Why You Should Spay Your Pet Pig

Pigs are magnificent, loving animals and can make incredible pets. If you are thinking about owning a pig, or have recently brought one home, then you may be wondering about if you should spay them or not. Though the decision is entirely up to you, there is strong evidence that partaking in this procedure would be ideal for both your pet pig and your family.

Why Spay Your Pig

Pigs that are intact suffer from an immense amount of surging hormones throughout their bodies. In breeding herds, this may not be apparent because these pigs have an outlet for their urges. However, in a home setting with no other pigs around, this can cause detrimental effects. These pigs will turn aggressive and take out their anger and frustration on both people and household items.

Females vs. Males

Female pigs will be on heat cycles, and during those peak times, they will generally be in a foul mood, urinate wherever they stand, and turn abusive. If you have a dog in the house as well, they could start fighting with them and cause serious injuries. They are also at a higher risk of obtaining life threatening infections, including reproductive cancers, pyometra, and mastitis.

Male pigs tend who are intact are called boars, and they do not make good pets. In fact, before even bringing male pigs home with you, they should be spayed. Intact males are always raging with hormones. They will be aggressive, use their tusks as weapons against you, and emit a terrible odor. Furthermore, you will find it nearly impossible to potty train them.  Along with the personality challenges, intact males have a higher risk of prostate infections, preputial ulcers, and many other health conditions.

What to Expect

Since pigs mature at a very early, you will want to sign them up to be spayed early on (6-8 weeks for girls and 3-8 weeks for boys). Keep in mind that potbellied pigs are extremely sensitive to anesthesia, so only a professional and experienced vet should do the procedure.

The procedure will not take very long and your pig will generally be able to go home the same day. Upon returning home, make sure they have a comfortable and quiet spot to recover. Monitor them and the incision spot for any abnormalities, give them their medications for pain relief that was prescribed by the pig vet, and always offer them food and water. If they are still not eating after 3 to 4 days, call your vet immediately.

Conclusion

As you can see, spaying your pet pig is something that is highly recommended. In a breeding sense, you would not want to do this, but for a home environment, you can avoid experiencing aggressive behavior that leads to damaged furniture. In the grand scheme of things, the decision is up to you. Just make sure that you think the process through and what the possible repercussions could be if you do not choose to opt for it.

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