The Smaller the Pig, The Bigger the Problem

Small pig, big problem

When your cute mini “teacup” pig grows bigger than promised, they often wind up euthanized or in struggling sanctuaries trying to find space for the abandoned pigs or in overburdened shelters. 

Since 1998, the number of "mini-pigs” in the United States and Canada has risen from 200,000 to perhaps as many as a million as the demand for them continues to rise.

Potbelly pigs, often called mini or “teacup” pigs, are the number one type of pig filling up sanctuaries these days, with sanctuaries receiving many calls each week to take in new pigs either found as strays, abandoned at shelters or needing re-homing. 90% of potbelly pigs get abandoned during their first year due to the fact that pigs grow for 4 to 5 years.

Anyone in the pig world knows there is absolutely no such breed called a “teacup” or micro pig. These terms are made up and used in the market to sell these pigs and mislead uneducated owners into thinking they are getting something they aren’t.

Breeding pigs can be very profitable and many breeders will lie and deceive potential buyers about the pig’s size and temperament, resulting in unfair expectations and sometimes even deadly health consequences for the pigs.

To keep the animals’ smaller in size, many breeders have been inbreeding and underfeeding their pigs, telling buyers that piglets are actually adults. Interbreeding has led to some pigs being born with congenital problems such as deeply recessed eyes, males born with retained testicles, and females born without an anus.

Online sellers will do all they can to sell off their pigs for money, offering “teacup” pigs for thousands of dollars and promising the animals will stop growing after the age of 1 and stay small if fed a restricted diet.

If the pigs aren’t fed properly with potbellied-pig food or a blend of vegetables, they can exhibit aggressive behaviours as they try to look for food around the house. A starving pig will also eat anything like carpet, toys, anything they can fit into their mouths to fill their belly. This will lead to nutritional deficiencies.

At 2 years of age, a lot of these pigs go through the “teenage phase”, becoming rebellious and difficult to handle – picking fights with their human household and even challenging other pets. When they grow too big, their owners give up and abandon them. This is absolutely heart-breaking to see as pigs bond very deeply like dogs do with their owners. And like humans, they can become depressed or ill.

It is saddening to see such terrible things happen to innocent pigs that just want a good life. Future buyers, please educate yourself before thinking of getting a pig. Know what you’re getting into before you decide to bring in a new life to your family.