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Spay/Neuter

Every pet pig should be spayed or neutered.

Un-neutered male pigs become sexually active at about two months old and you do NOT want an un-neutered male pig as a household pet! Believe us. They will want to hump everything in site, they have a bad musk type odor and can be quite aggressive towards both the female pigs and humans.

Males can be neutered as early as one month old. But it is best to wait until they have a little weight on them. 8 to 12 weeks is the usual time or when the piglet weighs in at about 10 to 12 lbs.

It is hard to tell on a male pig just by looking if he has been neutered or not. Testicles on the potbellied pig are not obvious, as they are on other animals. Make sure your vet gets both testicles. There have been many cases where one testicle was missed as they are hidden within the pigs body.

Also, pot belly pigs are prone to becoming herniated after neutering. Make sure your vet researches the proper procedure before the neuter. Click here for an article written on how to properly neuter the potbellied pig.

Un-spayed females have a monthly menstrual cycle and get terrible PMS! Their first heat cycle is usually at about 12 weeks of age and become sexually active at about five months old. They will have a heat cycle every month for the rest of their lives. And the heat cycles last about 3-5 days.

Spaying a female is a much more involved surgery and is not recommended on females over eight months old. Over eight months old the surgery gets risky due to the amount of fat that the vet will need to cut through.

Most vets like to wait till the pig has had at least one menstrual cycle before spaying. Again, you do NOT want an un-spayed female pig in your house! They get downright ornery during their... time!

If your female is not yet spayed, she may be feeling quite sexy and proud of being a girl. Peeing in front of her favorite people is one of the things un-spayed little girl pigs do. This is the main reason people get rid of the little girls. They call them dirty. But, this is just human ignorance showing.

In order for your little girl pig to continue to be the best house pet pig for you it is imperative that she not cycle or go into heat every three weeks. She naturally wants to reproduce and nature blinds her to everything else because of raging hormones. Peeing is one way of sharing her scent and spreading the word about her condition. Outside female pigs get the urge to roam in search of the perfect man.

So those of you with older females that can not be spayed please make sure that you have good fencing up.

Advantages to Spay or Neuter

Please remember that pigs and all pets are a part of your family and not something to just be dumped because you didn't to your part. Take the time to spay/neuter your pet. Thank you!


The information presented within our information and resources section has been collected from what we consider experts and various reputable persons including vets, sanctuary owners, and private pig owners among others. Information shown is the latest available. Although we have had pet pigs for 20 years and consider ourselves quite knowledgeable, we are by no means veterinarians. Any health related information presented below should be checked out with your personal veterinarian.

 

Pigs are where it's at.
THINKING ABOUT
GETTING A PET PIG?

ALL pet pigs should be spayed or neutered before sold. They should be at least 6-8 weeks of age and weaned from mom.

PLEASE do your homework before getting a pig for a pet. Make sure that you are zoned for pigs as pets. Is there a vet in your area that will see mini pigs?

Please make sure that you're ready to commit to this pet for the next 12-15 plus years. The truth is that the potbellied pig is only a good pet for those who take commitment and responsible pet ownership very seriously.

PLEASE CONSIDER ADOPTING!

"Potbelly pigs are not products you just throw away when you get bored or become overwhelmed. They are intelligent, caring creatures who depend on you for their survival.

PLEASE: Do your homework BEFORE getting one. Don't be stubborn or worse, ignorant. Know the facts before you get into unexpected problems."

Richard Slayton
Proud Pot Belly Pig Dad.
Animal Poison Control

The ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center is your best resource for any poison-related emergency, 24/7, 365. If you think your pet may have ingested a potentially poisonous substance, call 888.426.4435. A $65 per case fee may apply.