THE PET STOP

NUTRITION & YOUR POT BELLIED PIG

Your little porker is an omnivore, which means it will eat most anything. Pot bellied pigs do not have a thalamus, therefore they always think they are hungry - and will do anything for food...

That's not fair! YOU eat 3 meals a day so why can't I? The average size of a potbellied pig is about 80 pounds. The belly should be plump and the curve relative to the pig's overall size, but not drag on the ground. But if your little baby is like most of her kind, she's a perpetual beggar. It's up to you to control her food intake.

The owner of a potbellied pig will spend more than $300 a year just in food. What does a potbellied piglet eat?

commercial pig chow

hay

alfalfa

grass

fresh fruits

fresh vegetables

Tips for keeping your potbellied pig healthy and reasonably curvy are:

a diet high in fiber

a diet low in fat

food should always be fresh

pellets should be high quality

grass should be pesticide-free

feed twice a day – morning and late afternoon

Divide the daily pellet ration in two and supplement with fruit and vegetables.

Do not feed processed or sugary foods to the pig. These tend to add pounds, just as they do in humans!

Do not overfeed.

If you notice a loss of appetite, energy, diarrhea, respiratory problems, skin problems or if your pig's tail stops spinning you need to contact your veterinarian as soon as possible.

This article is intended for informational and reading purposes only and is not meant as a guide for treating your pet.

 Click Here to Return to Blossom Possum's Pet Tips

 Click Here to Return to Blossom Possum

 Click Here to Return to American Outback

 Click Here to Return to Outdoor Nature Hut

Click Here to Return to Into The Woods