I am going to be buying a pig as a house pet. My oldest daughter and I have bad alergies and this is a cool pet that we can both live with. I know there are a lot of false advertisements for "mini" pigs and such. Ive done some research and know a lot of people get ripped off. The pig I will probebly get will top out around 75lbs. Anyone ever kept one? Any thoughts?
Not "exotic" but I like it ....
- Thread starter The Flizzle
- Start date
I believe the smallest pigs are the pygmy hogs, but they are endangered. What species are you looking at?
Good luck on your pig, definitely post pics.
Good luck on your pig, definitely post pics.
Thats the problem ... it is so hard to decide who the real vendors are online and who is scamming. Basically, if it says they are guaranteed under 75lbs, its a lie. Realistically, a miniature potbellied pig will grow to 75-150lbs at adult size. Considering the non-mini gets over 500lbs ... thats not bad. Take into consideration how stout a pig is, and a 150lb pig is about the size of a medium to large dog. Not sure where to go. Just reading online and looking for help =)
I see, your best bet is to go on a pig forum. There you can ask and get answers from people who have bought from great dealers and those who got scammed.
well i know your common pig (the one u always see at the fairs) you can buy babies for 12 bucks. haha not to bad but get to be like 125 pounds. pot bellies would be awsome. last night though i was watching discovery and the had, i believe they were called, indian dwarf pigs. well idk if the names right but they only get to be the size of a large rabbit. haha that would be an awsome little pig. well good luck
I'm not totally up to date on pig breeds but I used to be and I've seen a few next to dogs of various sizes..
Pot bellies get MUCH larger than most people imagine. If you have another, smaller, breed in mind please say so..
I have seen piglets of "meat" breeds at 50lbs that rivaled or were obviously larger than 50lb puppies (great pyranees).
By the time the pig reached 150lbs the dog was smaller but LOOKED and, by force, felt smaller, it was no contest. By the time the dog reached 150lbs the was HUGE.. I think 230lbs. Anyway, we got other pigs later and the younger pigs approaching 150lbs were harder to deal with than 200lbs of dog.
A medium to large dog = 70-100lbs
a large dog = 110+lbs
A medium to large pig = 150-280lbs (at market weight, possibly 2 years before ideal breeding age)
A LARGE pig can easily top 1000lbs
Know the breed, know the lower and upper limits and plan for the UPPER limit. If it "could" get to 150lbs, assume it will and it will be like having a 200lb dog that knows how to open cabinets and is smart enough to train YOU to give it treats.. They are smart.
I've also had to wrestle a sedated 60-70lb piglet and it was NOT FUN.. We had 4 people restraining it and a vet trying to make 2 sutures and it took almost 2 hours.. he was worried about the sedative and painkillers wearing off by the time we were done and this was a very wel trained pig..
I asked my husband and he thinks a 75lb pig would be way more destructive than a 150lb dog and forbids me from having said pig. Will allow a 200+lb dog, oddly enough.
Pot bellies get MUCH larger than most people imagine. If you have another, smaller, breed in mind please say so..
I have seen piglets of "meat" breeds at 50lbs that rivaled or were obviously larger than 50lb puppies (great pyranees).
By the time the pig reached 150lbs the dog was smaller but LOOKED and, by force, felt smaller, it was no contest. By the time the dog reached 150lbs the was HUGE.. I think 230lbs. Anyway, we got other pigs later and the younger pigs approaching 150lbs were harder to deal with than 200lbs of dog.
A medium to large dog = 70-100lbs
a large dog = 110+lbs
A medium to large pig = 150-280lbs (at market weight, possibly 2 years before ideal breeding age)
A LARGE pig can easily top 1000lbs
Know the breed, know the lower and upper limits and plan for the UPPER limit. If it "could" get to 150lbs, assume it will and it will be like having a 200lb dog that knows how to open cabinets and is smart enough to train YOU to give it treats.. They are smart.
I've also had to wrestle a sedated 60-70lb piglet and it was NOT FUN.. We had 4 people restraining it and a vet trying to make 2 sutures and it took almost 2 hours.. he was worried about the sedative and painkillers wearing off by the time we were done and this was a very wel trained pig..
I asked my husband and he thinks a 75lb pig would be way more destructive than a 150lb dog and forbids me from having said pig. Will allow a 200+lb dog, oddly enough.
Pigs can be awesome pets, but definitely read up on them as much as you can before buying one. The pot-bellieds can indeed get pretty large, so you might be more interested in the "teacup" variety. As you said, it's possible to get ripped off, so find someone reputable.
Also, as a veterinarian, I have to say this... before you buy your pig, locate a veterinarian who knows how to spay or castrate it. Pigs are not like cats and dogs. They require special handling and anesthesia for surgical procedures. Don't go with a vet that's never done one, but says "I'll try". Get someone who knows what they're doing.
Whew, ok. I'm done.
Also, as a veterinarian, I have to say this... before you buy your pig, locate a veterinarian who knows how to spay or castrate it. Pigs are not like cats and dogs. They require special handling and anesthesia for surgical procedures. Don't go with a vet that's never done one, but says "I'll try". Get someone who knows what they're doing.
Whew, ok. I'm done.