Hoof, Ear & Tusk Care...
Hoof Care
Some pigs may need their hooves trimmed more often than others, this could be due to diet, exercise, conformation and the environment (substrate/ground) in which they are kept. A pig that has free range of a pasture on hard packed dirt or clay, or even access to cement pads, will need their hooves trimmed much less frequently than those use to living indoors on softer surfaces. There is no set amount of time a pig will most likely need it’s hooves trimmed (unlike horses), it is all up to the discretion of the owner and their vet. What time frame may work for one pig, will not work for the next. Just watch for major growth. When the nails start to slightly curve inwards (or in extreme cases, outwards and then curl), it is time to trim! Never let your pet pigs hooves get to a point were they are curling, as this will cause major structural and locomotive damage.
You or your veterinarian can trim your pigs hooves. Most people don’t frequent their vet enough to have them maintain the hooves regularly, but they can and will certainly do it for you at your vet’s office! If you teach your pig to let you do it, your life will be much easier and painless in the long run. We suggest you learn how.
The most important aspect of hoof trimming is first gaining your pet pigs trust. This will take time and consistent practice! We know of very few pigs with no prior introduction, that will allow you to walk right up to it and grab its legs for hoof trimming. Start by getting down on the ground with your pig and rub his belly. Attempt to place your hand on his hoof or leg and gently massage/rub it. The pig may yank its hoof away several times, just be patient and keep trying. The goal is for the piggy to not only trust you but understand it can also be an enjoyable experience with a long belly rub or small treat after completion.
There are a few tools that you will need to complete a successful trim. One is a file; it can be a coarse nail file (like those for acrylic nails), a wood file, an Emory board or even a Dremel (most pigs wont appreciate the sound of a Dremel). We also recommend pruning shears, the same you would use for a rose bush. You can also use a farriers hoof nippers, but we do not recommend using them unless you are very experienced with handling. They can be very cumbersome and difficult to use for someone with no prior knowledge/handling experience.
We suggest trimming just a little at a time and moving slowly. Never force a pig down because you are frustrated! If it becomes a challenge, do a little and then walk away for the day. You will also need to take note of the quick and its location. The quick is the blood supply in the nail, if you accidentally nick it, it will bleed for awhile. Just stop with trimming for the day if this happens and watch the bleeding, it will usually subside on its own in 5-10 minutes. It may be beneficial to have a nitrate stick on hand to stop quick bleeding. You can pick up Kwik Stop at local pet stores and even PetsMart, it will work for pet pigs. Some people will tape a cotton ball to the end of the nail with 3M medical tape, until the bleeding subsides. Unless you have cut through the pad or ripped off a nail, cutting a quick is not a life altering issue and will most likely resolve on its own.
Our biggest tip to remember when it comes to hoof trimming... Be Patient!
For more on options for trimming your pigs hooves, please visit our blog that touches on this exact topic! Just click this highlighted sentence.
Some pigs may need their hooves trimmed more often than others, this could be due to diet, exercise, conformation and the environment (substrate/ground) in which they are kept. A pig that has free range of a pasture on hard packed dirt or clay, or even access to cement pads, will need their hooves trimmed much less frequently than those use to living indoors on softer surfaces. There is no set amount of time a pig will most likely need it’s hooves trimmed (unlike horses), it is all up to the discretion of the owner and their vet. What time frame may work for one pig, will not work for the next. Just watch for major growth. When the nails start to slightly curve inwards (or in extreme cases, outwards and then curl), it is time to trim! Never let your pet pigs hooves get to a point were they are curling, as this will cause major structural and locomotive damage.
You or your veterinarian can trim your pigs hooves. Most people don’t frequent their vet enough to have them maintain the hooves regularly, but they can and will certainly do it for you at your vet’s office! If you teach your pig to let you do it, your life will be much easier and painless in the long run. We suggest you learn how.
The most important aspect of hoof trimming is first gaining your pet pigs trust. This will take time and consistent practice! We know of very few pigs with no prior introduction, that will allow you to walk right up to it and grab its legs for hoof trimming. Start by getting down on the ground with your pig and rub his belly. Attempt to place your hand on his hoof or leg and gently massage/rub it. The pig may yank its hoof away several times, just be patient and keep trying. The goal is for the piggy to not only trust you but understand it can also be an enjoyable experience with a long belly rub or small treat after completion.
There are a few tools that you will need to complete a successful trim. One is a file; it can be a coarse nail file (like those for acrylic nails), a wood file, an Emory board or even a Dremel (most pigs wont appreciate the sound of a Dremel). We also recommend pruning shears, the same you would use for a rose bush. You can also use a farriers hoof nippers, but we do not recommend using them unless you are very experienced with handling. They can be very cumbersome and difficult to use for someone with no prior knowledge/handling experience.
We suggest trimming just a little at a time and moving slowly. Never force a pig down because you are frustrated! If it becomes a challenge, do a little and then walk away for the day. You will also need to take note of the quick and its location. The quick is the blood supply in the nail, if you accidentally nick it, it will bleed for awhile. Just stop with trimming for the day if this happens and watch the bleeding, it will usually subside on its own in 5-10 minutes. It may be beneficial to have a nitrate stick on hand to stop quick bleeding. You can pick up Kwik Stop at local pet stores and even PetsMart, it will work for pet pigs. Some people will tape a cotton ball to the end of the nail with 3M medical tape, until the bleeding subsides. Unless you have cut through the pad or ripped off a nail, cutting a quick is not a life altering issue and will most likely resolve on its own.
Our biggest tip to remember when it comes to hoof trimming... Be Patient!
For more on options for trimming your pigs hooves, please visit our blog that touches on this exact topic! Just click this highlighted sentence.
Ear Cleaning
Potbellied pigs produce large amounts of brown, flaky to waxy, “ear goop” (resembling the dirty ears in a dog or cat with ear mites). This material is normal for a potbellied pigs. We never recommend using a liquid cleaner in a pigs ear, this can cause a serious inner ear problem and infection. Not to mention, create a permanent head tilt in your pig. You can clean with a cotton ball, gauze, finger or a make up remover pad, just don’t let the gunk/debris fall back down in to the ear canal. Pigs need a certain amount of build up further down in their ear canal to avoid all the water and other small particles that my accidentally get in from time to time. You don’t want a 100% clean ear, it really isn’t all that necessary in pigs.
Tusk Care
All sexes of pigs grow tusks. Although, females tusks are smaller and rarely ever protrude from the mouth. A neutered male will still grow tusks but they may not be as big as a boars. Boars tusks can grow very large due to the amount of testosterone they produce. Tusks that can be seen protruding from the upper jowls, will grow that large around 3 years of age. We believe that you should not trim tusks unless they are causing other health complications in your pig or the pig has become dangerous. Some pigs can get major sores and cuts in their gums from excessive growth and/or growth in the wrong direction. In this case, a vet needs to be brought in and tusks need to be trimmed and maintained, so they don’t grow through the jowls. Because the tusks are part of the jawbone, there will always have to be a small portion of the tusk that remains. If you cut too close to the gum line, it can cause a major infection. At minimum, a half inch should be left behind.
We at Pet Pig NEVER recommend trimming the tusks of your pet on your own unless you are very experienced at it. Some websites will walk you through how to do it and we do NOT agree with that! Again, unless very seasoned at it, you should always refer to a veterinarian or have someone with a lot of prior knowledge assist you. It can be very dangerous to both you and your pet pig.
Written/Compiled by Jodi Register (2015)
All sexes of pigs grow tusks. Although, females tusks are smaller and rarely ever protrude from the mouth. A neutered male will still grow tusks but they may not be as big as a boars. Boars tusks can grow very large due to the amount of testosterone they produce. Tusks that can be seen protruding from the upper jowls, will grow that large around 3 years of age. We believe that you should not trim tusks unless they are causing other health complications in your pig or the pig has become dangerous. Some pigs can get major sores and cuts in their gums from excessive growth and/or growth in the wrong direction. In this case, a vet needs to be brought in and tusks need to be trimmed and maintained, so they don’t grow through the jowls. Because the tusks are part of the jawbone, there will always have to be a small portion of the tusk that remains. If you cut too close to the gum line, it can cause a major infection. At minimum, a half inch should be left behind.
We at Pet Pig NEVER recommend trimming the tusks of your pet on your own unless you are very experienced at it. Some websites will walk you through how to do it and we do NOT agree with that! Again, unless very seasoned at it, you should always refer to a veterinarian or have someone with a lot of prior knowledge assist you. It can be very dangerous to both you and your pet pig.
Written/Compiled by Jodi Register (2015)
An injury from one of our followers gored by a pig tusk.