Supplements Required in a Pig’s Diet Some pigs are very healthy while some pigs are such that they need more care and attention. Some supplements are required in a pig’s daily diet to ensure that there are no deficiencies in its body. There are certain vitamins and minerals that are not as it is present in the diet of a pig. Mentioned below are the various supplements that are required in a pig’s diet: Vitamin E This vitamin is quite a lot essential for a pig because its absence can cause serious and fatal problems. The diet should definitely have an adequate amount of vitamin E. this can be given in capsule form that must be prescribed by a veterinary doctor. Even though Vitamin E is present externally in commercial pig diet but that is not sufficient so it has to be given additionally as a supplement. Selenium Along with Vitamin E, selenium also has a very important role to play and both these nutrients work together to keep the pig in a good health condition. This can be given in syrup or capsule for weekly as per the dosage prescribed because a very little amount of selenium is required by the body. Any excess of this mineral can be harmful to the pig. Flaxseeds, sunflower seeds, brown rice, barley, broccoli, whole grains, nuts, seeds, spinach and cabbage are the foods that are rich in selenium and fine for a pig’s health. Yucca Root Yucca root is an important part of the diet but is required in a very reasonable amount. A large amount of this supplement can damage the health of a pig. It is very useful as it relieves pain, helps digestion, reduces the odor from feces, can be used in shampoos to soothe skin problems and is also anti-inflammatory. It has in it the benefits of calcium, manganese, beta-carotene, magnesium, niacin, Vitamin B, Vitamin C, iron, phosphorus, etc. Its dosage should be carefully monitored and given in less quantity. Multivitamin This is not a very important supplement unless the pig is weak or has some genuine deficiencies. Pigs can take children prescribed multivitamins without any harm. Owners must try to make the food enriched with everything but giving multivitamins is also always an option. Coconut Oil Coconut oil is very good for human skin and so it is for a pig’s skin. It can be applied to dry skin and wounds and can also be put in the food for consumption on a regular basis. Coconut oil boosts the immune system and is anti-viral and anti-bacterial as well. It keeps the skin and hair of the pig healthy. All these supplements are good for a pig’s health in one way or the other. One must not let the pig become deficient in any of these. Similarly, fish oil is also beneficial for its health just like coconut oil and young pigs require iron to be given externally until they mature. Such supplements improve the pig’s health and reduce the risk of major diseases.
Celebrities with mini pigs as pets Recently, celebrities have boosted the visibility of owning micro pigs. These pigs are adorable and celebrities love them for their unique look as pets. The nano pig trend was seen in the beginning with the celebs like George Clooney who owned the pig for 18 years. Princess Pigelette was the potbelly pig owned by Paris Hilton in 2009. The most important thing to notice is that these pigs are shown and owned by the celeb parents only when they are not fully-grown and people think that these animals will remain the same size for a lifetime. The idea for the pigs to remain small persists with the thought of making them feed with the food suggested by the breeder. In Christmas 2009, David Beckham was seen with his two teacup piggies gifted by his wife Victoria Beckham. The child TV star Honey Boo Boo had her piggy Glitzy as her lucky charm. Some celebrities have kept the pigs for a long time as adult pets. The pocket pigs don’t remain the same size for a long time as the pets keep on growing in size till the age of five. Tiny pigs are losing their homes because of the fact that they grow to a larger size and the homeowners abandon them by surrendering them to shelter homes or sanctuaries across the different states. People buy the animals really quickly by seeing the celebrity craze or the surrounding pets but this can be the worst mistake they make in their life. Pigs can get much bigger than expected and it is not mandatory for them to fulfill the expectations of their owners. Mini pigs are all over the televisions and internet and some breeders advertise them so well that the people are tempted to bring them home. However, it is never a preferable case as before knowing the facts about these pets, it is never advisable to keep them in homes. Ultimately, you will be spoiling the life of a living being by not knowing about them in detail and abandoning them later on. An educated public is the most preferred defense against the homelessness issues of the pigs. Pig craze is all over the United States but the wise decision is not to believe everything you see around in the advertisements. The pigs you see are given a lot of time for training and are properly nourished to make you believe that they can be an excellent choice to bring home. Potbellied pigs make great pets but it depends on the owner to take care of them and train them in their own way. Spending time with pigs can be a great experience but bringing them home and then turning them towards rescue groups and sanctuaries is not preferable at all. If you’re thinking about getting a great friend, make adoption as a wise option. There are many sanctuaries all over the US and you can check out for the ones near you to adopt a piggy.