🚩Disclaimer🚩For educational purposes only. Always consult a licensed veterinarian regarding your mini pig’s care and treatment.
Providing proper preventative healthcare is one of the most important responsibilities of pig ownership. Regular veterinary care, vaccinations, parasite prevention, and routine wellness checks can help your pig live a longer, healthier life.
Your piglet is current on vaccinations for approximately six months following adoption. After that time, booster vaccinations will be necessary to maintain protection against several serious diseases that can affect swine.
We recommend discussing a vaccination schedule with a veterinarian experienced in miniature pig medicine. Many of the diseases these vaccines help prevent can be carried on clothing, shoes, equipment, wildlife, other domestic animals, or through environmental exposure. Because of this, even pigs that do not have direct contact with other pigs may still be at risk.
Many veterinarians utilize combination vaccines, such as RhiniShield® TX4, which may provide protection against several respiratory and bacterial diseases in a single injection.
*Bordetella
Helps protect against respiratory infections and can reduce the risk of complications associated with bacterial respiratory disease.
*Bronchiseptica
Often included with Bordetella protection. Helps reduce the risk of respiratory illness and secondary infections that may lead to pneumonia.
*Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae (Erysipelas)
A serious bacterial disease that can affect the skin, joints, heart, and overall health of pigs. Vaccination is considered an important part of preventative swine healthcare.
*Pasteurella multocida
Provides protection against bacterial infections that can contribute to respiratory disease and pneumonia.
*Bacterin/Toxoid Respiratory Vaccines
These vaccines help stimulate immunity against various bacterial organisms associated with respiratory and systemic illness.
*Tetanus
Although less common than in some species, tetanus can be life-threatening in pigs. Vaccination provides important protection against this potentially fatal disease.
Avoid allowing pigs to chew treated lumber.
If you are unsure whether a food, plant, supplement, medication, or household item is safe for your pig, do not allow access until it has been verified by a veterinarian familiar with miniature pigs. Pigs are curious and often eat first and investigate later, which makes prevention the best protection.
Routine parasite prevention is an important component of maintaining your pig’s health.
Fenbendazole (commonly sold as Safe-Guard® for Swine) is commonly used to treat a variety of intestinal parasites.
Pigs that spend significant time outdoors or have frequent exposure to wildlife, stray animals, or contaminated environments may require more frequent parasite monitoring and treatment. Your veterinarian can help determine an appropriate deworming schedule based on your pig’s lifestyle and risk factors.
Skin mites are common in pigs and can cause:
While ivermectin is effective for treating active mite infestations, it may not provide ongoing monthly prevention.
Many miniature pig owners and veterinarians use Revolution® (selamectin) as part of a preventative skin parasite program. Revolution is commonly used in dogs and cats and is prescribed by veterinarians for parasite prevention.
If you are interested in using Revolution for your pig, discuss appropriate dosing and treatment schedules with your veterinarian. Because miniature pigs are considered an off-label species for many medications, veterinary guidance is important.
In addition to vaccinations and parasite prevention, every pig should receive:
Preventative care is often less expensive and far less stressful than treating advanced illness.
The best way to protect your pig’s health is through routine veterinary care, proper nutrition, parasite control, vaccination when recommended by your veterinarian, and close observation of any changes in behavior, appetite, skin condition, or activity level.
Early intervention can make a significant difference in treating many health conditions and helps ensure your pig enjoys a long, healthy, and happy life. 🐷❤️