Mange – what’s living on your pig?
Written by: Bria Osborne, OVC 2026 Edited by: Dr. Paisley Canning What is Mange? Mange is an extremely common and contagious parasite in pet pigs (figure 1). It is a type of mite (Sarcoptes scabiei var. Suis) that lives on your pigs skin and in their ears. It can also be hard to tell if…
Dry Skin in Pet Pigs -don’t flake on your pig’s skin routine
Written by: Bria Osborne, OVC 2026 Edited by: Dr. Paisley Canning Most potbellied pigs will have some degree of dry skin in their life. Dry skin can range from mild dryness to thick flakey plates of skin (figures 1 and 2). Photo Credit: Mini Pig info Figure 1: Above is an example of dry, flaking…
Dental disease and tusk care for pet pigs
Written by: Bria Osborne, OVC 2026 Edited by: Dr. Paisley Canning A common issue found in pet pigs is dental disease. Pigs can experience the buildup of plaque and bacteria on their teeth leading to an abundance of other issues. Tooth decay, gum inflammation, abscesses and infection are all associated with dental disease. Often, we…
Pig Nutrition-how and what should I be feeding my pig?
Written by: Bria Osborne, OVC 2026 Edited by: Dr. Paisley Canning Giving your pigs proper nutrition is essential for proper pig care and management. What should I be feeding my pig? Just like humans and other animals, pigs require a certain amount of minerals and vitamins in their diet. To get the proper number of…
5 Unique Facts about your Pig’s Anatomy
Written by: Bria Osborne, OVC 2026 Edited by: Dr. Paisley Canning Pigs are wonderful and special creatures. They have some anatomical features that are specific to them that makes caring for them unique. Here’s a list of 5 fun and quirky anatomical facts about pigs. Pigs have scent glands (metacarpal glands) located on the…
Pig hoof care and trimming
Written by: Bria Osborne, OVC 2026 Edited by: Dr. Paisley Canning Proper hoof care and maintenance is one of the most important aspects of pet pig care. Providing your pig with hoof trims is one way to ensure that your pig remains mobile and happy. Pig Hoof Anatomy All pigs have 4 digits on each…