teenytinypigs
Before anything else, preparation is key.
While our teacups are adorable, smart and make for the most wonderful addition to your home and heart, Teeny Tiny Pig
owners-to-be are encouraged to do thorough research on their future pet. All necessary information can be found on this page.
Should you have any further queries or concerns, contact Teeny Tiny Pigs here. For customer testimonials, click here.
A healthy, happy pig
At a glance
A loss of appetite is usually the first indication your Teeny Tiny Pig is sick. Their hair will stand on end when given belly rubs, and they will hunch their backs and curl their hind legs beneath their body.
Vaccinations
Teeny Tiny Pigs are hardy creatures with strong immune systems and therefore do not require vaccinations. Most vaccinations for miniature pigs currently in the market are pending FDA approval and therefore cannot be supported by responsible breeders.
De-worming
Your Teeny Tiny Pig needs to be de-wormed once every 3-6 months. De-worming is literally as simple as stuffing a pill in a treat. The pill (or paste) portion of the activity is readily available from most leading pet stores. In the absence of miniature pig de-worming tablets, puppy de-worming tablets may be substituted.
Hooves
Outdoor Teeny Tiny Pigs will not require any hoof grooming as they receive this as a natural part of their daily runs. Indoor Teeny Tinys, however, will require small amounts of grooming periodically. Gaining your pig’s trust is essential, and owners are advised to begin gently holding their pig’s feet during belly rubs to build comfort. Once your pig is comfortable with you holding and manipulating their feet, simply file their hooves down with a nail file or emery board, only filing in small increments at a time.
Skin
Your Teeny Tiny Pig is a resilient bundle and has a naturally dry skin. As a result, they typically do not need to be bathed as with other pets. In fact, washing a pig incorrectly can strip their skin of its natural oils. Should your Teeny Tiny Pig require a good old-fashioned scrub (note: do not scrub), gently bathe them with either pyoderm shampoo (dermatologically-prepared for canine and feline use) or Johnson & Johnson No More Tears baby shampoo.
Ticks and fleas
Only piglets are susceptible to fleas; adult miniatures are not. Should your Teeny Tiny Pig require it, kitten or puppy flea powder is perfectly suitable to rid them. Be extra careful around their teeny tiny eyes. Ticks may attach to either a piglet of a full-grown, and may be removed via traditional methods.
Winter pigs
Indoor pigs usually stay warm enough to avoid any cold-related health concerns. Outdoor pigs, however, require adequate housing to keep them from wind and cold drafts. Sudden drastic changes in temperature, accompanied by significant dampness may cause pneumonia to develop in an outdoor pig. In this instance, do not expect your Teeny Tiny Pig to cough. Rather, be vigilant of your pig’s appetite as this is your first indication something is wrong. Pneumonia is easily treatable is caught early enough.
Diet
Food and nutrition
Pigs, even teeny tiny ones, love to eat! It is your responsibility as their caretaker to ensure they receive the correct food in the proper amounts.
Piglets can be weaned onto solids as early as a few days old.
Start you piglet on baby cereal. Teeny Tiny Pigs recommends Cerelac Stage 3 Banana or Wheat baby cereal. Feed them a ⅓ cup mixed with water three times a day.
At 2-3 weeks, discontinue the full Cerelac diet and instead feed your piglet two teaspoons of Cerelac with a small amount of water and serve with a ¼ cup of pellets (the same as rabbit pellets, available at any pet shop). Allow the pellets to swell a little before serving. After another 2-3 weeks, discontinue the cereal entirely. Additionally, a ½ cup of raw fruits or vegetable may be given as a treat.
Your pig can be fed a ¼ cup of pellets twice a day. At 1 year, this dosage will need to be adjusted according to your particular Teeny Tiny Pig’s metabolism rate and level of activity.
Notes
Do not feed your pig or piglet dog or cat food. This is unsuitable for your pet.
Their diet is to be controlled if your pig is able to graze naturally throughout the day.
Keep closely to this recommended diet. A piglet fed an incorrect diet too high in protein or carbohydrates may grow more rapidly than desired and exceed their expected “miniature” size.
Pigs are NOT to be fed “people food”. You will end up with a fat and unhealthy pig. Overweight (not Teeny Tiny) pigs eventually suffer from leg and back issues. This is 100% avoidable.
Dietary amounts
The following is merely an indication of how much a typical Teeny Tiny Pig should be eating. As always, use sound judgment when determining how much to feed it. Should the recommended amounts leave your pig looking noticeably over or underweight, decrease or increase their servings accordingly.
Age and Suggested Amount
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6-16 weeks: ½ - 1 cup
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16 weeks - 6 months: 1 - 1¼ cups
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6-8 months: 1¼ - 2 cups
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+8 months: 2-2¼ cups
Food to feed in limited amounts
Corn – high in fructose
Potatoes – starchy and high in calories
Tomatoes – highly acidic
Spinach – high in sodium
Treats
Pineapple pieces, Pro-Vitas, unsalted popcorn and dog biscuit treats.
Your Teeny Tiny Pig also loves fruit juice, but only 100% pure and sugar-free.
An optional extra is 1 children’s chewable vitamin per day.
Pigs as playmates
Pigs and children
Pigs are herd animals and will seek to assert dominance over those they deem as being weaker. They may attempt this with small children (and occasionally adults) but usually learn quickly that this is a losing proposition.
Pigs and dogs
While pigs and dogs are able to coexist just fine, and there are stories of remarkable pig and dog friendships, it’s important to remember that dogs are predators and pigs are prey. It is not uncommon for dogs to attack should they feel threatened or uncomfortable. While your dog may be mild-mannered, your pig may end up provoking a fight your dog will finish. Avoid the trauma and always either supervise or separate your pig and pup.
Pigs and cats
Miniature pigs and cats make for the best friends. Cats love that pigs are not bothered by them, and pigs make for comfy pillows.
Piglet potty training
Litter box
When training your indoor Teeny Tiny Pig to use the litter box, it’s advised to keep them confined to a small area of the house. This makes your job as owner (and cleaner) much easier.
Line the litter box with pine shavings or newspaper. NEVER use cat or kitty litter – this will clump in your pig’s throat should they eat it.
Pigs tend to potty in one spot, so pick the location of their litter box carefully, as your pig may not want to change their spot later on.
For pigs with their own sleeping area, do not place the litter box beside their bed. They are clean animals and will not relieve themselves where they sleep. Rather place the litter box across the room.
During training, leave a dropping in the box to remind your pig that this is the place to “go”.
NEVER hit your pig for making a mistake. Prior to 6 months of age they have not yet developed the proper control of the muscles supporting their bodily functions. Confining them to a small roaming area early on helps with this problem.
All pigs should eventually potty outside. The only time they need to be using a litter box is when first brought home as piglets or during the winter cold. Your pig will most likely choose their own outside spot eventually. Should they be reluctant to do so, however, you can assist them by gradually moving their litter box towards the door over the course of several days.
Pigs are extremely intelligent and can be successfully trained within 1-5 days.
Travelling
Going to the vet, moving, or just a drive through the city, here’s how to enjoy travelling with your Teeny Tiny Pig.
Crate or kennel train
Stand a crate in the room and train your pig to stay inside it with treats and without moving the crate. Let them associate positive feelings with the crate before using it for travelling.
Bakkies
Pigs will jump off the back of a bakkie which has no canopy and tend to slip and injure themselves when there is no rubber matting available. It’s advised to not transport you pig in the back of a bakkie.
Long trips
Long trips should include walking and water breaks every few hours for your pig.
Motion sickness
Some pigs get car sick. Allowing them to see out the window usually helps, as does letting them chew on ginger root or peppermint leaves.
Security
Younger pigs tend to travel best with their favourite blanket for comfort.
Comfort
Keep the AC on during hot days for the benefit of your Teeny Tiny Pig.
Home safe home
Pigproofing around the house
The bathroom or laundry room is ideal for a newly homed piglet – safe and quiet. You should have a bed ready for your piglet to sleep on and a blanket or two to keep warm. Ensure there are no drafts running across the sleeping area. Place their litter box in a far corner.
As time passes, you will be gradually exposing your pig to more areas of the house. During this time, remember that anything lying around is fair game for a pig, so ensure there’s nothing within teeny tiny reach which you wouldn’t expose a small child to. And DO NOT yell at them for playing with something you forgot to put away.
Pigs tend to chew on electric cords and all sorts of paper. As piglets, they will nibble at whatever they can get their mouths over, so be mindful of your purse! Be careful of leaving toxins, cleaners or detergents within your pig’s reach. Be mindful of the fact that pigs are incredibly intelligent and may learn to open cabinets and fridges on their own.
Always remember that it is your responsibility as caretaker to ensure a safe living environment for your Teeny Tiny Pig.
Pros of miniature pigs
Intelligent
Ranked fourth on the intelligence list.
Sensitive
A neutered or spayed pig is generally sweet-natured and sensitive, and is more likely to have its feelings hurt by you than the other way around.
Clean
Can be trained to use a litter box and eventually moves its business outside.
Hardy
Unlikely to fall ill and a generally healthy animal.
Hypoallergenic
Pigs have bristle-like hair, not fur, and therefore are suitable for those suffering from dog or cat allergies.
Odourless
If neutered (males).
Cons of miniature pigs
Intelligent
Pigs may become bored and destructive if not adequately stimulated by their owner and environment.
Herd mentality
Pigs are herd animals and as a result may challenge the other family members, including people and pets, to determine where they fit in the pecking order.
Rooting
Pigs can uproot lawn and while this can always be deterred, it’s something to be considered if a perfectly manicured lawn is important to you.
Pneumonia
While generally healthy pets, pigs are susceptible to pneumonia in the colder months or during stressful (usually transitional) periods.
Vet
Finding a vet well-versed in pig healthcare may prove difficult and/or expensive. Teeny Tiny Pigs will supply you with a list of quality vets in your area. Emergency treatments and specialised surgery can be especially expensive. Spaying/neutering is also quite different than with a cat or dog.
Temperature regulation
As they do not sweat, your pig will require a pool or puddle to cool off in the heat. During the cold winters they will require straw or blankets to help stay toasty warm.
Heat
Female pigs start going into heat at 12-16 weeks of age, and cycle every 21 days. During this period they may be moody. An intact (un-neutered) male will develop a strong, foul odour and become sexually active at 6-8 weeks of age.
Pigs should be spayed or neutered.
