Originally from Vietnam, the Vietnamese or Vietnamese Pot-bellied pig is an animal that has been gaining popularity as a pet since actor George Clooney went public with the adoption of a Vietnamese pig that is called Max. Since then, many people, in the city, in the countryside and in all corners of the world, decide to adopt a Vietnamese pig without being aware of what it needs. At PlanèteAnimal, we wanted to help you take care of your next best friend!
Happy reading!
Origin
- Asia
- Vietnam
Consequences of abandoning Vietnamese pigs
Once the Vietnamese pig begins to grow, especially if you live in the city, guardians begin to worry as they see the increase in weight and the cost of caring for and feeding them.
That's why adopting a Vietnamese pig is a big responsibility for those who decide to adopt one. It will therefore be very important to inform you about the law in force in your country as well as the daily needs of this animal.
Many breeders do not hesitate to mix a Vietnamese pig with other common pigs, which gives birth to very large pigs.
In addition to the suffering of the pig, it should be said that Vietnamese pigs are of the same species as pigs and wild boars, which means that they can breed with them.This means that many Vietnamese pigs abandoned in Spain have bred with wild boars, giving rise to hybrids like the Cerdoli.
Once Vietnamese pigs have been abandoned and saved by associations, they are unfortunately only very rarely adopted even though they are completely docile and friendly with people.
Physical Description of the Vietnamese Pig
These are domestic farm pigs that weigh between 43 and 136 pounds, which means they are not miniature specimens like some breeders try to make you believe. They have a long fat body, their belly is prominent and it will become more accentuated over time. Its legs, short and thin, are much stronger than you might think. The head of the Vietnamese pig is tender and over time it fills with characteristic wrinkles of this breed.
Males reach sexual maturity at 6 months of age, long before they are fully grown, and once they are 6 years old they are considered adult specimens.Currently there is an incredibly varied amount of specimens that have arisen from mixing different pigs in captivity.
Vietnamese Pig Behavior
The Vietnamese pig is an animal that lives in community. As is the case for dogs, among Vietnamese pigs a hierarchy is established that is respected by all members of the group.
They are very intelligent animals, with their own personality and highly developed instincts. When you adopt one, you can end up with a demanding, sensitive, neurotic or independent being, and despite the upbringing, his personality plays an important role. He will learn to scream, get your attention, wake you up and ask you to eat. These animals can also be quite jealous of other animals and will become sad if you scold them. Contrary to what one might think, pigs are very sensitive animals. They are curious by nature and they will love to follow you around the house.
" If you spoil them excessively, they can become territorial and aggressive, especially towards friends or family members who will visit you, this type of behavior is instinctive because Vietnamese pigs have an extremely developed territorial instinct. This is why, if you want to coexist harmoniously with your Vietnamese pig, it will be essential that you take the time to educate it as you would with a dog. It will be necessary to focus on understanding the meaning of the word No, it will also be necessary to be careful that he never shows himself to be aggressive with a human being."
Positive reinforcement works wonderfully and we recommend using rewards and snacks to educate them, as pigs are well known food lovers. It is not a difficult animal to train because their memory capacity allows them to remember all the commands that you will teach them.You will be surprised at what a pig can do!
Caring for a Vietnamese pig
Before adopting a Vietnamese pig, it is important to prepare yourself well to give it the welcome it deserves. The care will be adjusted to his age, if he is weaned, to his level of socialization as well as to the type of education he has received.
Don't be shy, before adopting a specimen you will have to inform yourself about it by asking all the possible and imaginable questions, indeed, it is not an animal that you can trust. easy to occupy, it is an animal which will grow, which has feelings and which needs as much attention as a small child.
The Vietnamese pig must have its own personal space which will be protected from the cold and where it can sleep and rest. If you decide to make him live inside the home, we advise you to reserve a room for him, with a linoleum floor, easy to clean and maintain, in case he urinates.In the garden, you can build a kennel or pen, the door of which will not allow him to escape from the farm. Creating an enclosed space outside is a good idea in case we decide, in the future, to leave it in a daycare center when you go on vacation.
The place where he should sleep should be similar to a pet bed, but he should be very large. Like a dog, you must have a crate to transport it in the car if you decide to take it on a trip or an excursion.
You shouldn't put his sleeping area and his eating area in the same space, because it's completely unsanitary.
If you have decided to adopt a young specimen, it is important that you provide them with a source of heat so that they can stick to it. We recommend opting for a hot water bottle wrapped in a towel.
You can easily teach your pig to defecate and urinate in a litter, however, to do this you will need to start training him from an early age.Nevertheless, the crate should be taller but its height should not be too high. Do not use cat litter, as pigs may end up eating it, so we recommend using other types of litter or pine pieces (items used for rabbits or chinchillas). This crate should also be placed away from where he sleeps, preferably in the open air where he will feel more comfortable.
It's important to make it available to him so that he can work on his intelligence while having fun. Instead, bet on toys that he won't be able to ingest or break.
Finally, we will conclude by adding that pigs do not sweat all over their body, they eliminate their sweat through the upper end of the snout. This is why, when it is very hot, you will have to provide him with a small swimming pool where he can cool off.
Vietnamese Pig Food
As for his food, you will have to provide him with a large bowl, plastic for example, that he cannot break. You should not feed him dog food or cat food. On the market you will find specific croquettes that you can give to your Vietnamese pig, these croquettes must be rich in fiber and low in fat. You must remember that the pig is an omnivorous animal, which is why it is vital that you give it proteins, such as earthworms, to supplement its diet.
The daily food rations will have to be divided into two meals, something important for them to be able to digest well. They should always have fresh water available. If you have your pig in a field where it can graze, you can reduce its dose. Also, don't give him human food because your pig will gain too much weight, so he may get sick because he will be unhe althy.A myth about them is that if you feed it less, your pig won't grow that much. It's completely false and absurd and it's called animal abuse.
Foods you can offer your Vietnamese pig: lettuce, cabbage, celery, carrots or green grass.
Foods that you should not give too much: fruits, corn, potatoes and others, tomatoes, spinach.
Foods that should never be given: chocolate, sugar in general, alcohol as well as all the foods that you consider that an animal should not receive.
Vietnamese pig he alth
It is recommended to castrate your Vietnamese pig if you intend to adopt it as a pet. In this way, and always when the operation is done when he is young, you can avoid many diseases such as cancer, mastitis, heats and dominant and territorial attitudes that result from it.This operation will also prevent him from breeding with wild boars if one day he escapes from your home.
You will also need to find a veterinarian who can cut his hooves when necessary.
Vietnamese pigs tend to dig up and plow the garden to look for worms for example. In extreme cases, it is recommended to take him to a specialist so that he installs a ring in his snout to prevent him from behaving like this.
Next, we will see together some of the most common diseases of Vietnamese pigs:
- Gastrointestinal problems: prevent your Vietnamese pig from pulling out roots or ingesting objects. You will be able to identify such a problem as soon as you see him throwing up.
- Colibacillosis: this is diarrhea that usually appears in young, malnourished pigs.
- Salmonella: affects pigs of all ages, usually after weaning. It can occur after ingesting food from garbage or feces from other species.
- Constipation: can occur in case of lack of water or kidney disease. Encouraging physical exercise can benefit bowel movements.
- Rectal prolapse: It is due to irritation of the intestine following prolonged diarrhea.
- Lymphosarcoma, lymphoma and carcinoma: as the Vietnamese pig ages these small tumors appear which, if lodged in the intestines, can be very serious.
- Dry, flaky skin: this is common and can be eliminated by regularly cleansing the skin with damp towels.
- Sarcoptic mange: it can happen to them like to other pets.
- Melanoma: this is a skin tumor that needs to be removed.
- Sunburns: they occur when frequently exposed to the sun without protection, water or mud.
- Lameness: due to the shape of the back, Vietnamese pigs can suffer from muscle tightness, ligament damage, fractures, etc.
- Infectious arthritis: it affects pigs of all ages. Requires veterinary treatment.
- Cracked hooves: due to exercise on abrasive surfaces such as concrete.
- Tetanus: occurs after a dog bite or skin abrasion, among others.
Home Safety
As you might have guessed, pigs are very curious and they love to rummage around in kitchens and bathrooms, the latter must remain closed, as you would with a child.
Pictures of Vietnamese Pig
