Potbelly pigs are low maintenance, but you need to know some facts about these loving animals.

I don't have any of my pigs spayed or neutered. I leave this up to the new parents. You need to call around and find a vet who can do this for you. It is best done when they are young. Around the age of 8-12 weeks. Also, I don't do the vaccinations. I let you decide what you want to do. Everyone has there own opinion about this. You will need to research this subject. The problem with a male, he will have a musk smell. The female will go into heat about every 3 weeks. She can get cranky!!!

There really isn't much difference between a male and female. A male does have husk though. Both need to have hooves cared for. You will have to have them trimmed from time to time. You can have a vet do it or learn to do it youself. There is a special tool and you can find it online or from a feed store.

It is normal for them to have an runny eye. Just a little though. All you have to do is take a warm damp cloth and wipe it off. They can have other problems, so you need to watch them. They can also get a wax build-up. PLEASE don't put any liquids into their ears. It can cause them to become off balance. You can go to other sites to learn how to clean them or ask your vet.

Since, we get pretty darn hot out here in the desert during the summer months, the sun can bother them. Especially the white piglets. They seem to burn the easiest. There are plenty of products out there for them. If you decide to leave them outside make sure they have plenty of shade and water. Most like to cool off in those kiddie pools, and they are cheap. PIGS DON'T SWEAT. They will also roll in the mud. (It washes off easily with a hose, but remember to not spray their ears). Yes, potbelly pig's can get cold. They will need to be protected from the cold weather as well.

They can get other skin problems. Parasites is one problem. You should have them wormed at least twice a year. You can use Ivomec or a different product Dectomax. Again check with your feed store or online. I prefer to use the Ivomec paste. Our little potbellied friends skin, can get very dry.

WHAT DO I FEED MY PIG? They make special food for potbellies. You can find it at your local feed store or if they don't carrry it you can find many places on the internet to buy it. Shop around. You can feed them healthy treats. There are a lot of plants and things that are poisonous to any animal. You should familiarize yourself with these plants. Many of them I never knew about. I am still learning things. You can go to ---------------- for a complete list. I recommend you do this. Nobody wants a pig to get sick.