Is it allowed by your municipality to keep pet pigs? This is the primary consideration to follow as keeping the farm animals within city limits is not permitted in many regions. Micro pigs are smaller versions of the farm pigs but you must check if they’re allowed to be kept in houses in your area. It will assure you that the pig can stay with you without any interruption. Understand their growth cycle The pet owners must know that pigs are prone to getting bigger due to its basic growth cycle. Micro pigs will remain too tiny only till a particular stage of their life. ‘Teacup pigs’ could be a misleading term and the growth of the pigs is unpredictable in all the aspects. Not many homes would be able to accommodate the size of pigs, as they grow up. The pigs might become too hefty with undue feeding or improper caring. The genuine size of the pig should reach a level of 150 pounds (maximum). Make sure that you check the pictures of the parents of the pig or meet them directly to get an idea about the ultimate size of the pet. Compatibility with other pets Pigs are highly adjustable creatures and generally, bond well with cats or dogs living in the house. These can be kept in combination or alone in the house and supervised by the owner. The interaction between the pig and the other pets should be carefully observed in the initial phases to ensure that they are comfortable in each other’s company. They generally keep well with other pig(s) at home. Housing requirements Some people expect the pigs to behave like dogs, which is not feasible in real terms. They have some needs which are difficult to meet, like rooting. The pigs love to root around, explore and get their own personal space in the home. They can be accommodated in their personal bed setting (usually in a corner or a small area) and they will keep well and satisfied in their own area. They quickly get bored and that is a trouble. The pigs are well suited for the outdoor environment and could be carried to their own space. Outdoors with a shelter will also suit them. Pigs can be kept in apartments, big houses or even small areas. Nutritional needs Pigs are basically omnivores and require a perfect balance of vitamins, proteins, carbs, and minerals in their diet. They have a certain specified food which can be purchased from the pet store with the recommendation of their veterinary expert. Train your pet in such a way that it doesn’t eat anything coming on its way. Pigs love seasonal fruits and vegetables. It is essential for you to get the suggestion of the vet of your pig to make the right decision. Don’t give the pigs any dog or cat food as it might be inappropriate for them. Veterinary care The lifespan of pigs is approximately 15 years. They require vet visits like other pets or farm animals. You must understand some symptoms of disease or injury for the pigs to ensure that they remain safe under your custody. The animals require vaccinations and could get sick with flu, overfeeding and other reasons. Spaying or neutering Pigs grow very large and could become aggressive. Male pigs are neutered (castrated) in the early stages to avoid getting smelly or aggressive. Female pigs are spayed for the same reason. The pigs generally become sexually active at the age of three months or above. Hence, for keeping a pet, it is important to get them spayed or neutered for the easy handling. Trimming hoof and tusk Tusks are common features of a pig and it could be difficult to handle for human beings. The farm pigs have their tusks clipped at the birth time and the pigs at home also get this feature. Pigs have cloven hooves and they are handled by the veterinary expert of your micro pigs. Transporting a pig This is a major step in bringing the teacup pig home. If you’re living a few miles away from the location of the breeder, the pig is transported via road. However, long-distance transport is done by air transport. The transportation of the pig has to be done in a careful way. There are proper measures taken by the breeder for transportation in a secured way. Pigs are prone to sickness and might because nauseous in the vehicle. So, it has to be very safe for the pig to make them feel comfortable. Transportation of pig in the car or pickup vehicle could be dangerous as the pig could create a problem in the moving vehicle. Potty training your pet Pigs consume more food than dogs, cats or other pets. The pigs could be very stubborn for food consumption and could ask for much more than you give them. The nutritional needs of the pig are different and so would be the potty-training schedule. Pigs are very intelligent in all the ways and you can follow the right ways to make them feel comfortable. You can easily potty train them by showing them the right way where it is to be done. Cost of maintenance The pigs usually cost between $600-4000, depending on their breed, color, and other options. There are many treatments, vaccinations, check-ups, illnesses, trimmings, Spaying/Neutering, pet food, vitamins, and other things required for the pigs. The cost of care is different at all the places. The other costs like bedding, fencing and housing are also included in the maintenance cost. Unwanted & abandoned pigs In the end, it is important to know that there are many unwanted and abandoned pigs who are not accepted by the pig owners at some stage in their life. Pet pigs are hard to rehome and hence, it is always preferred to adopt or buy them only if you are sure about keeping them home. The animals are living creatures which should be brought in lives only if the owners are sure about taking care of them for the long run. Things to consider before adopting a teacup pig