Transportation and Caring of Pigs It is a rewarding experience to own a teacup pig. There are certain responsibilities to look for the welfare of the pigs. You need to know the pig welfare standards and guidelines before making your decision to own a pig. The basic needs of pigs are: Ready access to food and water to remain healthy Visual and social contact with people or other pigs Freedom to stand, stretch and roll-on Personal bedding and protected environment Rapid identification of behavioral issues, disease or any injury Transportation of pigs Pigs are very witty and inquisitive animals which could be handled quietly without experiencing any shock. It is unacceptable to beat or continuously prod them. There are some points to be remembered while transporting the pigs from one state to the other: Transportation of the pigs have to be conducted in a safe way and free from suffering, pain, and stress. The pig should be in a fit and healthy condition and able to stand or sit according to its comfort. The pigs showing any signal of trembling, anxiety, lying down or any other appearance should be allowed to relax before being transported through airlines. Pigs don’t sweat and the body temperature has to be maintained by regularly hydrating it. Hence, this point should be considered seriously and traveling in hot and humid weather should be made comfortable for the micro pig. Pigs should be handled calmly and with patience. The new environments could be frightening for the baby pigs. They should be handled very carefully and with lots of love to avoid the unstable mind. Vehicles for transporting the pigs should be well-cleaned before transporting to avoid any infection or bacteria in their body. Pigs are sensitive and the transport vehicles must not be too close for a long time. It could cause breathing issues to the baby pig. Transport should be done in early mornings or late noon time to make it comfortable for the pig. Caring for a pig in the new environment You can’t really predict the behavior of a pig in the new environment. You have to be very soft and loving for the pig to investigate their surroundings. Keep an eye on them for 24-48 hours after the transportation. There should be clean bedding ready for them to rest on when they reach home. Pigs can’t bear too much heat or cold environment. Temperature near 25 degrees Centigrade is the most adequate for the body of a pig. Even in the warm temperature, they should be given a thin sheet to cover their body or fulfill their desire for rooting. A bowl of water near their sleeping area would keep them hydrated and they would feel fresh and cool to stay near the area. Water availability is important in every weather. The food given to pigs should be hygienic and nutritious. Take them to a veterinary doctor as soon as they reach you to get an assessment of their health and other factors.
Supplements Required in a Pig’s Diet Some pigs are very healthy while some pigs are such that they need more care and attention. Some supplements are required in a pig’s daily diet to ensure that there are no deficiencies in its body. There are certain vitamins and minerals that are not as it is present in the diet of a pig. Mentioned below are the various supplements that are required in a pig’s diet: Vitamin E This vitamin is quite a lot essential for a pig because its absence can cause serious and fatal problems. The diet should definitely have an adequate amount of vitamin E. this can be given in capsule form that must be prescribed by a veterinary doctor. Even though Vitamin E is present externally in commercial pig diet but that is not sufficient so it has to be given additionally as a supplement. Selenium Along with Vitamin E, selenium also has a very important role to play and both these nutrients work together to keep the pig in a good health condition. This can be given in syrup or capsule for weekly as per the dosage prescribed because a very little amount of selenium is required by the body. Any excess of this mineral can be harmful to the pig. Flaxseeds, sunflower seeds, brown rice, barley, broccoli, whole grains, nuts, seeds, spinach and cabbage are the foods that are rich in selenium and fine for a pig’s health. Yucca Root Yucca root is an important part of the diet but is required in a very reasonable amount. A large amount of this supplement can damage the health of a pig. It is very useful as it relieves pain, helps digestion, reduces the odor from feces, can be used in shampoos to soothe skin problems and is also anti-inflammatory. It has in it the benefits of calcium, manganese, beta-carotene, magnesium, niacin, Vitamin B, Vitamin C, iron, phosphorus, etc. Its dosage should be carefully monitored and given in less quantity. Multivitamin This is not a very important supplement unless the pig is weak or has some genuine deficiencies. Pigs can take children prescribed multivitamins without any harm. Owners must try to make the food enriched with everything but giving multivitamins is also always an option. Coconut Oil Coconut oil is very good for human skin and so it is for a pig’s skin. It can be applied to dry skin and wounds and can also be put in the food for consumption on a regular basis. Coconut oil boosts the immune system and is anti-viral and anti-bacterial as well. It keeps the skin and hair of the pig healthy. All these supplements are good for a pig’s health in one way or the other. One must not let the pig become deficient in any of these. Similarly, fish oil is also beneficial for its health just like coconut oil and young pigs require iron to be given externally until they mature. Such supplements improve the pig’s health and reduce the risk of major diseases.
Natural Remedies for Common Teacup Pig Problems Natural remedies have always had an upper hand in treating many disorders when it comes to having an effective treatment without any side effects. In the case of teacup pigs also, there are some diseases that can be treated with home preparations once the owner becomes sure of the symptoms. Some of the natural things work in an effectual manner and the pig gets relieved. Here are some of the best natural remedies for common problems of teacup pigs: Aloe Vera Aloe Vera works wonders when it comes to human skin and it does the same for the skin of a pig. Insect bites, sunburns, and wounds all can be well treated with the help of aloe vera that can be directly applied to the skin. It is very safe and causes no sort of irritation. Aloe vera gel can also be used for the same. Tea Tree Oil This is an efficient antiseptic that can be used in the case of all insect bites or parasitic infections. The oil has cineole and terpenes, the two active chemicals which play their part in treating such infections. Canned Pumpkin This is the best home remedy for constipation. It also helps in diarrhea. Any bowel issues or digestive problems can be treated well with the help of canned pumpkin. This should otherwise also be the part of a pig’s diet because it keeps the digestive system of a pig healthy. Chicken Soup (low sodium) In case of diarrhea, vomiting or any other problem in which water loss occurs, low sodium chicken soup helps to rehydrate the body and strengthens the pig along with. Strawberry Koolaid This is easily available from supermarkets and can be given when the pig has low blood sugar. If the pig is undergoing any kind of medication, this can be given along with the medicine to soothe its taste. Coconut Oil Just like aloe vera, coconut oil is very good for the skin of the pig. For lubrication, it can also be consumed. Massaging dry skin or sunburns with coconut oil can be very helpful and also relaxes the skin. The dryness caused after the healing of wounds can also be cured with the aid of coconut oil. Such home remedies work well in case of some less serious and common problems linked with digestion and skin. If the problem does not get better with these, then the pig must be rushed to the vet as soon as possible. These remedies do not have any side effects and that is why they are preferred over other antibiotic medicines. These are not just medicines; they can also be regularly given or applied as these are good for a pig’s health. It is the responsibility of the owner that the pig stays healthy and all its problems must be tackled very carefully. A balanced diet that consists of all vitamins and minerals and regular exercise is very important to maintain the good health of a teacup pig.
How Big a Teacup Pig can get? Teacup pigs are very trendy when it comes to keeping them as pets. These are intelligent creatures and make good pets. The main problem that the owners face is related to their size. Their name suggests that they remain small-sized forever but in actual, they grow up to be very large. These pigs have a fairly long lifespan which can extend up to 20 years and their growth rate is quite high. In a period of a few years, they can become very large sized. Therefore, the question that arises is that how big a teacup pig can actually get? Pigs reach their actual adult size when they are 5-6 years old. A one-year-old pig can weigh up to 70 pounds on an average. People estimate their size seeing the size of the parents. In actual, the parent pigs have also not yet reached adulthood and they tend to grow even after that. The reason being pigs become sexually active at a very young age and can breed. When the pig grows up to be very large, then many owners abandon them because it comes as a shock for them too and it is definitely not an easy task to handle a large animal well within the house There are cases where the pig acquires a weight of 200 to 300 kilograms. Having a pig so large and heavy in the house is very difficult. It requires more space and it hard to handle it efficiently since it is not possible to pick it up. If the pig then does not follow commands and tries to harm anything, it is not easy to stop it from doing so. It may also try to bite or harm the public or private property if it becomes aggressive. Such things make it difficult for the owner to keep it at home and thus they have to be given to animal rescuers. This is tough for both the pig and the owner too because of the emotional bond formed. Malnourished pigs do stay small and that is what most of the breeders do to make the pigs look small. Doing this is very harmful to the health of the pig and its upcoming generations because malnourished pigs do not live a long life. Most people looking for a steady companion buy a mini pig owing to its long lifespan. Malnourished pigs may stay small but incur health problems quite often. This becomes a financial burden for the owner altogether because the upbringing of a pig is in itself very costly. Therefore, every buyer must think well before buying a teacup pig because the word teacup is only an illusion and the pig will actually grow up to be large in size in its adulthood. One must consider this fact and very well keep this in mind before purchasing a pig because rendering it homeless at a later stage is a bad thing. One must choose a pet wisely and if one is ready to handle a large-sized pet, then buying a teacup pig is a good idea because after all, they do make very good pets.
Mini Pig health status Mini pigs are adorable creatures and could be kept at home. The owners need to keep their pets in a good health by taking care of them in the best way. You need to make sure that you keep the track of the vaccinations of the baby pig and get them associated with the best veterinary expert. Any living being could become sick and dealing with the ill pig is really difficult under all the aspects. You need to have an emergency plan for your pig. First aid tricks can be understood from the doctor and in case of any odd activity by the pet, it is advisable to take them to the doctor. Don’t just switch on the mobile or laptop to consult the social media users about the pig’s symptoms. The pig might get well for a few days but ultimately, the root cause has to be considered for the unhealthy pig. In some cases, the pigs are transported from their core location to the owner’s place in an inappropriate way. It is never recommended to transport the baby pigs without the correct measures, food, and packaging. As soon as the pig reaches the owner, they should be immediately taken to the veterinary expert to examine and get a health card enlisting details about the health status of the pig. It will even enable you to know the dos and don’ts for the pig and you can understand their health status in detail. There is a lot of information available about the pigs on the web but it doesn’t mean that the owner can handle everything in their own way. The emergency situation for pigs need to be identified and the owner could take actions on their own. There are some common diseases and problems requiring appropriate actions by the pet owners. The vet will give you the list of common problems and the first-aid that could be given to the pigs. It is important for the owner to know about these pigs well before bringing them home. It will enable them to find the right way to deal with the issues. If the pig is behaving abnormal or not eating or drinking properly, there is something wrong with it. The normal body temperature of mini pigs is lesser than the farm pigs. It is essential for the pig to behave normally and even excrete out daily for balanced health. There could be some behavioral issues with the pigs which quickly need your attention. The pigs’ body temperature range is 98-100 and it shows some awkward traits on getting unhealthy. The baseline body temperature of every pig is different. It will behave indifferently if not treated well. The underfed and overfed pigs usually get issues in their body. The immunity of the body becomes affected by uncared pets. The pig’s well being must be vital for every pet owner and being a parent to their pet, they are responsible for every activity of their baby pig.