Smaller pigs do NOT mean better

Cute, huh? This is Jack-Jack and his story is featured on Dawn Camp's link at the bottom of this page. This is a result of a starved pig.

How do you handle irresponsible stories about pet pigs? You educate. Recently, we were made aware of a story that aired on Fox news as well as shared to their many Facebook page feeds and added to their website. Naturally this story glamorized pigs and how small they stayed, the usual myths that are tossed around by uneducated people. I don't blame Fox news entirely, but I do place some of the blame on them for not checking facts before airing such a ridiculous story. Despite the wealth of information available to people, unfortunately, they will believe what they want to believe. They will take bits and pieces from different websites and groups and come up with their own conclusion about pigs and this mythical micro pig.
http://www.fox10phoenix.com/news/arizona-news/micropigs. They likely didn't mean to cause a riot, but I know I reached out to them privately as did several of my friends when we were alerted to this story. Thankfully, the news has reached out to several rescues and will be doing a story on the unwanted pigs across the US to counter the inaccurate story they already did. I am happy to report they did, in fact, do a story about rescue that can be seen by clicking the following link. (http://www.fox13news.com/news/news/pigrescuesoverwhelmed-story) It is stories like the first one that cause a surge of people to run out and get a pig on a whim. We are the ones left to network and find homes in a few months, once the novelty wears off. Rescues do not have any more room for any more pigs. People do not have any more room in their homes for any more pigs. Shelters aren't equipped to handle pigs, craigslist isn't a place that I would ever suggest a person to try and rehome their pig on. It has gotten so out of control, and this is only February, the pigs that were bought as Christmas gifts are about to start being rehomed in the next month or so too....stories like this do not help the already overpopulated pig problem. If you are considering getting a pig for you and your family, please go check out a pig rescue. Volunteer for a day. Get to see firsthand what having a pig is like. You may even see the big ball of fun that was destined to live with you right there at that rescue. But, don't believe the lies. Trust your science community who have come up with actual breeds of pigs. Trust your universities who have done extensive research to be sure you are fully informed about what you are getting yourself in to. Trust the pig rescues that bring these unwanted/unloved pigs to their homes when they "grow too big" or are much different than what these people expected when they brought these pigs home. (Click here to see a list of pig rescues all over the world) These are the people who KNOW the truth and have evidence to support their way of thinking. I would say the 2 main reasons why pigs are rehomed are 1. Pig outgrows expectations and 2. The pig grows up and isn't a cute little piglet anymore, so ultimately the novelty wears off. That is a shame. People should be ashamed of themselves when they "have" to "get rid of" their pig because it's growing up. I pray these same people who don't take the responsibility seriously will care for their children should they have any.

Anyone in pig world knows there is NO breed called teacup or micro or micro-mini. (Click here to read more about the teacup myth and how these annoying terms have fooled ALOT of people.) These terms are used to market these pigs and often mislead people into thinking they're getting something that they aren't. They're going to end up disappointed with what they find several years later, especially if they have unrealistic expectations. If you were to buy a BMW car only to find out in 5 years that it was a mini-van, you would probably be quite disappointed. Essentially telling people that these pigs will stay piglet size is doing just that. While we understand there are a few pigs out there that have stayed relatively small, they are the exception and not the rule. Let me add, the overall well-being of these pigs is also in question, especially after hearing the "expert" on the segment refer to these pigs as micro pigs, and the fact that you can see their bone structure indicates to me that they should weigh more than they do. 

If the weight of a pet is the most important factor when choosing what type you want to add to your family, then you should reconsider getting a pig. Pigs come in all shapes and sizes. Some are tall, some are long, others are short. Some pigs are fat, some are healthy and some are, simply put, starved. Pigs come in all heights, lengths, colors and each of these pigs will have their own unique personality to go with it. What are some physical signs that a pig may be starving?

-Head is to large for their body (Often times bobble headed)
-Sunken (hallow) eyes (No brightness, very dull eyes)
-Gap under their chin (If you run your hand under their chin you will feel an indentation)
-Low energy or lethargy (No zoomies)
-Pigmentation of their skin is off
-Legs tend to bow (Malnutrition also effects the skeletal system)
-Resting their head on objects *this was a huge thing for me as that made me think, wait, MY pig does that! This doesn't convey when your pig does this occasionally, but when your pig can't stand or hold its' head up for long periods of time, this is a problem.
-Hair is thinner and rougher, typically dull
-Hair doesn't lie flat
-Poor skin and coat
-Pigs can also get super hairy when they're underweight too because the body is trying to compensate for the lack of body fat as well. So lack of hair or a lot of hair, both can point to a pig being underweight.
-Some pigs gait is staggered or unsteady-affected by the malnourishment and they're not able to walk straight, often falling or they have a walking disorder such as goose-stepping due to vitamin/nutritional deficiencies, some can't walk at all
-Eyes may have a glazed look or have a sadness to them
-Backbone tends to curve upwards leaving a hunched-over stance
-Bones visible through the skin. You should not be able to identify the skeletal structure from looking at a pig. This includes the facial structure. No, there shouldn't be excessive fat rolls, but you shouldn't be able to see the eye sockets and nasal bones either.
-Lack of engagement. (These pigs seem to have ADD- they're often too tired and starving to pay attention or follow commands)
-Bloated or distended belly. (It is the same thing that happens to humans when they have very little to eat, the belly fills with gas giving a "bloated" look. There are other medical reasons for this as well, but combined with other symptoms from above, it points to a malnourished pig.)
-Often times people know they're starving these pigs and will keep clothing on them to cover the bones. We are NOT saying all pigs that wear clothes are starving. We ARE saying that people will try to hide it though.
-Aggression can be a result of a starving pig. Pigs that are hungry can also be angry. A starving pig may try to fight for more food. This is LIFE or DEATH for them!
-Pigs that eat ANYTHING in sight. A starving pig will eat anything to try and fill their belly. Some pigs have nutritional deficiencies and eat odd things, like drywall. But a starving pig will eat carpet, drywall, toys, flooring, anything they can fit in their mouths and swallow. Pigs have a natural curiosity that usually results in them "tasting" many things (including the list above) but they're not desperately looking for food. YOU know whether or not your pig is starving and YOUR pig is the one who will suffer and pay the ultimate price with their life if you continue to do this to them.

These aren't the only signs, but these are clear identifiable signs that a pig is being starved. Starving pigs is a cruel way to stunt the growth. They may not show immediate signs of being starved, but eventually they will. There are no healthy, fully mature pigs under 50 pounds that I am aware of to date. There are no breeders that can consistently produce pigs that stay small. There may be breeders who claim they do, they may even have a pig or two that have a smaller stature and that is typically what they focus on...those particular pigs. Be extremely wary of breeders who tell you that in order for your pig to stay small, you need to buy the food THEY manufacture. Seriously? What's in this "feed"? Is there a label? Is this food nutritionally sound? Are the key ingredients tested routinely to be sure their vitamin/mineral's relatively remain consistent? I wouldn't buy some unknown brand of food for my pig with no identification for ANY reason. There are major brands of feed that we KNOW are healthy. These same companies have feed recommendations that you can follow to ensure your pig stays healthy from a nutrition standpoint. 

Do you know why people with these smaller pigs are discussed with such passion from those in the pig community? Because the pigs do NOT look healthy. I don't care what your vet has said, I don't care what you might think, when you can see the bones in the face, that pig is starved. Most pigs that are moderately starved will start to have behavioral issues, attacking or acting aggressive due to not getting enough to eat. This is a fairly common reaction. People who have to fight for food are the same, they'll do whatever they can in order to secure nourishment for their body. Some of these pigs are so starved, I highly doubt they have the energy to attack anyone. 

Are smaller pigs somehow better than bigger pigs? I don't think so. Having a pig that is smaller can certainly have its' benefits, but an angry, sad and starving pig? I just don't see the glamour in that. Having a small pig isn't worth the toll it takes on my pigs body. There is a huge gray area where body scoring is concerned. Fat pigs aren't any fun either, but a fat pig at least has the joy of eating, obviously these starving pigs have been denied that pleasure. When a pig doesn't get the appropriate amount of nutrition, there is a domino effect. The body can't grow like its supposed to leaving growth that is significantly stunted. The bones need nutrients found in correct amounts of feed, when this is not being given, these bones are weak and can become easily deformed. Sometimes these bones aren't strong enough to support the weight or begin to bow leaving disfigured legs or backbones and taking the ability to walk away from these pigs. These pigs suffer from broken bones or easily fracture their extremities. The lack of proper nutrition also takes a toll on the lymphatic system rendering the immune system worthless. These pigs will likely get sick often or won't be able to fight off common viruses or bacteria that other pigs can carry and never suffer effects from. These same illnesses can claim the life of starved pigs. The organs contained within the pigs body rely on nutrition to help them perform their duties within the body and although they will take the nutrients they can get, eventually, the capacity to function as they're supposed to will diminish. 

This pig may be a little overweight, but I would take her size over a starving pig any day. Her weight can be managed, sometimes a starved pigs long term malnourished bodies/health cannot be corrected.

Starvation is one of the most deadly conditions on the planet; according to some studies, the effects of starvation play a major role in between one-third and one-half of all worldwide deaths of children under the age of five. The same rule applies to pigs. By depriving the body of nutrition, starvation slowly allows the body to devour its own reserves, including muscle, fat, and organs, up to the point of complete system shut-down and death. Understanding how starvation affects the body is important to recognizing the signs of malnutrition and preventing a growing nutrition-based problem from worsening beyond repair. 

The body is an effective storage device for fats, nutrients, and other important components. These stores are regulated by nutrition in the form of food, beverages, and vitamin and mineral supplements. When lack of nutrition occurs, the body quite quickly turns to stored reserves, beginning with glycogen, in order to keep vital functions up to par. As the body begins to devour more and more stored components to keep running, the physical effects of starvation become apparent.
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One of the first effects of starvation to occur is a drop in metabolism. In order to maximize efficiency, the body protects its insulating fat stores by consuming muscle stores instead, using these reserves to make up for the lack of calorie intake. Dropping metabolism can lead to feelings of fatigue, decreased capacity for activity, and mental sluggishness. This often results in staggering gait or neuro-like symptoms as well. This is sometimes visible early on, but sometimes the long term effects are not immediately identified. 

Since the body is busy keeping vital systems going, many non-vital functions slow or cease. Hormone production is often disrupted, Intact pigs may stop menstruating entirely, or experience erratic heat cycles. Malnutrition and starvation, therefore, can have serious developmental effects, even after recovery (if this is rectified), as normal hormonal functions may be temporarily or permanently thrown off track. 
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The effects of starvation on the brain cause a lack of concentration, loss of motor skills, and increased likelihood of anxiety and depression. As the condition progresses, brain function decreases, leaving the victim, in this case, a pig, in a state of fatigue or torpor. Apathy continues to increase, until the pig may no longer be able to attempt to find food or survive. 

Initial weight loss will quickly turn to emaciation because of the effects of starvation. The limbs become extremely thin as muscle and fat stores are depleted, while the eyes and face begin to appear sunken. Lack of vital proteins can lead to the loss of hair, poor skin condition or development of edemas, which appear as large swollen areas. The stomach may protrude enormously, as part of a syndrome known as kwashiorkor. This can present as a bloated belly and even mimic the appearance of a large belly in general. (See the video below for examples)

Starvation is frequently a result of uneducated people who have chosen to do this on purpose, but there have been times people have been told to feed extremely restricted diets by the very person who told them there was such a thing as a "micro" pig. While the effects can often be reversed up to a point, acute starvation can cause serious organ damage and often leads to long-term health conditions including cardiovascular problems. If a pig, particularly a piglet, is exhibiting signs of starvation, it is important to try and intervene. Perhaps this person doesn't know the long term effects of malnutrition? Maybe they do and have chosen this as a way to attempt to keep a pig at a particular size, but that is called abuse. Unattended, starvation leads inexorably towards death. Not necessarily immediate death, but the effects from long term starvation WILL ultimately lead to death. Educate, educate, educate. Anything can be said tactfully without a hostile undertone. There may even be circumstances you're not aware of, such as a pig being recently rescued from horrific situations, so be sure to ask and not accuse if you are truly trying to help. Do NOT jump all over someone because their pig is skinny, instead, take that opportunity to educate them. Once you lose your temper and get nasty with your comments, that person isn't going to listen to anything you have to say. Stay kind, be kind with your verbiage. Some of these people who have these pigs honestly do not know, they're listening to someone they feel is an expert, although we know otherwise, this person may not, even despite articles like this that are available online. You don't know the circumstances unless you ask. Some of these pigs may actually have recently been rescued, please keep that in mind as you're in conversations with people. NEVER assume. Keep your words sweet in case you have to eat them later. 

Starving pigs is causing psychological harm, although the degree of severity can be hard to truly determine. A pig trusts its human caretaker. By taking away the one things pigs love...food...essentially you have robbed them of their one achievable desire. What kinds of psychological harm do animals suffer? 
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Rejecting: an active refusal to provide emotional support
Terrorizing: the creation of a “climate of fear” or an unpredictable threat or hostility, preventing the victim from experiencing a sense of security.
Taunting: teasing, provoking, harassing.
Isolating: active prevention of social interactions and companionship.
Abandonment: desertion and termination of care.
Over-pressuring: placing excessive demands or pressure to perform and achieve.

Starving a pig can fall into many of these categories. It may not be based on the descriptions above, but terrorizing and taunting comes to mind right off the bat. Knowingly limiting the amount of food your pig is able to eat in a way to "keep your pig small" is not only ignorant, but also abuse. DO NOT LIMIT YOUR PIGS FEED TO A TEASPOON OF FOOD BECAUSE SOMEONE IGNORANT TOLD YOU TO!!!!

​Here are a few pictures of pigs that we know of that were starved.

You may or may not know the story of Sophie. Sophie was a pig that was not only starved, but also made to live in a bathtub her entire short life. When she was finally rescued, she was found to be malnourished and had multiple broken bones, likely as a result of starvation, but also due to her attempts to escape her horrible living situation. Very sad. The worst part of this? Her owners didn't see a problem with it. Sophie wasn't able to survive her injuries, but we are hopeful her story is enough to show others what starving a pig can ultimately do. Rest in paradise sweet girl. 

This unfortunate pig was saved and rehabbed by a friend. What was thought to be an issue with the spine was later discovered to be a result of malnutrition. This particular pig was also found to be pregnant in this picture, sadly enough. She did recover and was returned to her owner who "didn't know" about nutrition and is being carefully monitored by the friend who took her in and got her healthy. 

This is Frankie the pig. Obviously starved and full of mange, he was thankfully saved and is living a happy and healthy life!!

These pigs were at a pig rescue (that is no longer around). Obviously malnourished and starved, they too, were saved and taken to a good rescue where they have recovered and are thriving in their new healthy life.

These charts are NOT intended for piglets, but more for pigs over a year old...however, if your pig is a number 1, your pig needs to gain some weight regardless of the age. STOP STARVING PIGS TO KEEP THEM SMALL!!!!!! You will never get respect for abusing your pig, not from us or any respectable organization that has a genuine love for pigs. Big pigs are beautiful. There are no recognized breeds named teacup or micro. Check out the links below to see the sources, there are links on these pages from universities and the science community research studies. These are credible resources, not just some person who said so. Don't let your selfish desires outweigh the needs of a pig. Many are simply not equipped or prepared to bring one home and do so anyways. I was one of the people. You can read the heartbreaking article that I wrote in his honor that depicts his short life by clicking here. 

A few links for you to look at.
Healthy versus unhealthy pigs. 
Guide to nutrition
Pig breeds
​Teacup pig myth
Realistic sizes of pigs from real owners
https://www.thedodo.com/big-is-beautiful
http://www.skippingkunekunes.com/jack__jill 
www.teacuppig.info

Let all that information soak in and we will even give you the opportunity to form a counter argument. By all means, post a comment or let us know what you think. We can provide scientific data to support our thoughts, can you? We welcome your questions or comments, we also welcome a well thought out counter argument supported by facts. But please be prepared to post credible resources because, we are. Someone telling you something doesn't make it credible, FYI.

This is Jack-Jack, the same pictured at the top of this blog.

This is the same pig pictured from the top of the blog, his name was Jack-Jack. He was saved and rehabilitated by Gretchen Schlueter Kendall. Sadly, Jack passed away in 2012 due to twisted gut, likely as a result of scar tissue that formed after a procedure he had much earlier in his life. While we HATE seeing pictures of pigs in this condition, it is very important that people see the long term effects of blatant neglect to properly care for their pigs. THIS is what is left when you no longer want the responsibility. Jack-Jack was one of the lucky pigs who was able to overcome his past and was always a great pet pig. He just wasn't given enough time here on earth. Rest in peace sweet angel. Your story will help to educate many others. You can read more of his story by clicking the following link. http://www.skippingkunekunes.com/jack__jill

This is Oscar, he is a pig that was being starved and eaten alive by rats at the age of 7 years old, nearly dead weighing in at about 20-25lbs because the breeder told the owner to feed 1/4 cup of food DAILY. Does this look like a healthy pig?

This wound was almost to the spine. Without proper nutrition, the body can't heal effectively. The body relies on the nutrients in order to maintain the skins integrity and build immunity and strong muscles, etc. 

This is the same pig about a year later. Miraculous recovery after being appropriately cared for and fed correct. He has a permanent deformity to his side due to his past neglect, but overall, has recovered quite well despite his former situation. Thankfully, Katherine Wilson saved his life!!!!

Here are a bunch of starving pigs. Very sad to see people posting pigs like this. This picture was shared by our dear friend Sherri Boley. I believe these are pigs posted by a breeder, but not entirely sure. If so, this is sad, sad, sad. I can only imagine the nutrition advice this person would give someone new to pigs. EXACTLY why this website was created....to tell the truth!