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Mini pigs can be very clean and are intelligent animals, especially if they are brought up to be clean.  They are 18- 20 inches in height, and can live 15-20 plus years.  The quality of care a pig receives throughout their life has a great influence on longevity.  Pigs can be considered seniors at 10 years of age.  Mini pigs can be housebroken and trained to go in a litter box; it is much better to start this when you first bring them home.  Housebreaking a pig is similar to that for training a puppy by using rewards.  Pigs like routines, so letting your pig outside at established times quickly gets them into an elimination pattern.  If your schedule varies too much for a routine, consider a litter box.

Your mini pig does not have to be kept indoors all the time.  While outside you should provide your pig shade from the sun, protection from rain, wind, and snow.  Pigs will enjoy a dog bed in a dog house, relax in a shallow kiddie pool of water, and dig in the soil.  Always provide fresh, clean water.  Shade should always be available for all pigs.

The nutritional feeding of pigs is determined by their age.  The mini pig diet is not the same as a farm pig food.  Pig food is available at some feed stores and online.  The most common problem in adult pigs is obesity “being overweight”, and this is why potbellied pig diets are usually lower calories.  Ideally, do not feed using a bowl, spread the food out so the pig has to find the food over a period of time.  This will help to reduce the incidence of obesity.

As a guide, your pig needs about 1% of their body weight a day.  As a growing pig the diet should always be sufficient to allow normal growth of the pig without getting fat.  Do not restrict the feed to keep the pig small or development issues can arise. 

Your pigs’ hooves should be trimmed as needed.  Tusks in male pigs should not be removed as the tusk is actually vital for the jaw.  As tusks become visible trimming is required.

Male pigs should be neutered at 3-4 months of age as well as female pigs should also be spayed to keep them healthy.  If not spayed, females can develop ovarian and uterine tumors as they age.

Microchipping your Pet Pig Many pigs become lost each year.  It is important that your pig has identification at all times.  A microchip is about the size of a grain of rice.  The microchip is implanted behind your pigs’ ear with a needle and a special syringe.  Little to no pain is experienced .  Most pigs do not even feel it being implanted.  Then, your pig can be traced back to the owner once found along with being registered with NAPPA’s Pet Pig Paperwork.  For a one-time fee of $15 your pig will be kept in our database.

Zoning Check your zoning laws and homeowner’s association regulations to be sure you can legally keep mini pigs. 

How Do Pigs Respond to Other Animals?  Mini pigs normally adjust quite well to joining a home with other pets. Being herd animals they tend to adopt the other animals in the household as part of their herd.  Cats are rarely affected by the introduction of a pet pig.  But dogs can be a different matter.  Some dogs, not all have a great sense of the “hunt”.  They see pigs as their natural job.  It is best to never leave a pet pig alone with the family dog.