'The Secret Life' Of Personable Pet Pigs: How Long Do Pigs Live?

In this article, you will get to know how to take care of your pet pig and how to feed them.

Pigs are very uncommon pets, but they are gaining popularity now. So, would you rather have a pet pig or a dog with whom you can play?

Do you love 'Peppa Pig'? Have you ever wished to have your own pig which you can keep as a pet? Don’t you wish to oink with your own pet pig? Yes, you do. But your parents won’t let you have one because they think that you can’t take care of them, right? Read this article and learn about taking care of a piglet as well as an adult pig. When your parents realize that you are a responsible kid who can take care of their own pet Peppa, they might let you have a pet pig. In this way, you can welcome a new member to your family.

After reading all about how long pigs live for and how to take care of them, do read what is a group of pigs called and what do pigs eat?

Lifespan Of An Average Pig

Pigs are gaining a lot of popularity as pets, although having a pig as a pet is very uncommon. There are two types of pigs: domestic pigs and wild pigs (which are also called wild boars). Like all other animals and their ancestors' wild pigs live in the wild and do not look attractive as pets, nor do they live like pets. The pigs that are being kept as pets are domestic pigs. These are generally reared on farms for their meat instead of being kept as a pet.

Humans have been domesticating pigs for a long time only for their food requirements. Now some people are keeping pigs as pets, probably because of their cute pink color. Do you also want a pet pig for yourself? Do you know how long a pig lives? The pigs which are domesticated have an average life expectancy of 15-20 years. This means that you can play a lot with your pet pigs. If you get one at a very young age, then you will be able to play with it and share everything with it until you become an adult. Wouldn't it be amazing to have a pet that has seen you grow and go through different stages of life?

A pig that lives in the wild lives for a lot less time than a domesticated one. This can be because of the competitive environment of the wild. Wild pigs live up to an average of four to eight years. The lifespan of a pig is not only affected by their habitat but also by their species or breeds and complications which may have arisen around birth.

Mini Pig Vs Potbellied Pig Lifespan

Pigs are of different sizes depending on breeds or species. Pigs which are very small in size throughout their lifetime are called mini pigs or miniature pigs. They are very popular as pets because of their small sizes.

The potbellied pig, which is commonly known as the Vietnamese potbellied pig, is a breed of pig that has short legs and a long hanging belly which looks like a pot. This is how they got the name 'potbellied pigs'.

Some people also compare Vietnamese potbellied pigs with mini pigs, though they are a much larger breed than them. They have an average lifespan of 15-18 years. People buy them for their small size when they are small piglets. However, Vietnamese potbellied pigs grow very large, exceeding their owners’ expectations.

On the other hand, there are mini pigs which are much smaller in size and ideal as pets. These pigs live up to an average of 14-21 years. If they are malnourished, these pigs live no more than five years. Mini pigs are also known as miniature pigs because of their small size. They are very smart, intelligent, and emotional animals. It is good to have a pig friend for your pet pig to ensure its happiness. It may feel lonely if you only have one pet pig.

Why do 'teacup' pigs have a very short lifespan?

The teacup pig is not a separate breed of pigs like Vietnamese potbellied pigs, but it is just a nickname given to those pigs which are very small in size compared to their other friends. A teacup pig is actually a mini potbellied pig that has been stunted because of malnutrition. As they are malnourished animals, you can understand that they have a very short lifespan.

Additionally, breeders adopt many techniques to keep the size of the pig small and stunt their full growth. This is because teacup pigs are very expensive. So, to earn some extra profit, they compromise on the health of an average potbellied pig and force it to become a teacup pig. They are forced to eat less than their requirements which renders them malnourished. This eventually affects their life span. Also, when a pig is fed less their skeleton stops growing but the body organs grow as per their actual size. This results in the deformation of the skeleton and some major health issues. To maintain the size of a teacup pig, breeders advise the owners to alter the diet and not give them enough food to grow. This helps in maintaining the small size of potbellied pigs.

Breeders also use techniques such as inbreeding to make their pigs small in size. This has a very bad effect on the health of piglets. This may result in a lack of genetic diversity in pigs.

Health Concerns In Pet Pigs

If you have a pig as a pet, you have to take care of it in a very efficient manner so that it won’t have to face any kind of health issues. Pigs are prone to a number of animal health issues, from small ones like minor infections, to big ones like cancer. Yes, your pig can suffer from cancer too.

There are a number of health problems that are very common in pigs that live in homes. These include respiratory problems, constipation, and arthritis. A common cause of arthritis in the animal could be weight issues and a lack of exercise. It can also be because of a pig's breeding or age. They can often also suffer from skin issues which induce symptoms of patchy hair loss, excessive itching, and hair standing on its ends.

There are many other symptoms that indicate that your pig is either ill or in pain. The long list of symptoms includes lethargy, loss of appetite, constipation, high temperature, dark and concentrated urine, difficulty in urinating and defecating, trouble in walking, coughing, and standing with its back hunched.

If your pet pig is suffering from any of these symptoms, you should seek veterinary help for its relief. They know how to treat your pet and how to make it healthy again. You should also take your pet pig to routine veterinary check-ups so, if it is suffering from anything which you can’t figure out, the vet can tell you.

Caring For Your Pet Pig

Pigs seem to be animals that do not require much attention because they also live in the wild. But the pigs which you have as pets, are domestic pets, not wild boars, so they need attention from you to take care of them. There are a lot of things which you have to keep in mind for taking care of your pet pigs, including how to feed them and how to bathe them.

Attention requirements also vary according to the age of your pet pigs. Piglets require more attention and care than adult ones. Piglets need to have a soft bed and a fresh pan filled with fresh and clean water. They may need to be fed with a bottle until they are big enough to consume solid food. If your piglet is under three weeks, then it may require a warm environment. You can use an infra-red light lamp to provide some heat if the weather is a bit cold.

You also have to make your house pig-friendly and also pet-proof the area. Pigs are intelligent and curious animals and they will put their nose into everything that they can. To keep your house safe for your pig, you can use all the same things which are used to make a house child-friendly. This means things such as child-proof locks on the refrigerator, pantry, and cabinets and also covering up electrical sockets.

Pigs also need a balanced and nutritious diet in order to stay healthy. They need to have meals two times a day which consist of vegetables, bran, pellets, and many multivitamins. Their diet should contain low fat, low protein, and high fiber.

Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly facts for everyone to enjoy! If you liked our suggestions for 'How long do pigs live?' then why not take a look at 'How tall is a mummy pig?', or 'Pig facts.'