then don’t get a pig, because trust me the pig will feel like you are their family. Will all the other family members accept the pig? Will a child or spouse be afraid of the pig? How will your dogs or other pets react to the new pig? A large dog can easily kill a small pig.

Care requirements…

Do you have enough space to have a pig? Pigs need to excise and have a safe and secure outdoor area to roam around. Although some people do successfully keep pet pigs in apartments, this is not something I recommend. Pigs can be trained to use a litter box, but this is messy, smelly and a not fun to clean. I find it much easier to give the pig access to an area outside to go to the restroom. Pigs also love to sit in water and would benefit from having a small pool to cool off and play in.

Do you have time for the pig? Pigs need to be fed twice a day and have water at all times. However a pig is not a pet you can just provide food to and leave to their devices. They require constant attention and can have behavioral problems when not given that attention.

Regulations…

Don’t forget to also think about your neighbors and how they will react. Some neighborhoods and cities have regulations on what type of animal you can own. If you own a pig your neighbors will know! Unless you live several acres away from your nearest neighbor, they will hear your pig scream! When upset a pig can squeal remarkably loud. The way I like to describe it is, you won’t even be able to hear yourself think.

You can find out what regulations your city has on pigs by calling your local animal control services.

Medical care…

Most people are under the impression that pigs are like other exotic pets that do not require medical care regularly but instead only well illnesses or accidents occur.  However this is untrue. Pigs are domesticated animals that require yearly veterinarian exams and vaccinations in order to maintain good health and a long life span. Your pig will also more than likely require his/her hooves to be trimmed every couple of months. Pigs’ hooves continuously grow like our own finger nails. Unless you know how to properly trim hooves, please have a professional do this for you.

In conclusion…

So in the end do pigs make good pets? Yes they do! But they are not for everyone. If you decide after reading this article that a mini pig is the right pet for you, I can tell you that it will take no time at all for you to fall in love with your new pet. Pigs are very smart and very affectionate. A bond made with your pet pig is a bond that will last a life time.

Look for my next article, Mini Pig Breeds and Avoiding Scams.

About Animal Care Expert Meghan Arriola

Meghan Arriola is an animal care consultant from Texas that spends her time promoting holistic wellbeing for humans and animals, while also caring for her many pets including dogs, ferrets, reptiles, goats and much more!

Copyright 2015 – All Rights Reserved MJ Arriola Creations LLC