A Pot-Bellied Pigs height should range from 10 to 20 inches at the shoulder, the ideal height being around 14 inches. The female Pot-Belly is always bigger than the male, in height and weight.
The Pot-Bellied Pig gets along well with both people and other animals. He has been know to try to dominate the family dog but is not aggressive. He is in many ways like a child. He is very intelligent but sneaky, naughty, and pouts when punished at the same time, plotting his revenge. He can also be really stubborn at times, when he wants his way.
Pot-Bellies can be easily house-trained. They are easier to train than dogs. They can be taught to use the yard or an inside litter box, very much like a cat has. The litter box can be filled with cedar shavings or newspapers. House-training is easily achieved if started at a very early age. As soon as you bring him home you should begin his training right away. Always give him rewards when he does it right.
To make sure that you start out with the healthiest Pot-Bellied Pig that you can, follow these instructions.
1. Never buy a Pot-Belly that hasnt been checked by a certified vet.
2. Never buy from a breeder who is trying to sell you a Pot-Belly before it is six weeks old.
3. If you want a male strictly for a house pet, then make sure the breeder had him neutered in the first few weeks of his life, or you will need to get your vet to do it.
4. If you want a female strictly for a house pet, then make sure the breeder had her spayed in the first few weeks of her life, or you will need to get your vet to do it.
5. Always see and interact with the parents before buying your Pot-Belly.
6. Never buy from a breeder who promises registration, health certificates, pedigrees, or vet papers later.
7. Make sure that all worming and shots are up to date.
8. Most importantly, study and know the Pot-Bellied Pigs standards, so that you know exactly what to look for and what it is that you dont want to see.
Now that we have covered some of the basics, it is time to talk about caring for your new found pet once you get him home and get him house-trained.
If you ever plan on walking your pet in public, then you need to go out and buy a nice soft harness (so that his skin wont be irritated) and get him used to it right away. He will learn to enjoy it and will love spending quality time with you meeting new people.
To keep him looking and smelling his best, he will need regular baths. Always use a tearless shampoo and never get any water in his ears. This could lead to infection. You can use your bathtub to give him his baths. You should start his bathing routine as soon as you get him as a piglet to reduce his stress and yours. Clean his ears regularly with a cotton swab and alcohol, checking for signs of any mites. If he has ear mites then you will see a black looking paste in his ears. Treat this with mite medications from your vet. His ears should be cleaned every other week. Never put perfumes on him to make him smell good. You can brush his hair in a circular motion. Pigs do not shed, so brushing is not necessary.
He has 44 teeth and they should be cleaned regularly by your vet. His fang tooth on each side should be trimmed by your vet also.
He will need his hooves trimmed every 1 ½ years. You can do it with a #10 horse hoof nail trimmer by gradually snipping away small pieces of the hoof, then shaping them with a flat file. He also has a dewclaw that needs to be trimmed, too. If you chose not to do this yourself, your vet can do it for you. The hooves should be conditioned every month. Black polish can be added to give him a show ring look.
A Pot-Bellied Pig is prone to heatstroke due to the fact that he doesnt have sweat glands. A Pot-Bellys normal body temperature is 103 degrees and if you compare that to the humans temperature of 98.6, then you will see that he is a little bit hotter natured than a human and needs some special attention in the summer months to keep cool. You can provide a childs small pool for him to soak himself in. Never leave him in a hot car or outside without any shade or water. He will die. He can also suffer from sunburn which can lead to a condition called, Photosensitization. It causes your pig to ooze fluid from his ears, back, and other areas. Immediate vet attention is required.
