What is the difference between teacup pigs and micro pigs

Yes, smaller potbellied pigs do exist. If someone has been promised a micro teacup pig, and that pig grows to plus pounds as an adult miniature pig, suddenly that pig is not going to seem so cute anymore. And trying to keep pigs tiny can have some pretty negative effects on their health and well-being. Some breeders claim that a nano pig or micro pig adult will only grow to pounds. That's about the size of a miniature dachshund. The mini pig pets people see online and on TV are really just potbelly piglets who may be as young as a few days old, or who are underfed so that their growth is stunted, or who are sold under false pretenses.

Because pigs can breed when they are as young as three months old, the parents of baby piglets may be piglets themselves. Therefore, pig parent sizes are not an accurate measure of how large their offspring will be in adulthood. Potbellied pigs can keep growing until they are five years old, which can be problematic for people who simply want tiny pigs for pets — especially those who take their pig home to live in a small house or an apartment.

Read more about the myth of teacup pigs. Breeding and keeping pigs as pets has really only become a phenomenon over the past four decades or so. The practice of keeping pigs as house pets is an even greater novelty. Once you look past the cute factor of a so-called mini piglet and the novelty of owning a mini pig, there are many factors to consider. Pigs are, as breeders claim, very clean and intelligent animals.

They can form close bonds with people and be very affectionate and playful. They can even be clicker trained to learn basic training cues and tricks. However, in spite of what breeders may say, living with even a small pet pig is not the same as having a dog or a cat. Fortunately, a little bit of research and mini pig information can help prevent abandonment. One of the first things people need to consider before bringing home a pig is whether or not the zoning laws in their area will allow it.

Pigs are often surrendered to shelters or turned loose when well-meaning people find out that pigs are not legal where they live, because they are considered farm animals rather than pets. Things can quickly become cramped when your piggy roommate exceeds or even pounds. Providing a safe, secure and pig-proof outdoor area is not only key to keeping pigs happy, but also to keeping the inside of the house and any fancy landscaping from being destroyed.

A bored, frustrated pig can do a lot of damage quickly. Lack of mental stimulation for a pig can also lead to aggressive behavior toward humans, such as charging or biting.

In the wild, they live in communities called sounders. Another crucial part of pig care is proper feeding. But these diets, designed to keep pigs as tiny as possible and sometimes consisting of only a single food, such as oatmeal , often amount to starvation. Along with poor breeding practices such as in-breeding to produce smaller and smaller pigs , malnutrition due to underfeeding can lead to a host of lifelong health problems for a miniature pig pet.

Unfortunately, many people who purchase "teacup" pigs are not prepared for them to grow into full-sized adolescents and adults. When the pigs grow too large, develop health problems, or display destructive behavior, they're often surrendered to shelters or simply abandoned. The bottom line? If you're considering purchasing a pig, ensure you have plenty of space, plenty of patience, and the budget to keep him or her happy and healthy.

Keeping a Pet Pig. Overview of Potbellied Pigs. Merck Veterinary Manual. Management of Potbellied Pigs. Actively scan device characteristics for identification. Use precise geolocation data. Select personalised content. Create a personalised content profile. Measure ad performance. Select basic ads.

Create a personalised ads profile. Select personalised ads. Apply market research to generate audience insights. Measure content performance. Develop and improve products. List of Partners vendors. Continue to 5 of 9 below. Pigs Need a Lot of Space. Pigs Are Herd Animals. Continue to 9 of 9 below. Featured Video. Article Sources.

So they know they need to develop Esther's haven slowly and carefully. It's a lot to handle for a couple who, just a few years ago, didn't know farm sanctuaries existed. But the Esther effect makes it worthwhile.

Jenkins and Walter continue to care for the pig that inspired it all, feeding the not-so-little lady her 14 cups of food each day. All rights reserved. Will those measures be enough to curb the surprisingly big mini-pig problem? Share Tweet Email.

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