Mini Pig Weight Loss

Mini Pig Weight Loss

Mini Pig Weight Loss | Mini Pig Diet Plan Blog by The Mini Pig FarrierMini Pig weight loss is a touchy subject for many of us trimming services as well as pig owners. The last thing someone wants to hear is their animal is overweight or morbidly obese. Unfortunately, there is a lot misinformation and learned beliefs that pigs are supposed to be fat. Round most definitely is a shape, however, it’s not a shape ideal for pigs’ joint health, breathing, and hooves.

Obese Mini Pig Risks

Obese mini pigs are often sore, grumpy, and “lazy”. Far too often, obesity is related to multiple factors including one or more of the following:

  • Long hooves
  • Improperly trimmed hooves
  • Cracked hooves
  • Laminitis (an extremely painful and chronic hoof condition that flares caused from excess starches in the diet)
  • Previous injury
  • Junk food intake
  • Corn intake
  • Sweet feed intake
  • Excessive pelleted feed intake
  • Dog food intake (dog food is not acceptable pig feed under any circumstance)
  • Lack of area to exercise and forage

Excessive fat around the face further hinders pigs’ already-poor eyesight and sinus cavities. Additionally, fat carried near the trachea and lungs further complicates overall respiration and can also cause difficulty eating. Excessive weight puts excess stress on the spine, hips, and shoulders of the pig. Down at the very bottom of all this is the hooves carrying this weight. Excessive stress on the hooves compromises hoof integrity. A weak hoof caused from obesity is more susceptible to pressure cracks, infection, and broken bones.

Overweight and obese mini pigs are at risk of complications in veterinary medicine. As we all know, sedation is risky in mini pigs–including healthy mini pigs. Pigs in need of surgery with excessive fat can have complications during sedation/anesthesia. This includes an increased risk of airway and respiratory complications during- and post- procedure.

By taking the proactive measures in keeping your mini pig at a healthy body condition, or beginning a new intake pig on a healthier lifestyle, you’re increasing their quality of life on multiple levels.

Mini Pig Body Condition

First step, check out our blog on mini pig body condition to score your mini pig. This will give you a general idea of whether your pig is in need of losing weight.

Mini Pig Weight Loss Treat Ideas | The Mini Pig Farrier Blog

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Mini Pig Weight Loss Diet

  • Decrease all sugars in the form of fruit, sweet feed, and junk food.
  • Remove all starches in the form of corn, potatoes, and junk food.
  • Decrease pelleted feed to maximum 1-1.5 cups daily. Use a measuring cup–not a coffee cup or otherwise “guesstimate” cup. This can be split into two feedings. Soak pellets in water to prevent choking. Water in pellets also helps increase hydration and satiety. 
  • Increase all shades of GREEN vegetables as source of fresh produce. Examples include: Celery, zucchini, cucumber, brussels sprouts, lettuce, kale, spinach (in moderation), asparagus, broccoli, green beans.
  • Vegetables in other colors can be fed sparingly as treats each week during weight loss period.

Mini Pig Weight Loss Fitness

Just as we need to exercise, so does your mini pig. Mini pig weight loss happens in the kitchen, but purposeful movement is also important. In morbidly obese pigs, just getting a pig to stand up can be enough a few times a day. Pig with a few extra pounds who are mobile can be taken on short brisk walks. The ultimate goal is to move away from a sedentary environment. Pigs active throughout the day will boost their metabolism, thus increasing fat loss.

  • Increase standing from laying position
  • Short walks around the house/pen/property 1-2 times per day
  • Use enrichment toys to increase time on foot

Easy low calorie + enrichment activity: plain air popped popcorn spread in yard to forage.  Diced cucumbers or zucchini are another option. Plain rolled oats are great too for additional fiber and vitamins/minerals. Gerber baby puff grains are also another tasty option in moderation. 

Mini Pig Parent Coaching Opportunities

If you’re interested in additional help, Katelyn with The Mini Pig Farrier offers 1:1 video chat and written consults related to nutrition, body condition, and weight loss for mini pig parents in need of accountability and guidance. Please Email for pricing and availability.

Supplemental Reading:

Body Condition Scoring: https://theminipigfarrier.com/mini-pig-body-condition-scoring/ 

Mini Nutrition: https://theminipigfarrier.com/mini-pig-nutrition/ 

Treats infographic: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/734860864195677835/

Mini Pig Hoof Deformities

Mini Pig Hoof Deformities

Mini Pig Cloven Hoof Structure

A cloven hoof structure is ideal. 

Sheep, goats, deer, cattle, and pigs have cloven hoof structures. It is a split hoof structure made up of two digits equivalent to our third and fourth fingers. The inner toe closer to the center of the pig is called the medial claw. The outer toe toward the outside of the pig is called the lateral claw. Pigs should have a straight hoof structure with even weight bearing on both toes. The toes should be even in shape and length, with no hooking or crossing of the toe toward the other.

Where pigs differ from these other critters is their dew claws, also called accessory claws. In other animals, they serve no purpose. In pigs, they are used for stability while moving. If cut too short, pigs lose their stability. If left too long, pigs can risk injuries. This includes pain while walking from dewclaws curling under the main weight bearing toes, breaking off the dewclaw and bleeding, to breaking the bone within the dewclaw if it gets snagged on something hard enough.

Mini Pig Syndactyly Hoof Structure

Most often said to be a mulefoot hoof–even by other trimmers. Syndactyly was introduced by The Mini Pig Farrier into the pig community in 2018 after working with a rescue case in Indiana. Since then, we’ve trimmed many more cases of these types of hooves, as well as educate pig parents posting online asking why their pigs’ hooves look different than others.

Syndactyly looks close to a cloven hoof, except the two weight-bearing digits are often fused together. It can be a partial fusion with some independent flexion of the toes, or run down the length of the hoof with what looks like a fold. The heels of syndactyly hooves may look like a modified rounded “M” shape, or they may have one big heel on the underside.

Pigs can have one leg that is syndactyl, or all legs presenting syndactyly. 

This deformity has a higher risk of thrush, rot and infection if partially fused and hoof care is not priority.

The Veterinary industry to our knowledge has not performed surgeries to surgically separate toes. If you know of (or have performed on) a case with a positive outcome and images, please contact us so this section can be updated.

Mini Pig Mulefoot Hoof Structure

Mulefoot is a subset of syndactyly. Mulefoot is named after mules, having an uncloven hoof structure. True mulefoot is rarely seen in miniature pigs, although this characteristic may have originated from Mulefoot hogs in the 1900’s. In mulefoot toes, there is no crease on the top part of the weight-bearing hoof as seen in syndactyly hooves. The heel on the underside of the leg is all one solid cushion. In most mulefoot cases we’ve seen, these pigs often walk mostly on the heel rather than a heel-toe pattern gait. Mulefoot pigs typically have two dew claws per leg.

 

Mini Pig Polydactyly Hoof Structure

Polydactyly is more well known, especially with cats. Polydactyly mini pigs have more than two cloven hoof structures and/or more than two dewclaws on one leg. 

Sometimes these additional toes/accessory claws may be weight bearing depending on the angle and location they are at. What may look like a dewclaw may instead be another toe and the pig only has one dewclaw. The variances can be endless with polydactyly pigs!

Mini Pig Hoof Care

Pig hoof anatomy is more than just hooves and dewclaws. There are variances to the equation above that can get thrown into the mix. When deciding to bring in a pig to your household, look for these hoof variances. Ideally, a cloven hoof structure with straight toes will be a healthier conformation. When it comes to trimming mini pig hoof deformities, one needs to know what they’re looking at and how/what to trim.

As a specialized mini pig hoof trimming service and educational platform, it is up to us to properly educate our clients and community. Learn these terms and use them the next time you post in a mini pig group or forum. Share with your Veterinarian and ask if they have seen or have worked with similar cases. It takes a village to help each other continue to improve our knowledge of these beloved pets.

Mini Pig Hoof Trimming

Mini Pig Hoof Trimming

Mini pig hoof trimming. Where to begin?
Original Posting: Nov 19, 2018 | Latest Update: October 19, 2021
 
Secrets to Mini Pig Hoof Trimming | The Mini Pig FarrierTime and time again we come across inquiries with responses mentioning their pig isn’t very active anymore or always seems crabby. These are usually pigs that had gone from a happy, active pig that used to root around, to a pig that only comes out to potty and barely stands up to eat or drink. When we arrive, every single time laid a pig with extremely long hooves and/or hoof trauma.
 
Weight loss as far as nutritional changes only goes so far. It takes moving and burning energy in addition to the addition of fresh produce and/or commercial feed. If a pig in your care is being fed the correct amount of food daily and is still gaining weight (or having trouble losing weight), take a closer look at their little trotters.

MINI PIG HOOF TRIMMING TOOLS

Being a mini pig hoof trimming service that specializes in miniature pig hooves, we have searched and tested multiple tools out there that work best for our line of work. There are many others out there that may not agree with the tool selection we recommend. It is up to you to decide what is best for yourself and your pig when trimming hooves at home. The following tools are what we recommend for hoof trimming at home and tools our clients see in our own professional hoof trimming equipment. 
 
Affiliate Disclosure: The FTC legally requires us to mention our blog posts may contain affiliate links. This means we may earn a small commission for our endorsement, recommendation, testimonial, and/or link to products from this website. Your purchase through our affiliate links helps support our work in bringing you the most up-to-date and quality pig hoof care and maintenance research and development.

Note: We NEVER recommend horse hoof trimmers/horse nippers for trimming pig hooves. Filing tools are the safest option for at-home use, including beginners getting used to working with pigs. As a professional service that has seen hundreds of pigs, previous trimmers using equine nippers and shears/limb trimmers have caused one too many botch hoof trims, long-term injuries, and mental trauma to pigs.

MINI PIG HOOF LENGTH AND SHAPE

Mini Pig Hoof Trimming | Pig Hoof Care Tools | The Mini Pig FarrierIf you were wearing improperly fit shoes, or shoes that had a wedge on one side of your foot, you would feel uncomfortable and unsure to walk daily. This is how a pig with long hooves feels. Over time, long hooves and/or excess weight on their hooves can lead to hoof and muscle trauma, causing discomfort, limping, muscle pain and joint inflammation, hoof cracks, hoof rot, and in some rare cases, hoof splits that are extreme and need repair.

The length of a mini pig hoof varies depending on genetics. Pigs with strong potbelly genetics have a wider hoof structure to account for their weight. Pigs with half or more feral hog genetics have a slim and longer hoof structure as wild pigs need speed and better digging capabilities. When trimming longer overgrown hooves, it is essential to follow the “less is more” protocol. By allowing yourself room to file the hooves back, you risk less of a chance of cutting into the soft blood-rich tissue of the sole. 

On light and darker colored hooves, you can often see the sole shape within the hoof by filing off old layers of the hoof on the underside. On younger pig hooves, you can easily look at the hoof in sunlight or with a flashlight. With pigs that have years of hoof buildup, the shape of the sole can be harder to see. This is why a rotary tool comes in very handy to start shaving off old layers get down to the newer layers of hoof all around. A white or grey line will appear in darker hooves that outlines the unique shape of your pig’s hoof. Younger pigs normally have less layers on the hoof and are easier to see where new growth is.

Mini Pig Hoof Trim Informational Gallery

MINI PIG HOOF KERATIN BUILDUP

Now, the hoof length and shape is just a part of the equation when it comes to hoof care. Any keratin buildup along the hairline (coronary band) of the hoof can also pose an issue. Pig hooves grow new hoof layers all the way around the hoof. That is where most go wrong in hoof trimming sessions. Buildup on the underside of the hoof can cause imbalance when walking and harbor bacteria/fungus in older separated layers that can lead to thrush and hoof rot. Buildup on the top of the hoof can lead to joint inflammation and hide cracks that may also lead to infections that can travel to the bone. By keeping the hairline—similar to a human cuticle—clean, moisturized, and free of excess keratin buildup, this will help fight cracks and joint inflammation. A cleaner growth will begin coming in after a proper trim and moisturizing, as well as any nutritional changes to promote stronger, healthier hooves.

Mini Pig Hoof Periople | The Mini Pig Farrier BlogPIG HOOF PERIOPLE

The Periople is located right at the coronary band and extends partially down the toe. The Periople provides a layer of protection of the hoof and helps aid in retaining moisture within the hoof. If this area becomes damaged from injury or a crack, the area can stunt in growth, grow weaker, or become inflamed, leading to pain while walking (or pigs that will stop walking altogether). In most overgrown cases as well as crack repair, we will file some to all of this off to address underlying issues. There is a huge division in the pig (and equine) hoof trimming worlds as to whether this is functional or not. We have found our method to be helpful for both studying hoof growth patterns in pigs, as well as treating cracks and excess keratin buildup to promote a smoother growth pattern moving forward. Take this information as you will.

BALANCING THE MINI PIG HOOF

Another important part of hoof care is the balance of the hoof. There should never be a lip or ridge post-trim; the bottom of the hoof should feel flat.

Not every hoof trim is the same, though. In corrective work, we may leave a structurally short toe with more hoof wall length to balance to the longer claw at a better angle. This allows a pig’s hooves the most even balance when walking. Many pigs who have a naturally straight hoof structure and walk on concrete/paved environments regularly will naturally balance and file the underside of their hooves.

MINI PIG HEEL CALLUS WORK

If the heel, or pad/fleshy part below the hoof on the underside has callus buildup, those too may be addressed so your pig has a nice cushion and natural shock absorption when stepping down onto surfaces. Keeping the heel moisturized will also help fight against cracking and extreme callus buildup. Hard and overgrown heels often lead to walking at incorrect angles such as one hoof curving upward, overgrowth of pad onto or in between the hooves, and uncomfortable skin calluses that grow in between the main hooves and cause the hooves to splay apart. In more extreme cases, callus removal is only recommended by a professional hoof trimmer as filing too deep can cause bleeding, pain, and discomfort.
 

Mini Pig Dewclaws | Mini Pig Hoof Trimming Blog | The Mini Pig FarrierMINI PIG DEWCLAW LENGTH AND TRIMMING

In addition to hoof length and shape, balance, and heel care, mini pig dewclaw length is important for daily life. The dewclaw acts as extra support and stability when walking and running. If cut too short, your pig will not have that extra support needed while losing weight, walking around, even using steps and ramps. If cut into the soft tissue of the dewclaw, this can lead to bleeding and pain.

 
When standing, the dewclaw should sit right above the hairline of the main hoof. If the dewclaws are too long, they can curl under the hoof and cause issues while walking. If longer dewclaws continue to become overgrown, a higher risk of injury can happen, such as the keratin sheath degloving, leading to bleeding and pain until the dewclaw grows bath. During this time, there is a higher chance of infection from the exposed soft tissue.
 
If your pig is laying down or flipped, gently pull the main hooves back as if they were standing on a hard surface. Match where their dewclaws sit in correlation to the main hoof hairline. Dewclaws should be trimmed (if needed) and filed flat. A flat tip provides better support versus a pointy/narrow tipped dewclaw that can break or crack.
 

MINI PIG HOOF CONDITIONER

Applying hoof conditioner should be done after any hoof trim, and throughout the week as a normal ritual. Hoof conditioner helps keep the hairline from drying out which can lead to cracks and keratin buildup. Normal application can actually help strengthen the hooves and create a healthy hoof growth pattern. We always recommend using more natural options. Many hoof conditioners on the market have petroleum-based, turpentine, and tar ingredients that hinder moisture absorption or fish-based ingredients that can go rancid if stored improperly. Many pigs do not like hoof conditioners due to the scent. Pigs have extraordinary olfactory senses!
 
Use of a light carrier oil as a hoof conditioner helps provide moisture to promote healthy hoof growth. Oils such as jojoba, sunflower, avocado, or neem are great. We never recommend applying coconut or olive oils undiluted as they are too heavy on a pig’s skin, especially around the hairline. Pigs lack sweat glands and can easily get ingrown hairs from comedogenic oils. Pigs can overheat in warmer weather from these barrier-like effects of thicker oils.
The following hoof conditioner formulas we have used in the past. As of April 2019, we use and recommend Hoof Alive at all appointments. 

MINI PIG HOOF TRIMMING CONCLUSION

When it comes to trimming mini pig hooves, there is a lot to take into account. Take your journey one step at a time to get comfortable and confident at inspecting your pigs’ hooves. Should you decide to trim yourself or feel your last professional trim job was not done correctly, please feel free to use the information to help as a small guide. If you still have questions regarding any of the topics explained above, please email us to request an online 1:1 consultation.

If this blog has helped you in your personal or professional learning, please do us a favor and share this blog with others. The more up-to-date information available to pig parents, the better the future of the miniature pig community.

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How to Trim Mini Pig Hooves | The Mini Pig Farrier Blog

Mini Pig Terrain

Mini Pig Terrain

[Updated Jan 1, 2022]

Pigs in the wild are constantly moving across various terrain. Because of this, they tend to wear their hooves down naturally from crossing rocky environments and asphalt roads. Many mini pig owners tend to have their pets indoors, which can be a detriment to their hoof health with more frequent hoof trimming needs.

Terrain for Mini Pig Hoof Care

If your mini pig has an outdoor pen, make sure they have a variance of BOTH soft and rough terrain. Mimicking their feral relatives, this will provide a more natural environmental balance so their hooves aren’t getting too much wear, don’t stay too wet, and also helps them self-maintain their hooves and need less frequent hoof trims. Ideal mini pig terrain is crucial to promote overall health.

Rough Terrain for Mini Pigs

For rough surface terrain, concrete pavers or stepping stones are the easiest solution. If you are building your pig’s pen and are pouring concrete, even better. We advise the addition of rough surfaces in the following areas:

  • Inside and/or outside of their shelter
  • In feeding areas
  • In water bowl/troth areas
  • Surrounding mud wallows
  • Any area where pigs routinely go through, such as a run or corridor to a larger pen area

The rough terrain does a few things:

– Helps naturally file the underside hoof wall

– Helps the hoof wall not get overly saturated during wet seasons when mud is prevalent 

– Causes the hoof wall to strengthen and become denser and less pliable

Other solutions for natural filing are using grit additive to deck paint and granulated roofing underlayment or skateboard tape on ramps or platforms. These options offer not only a non-slip surface, but also an aid in natural filing.

Pigs who stay primarily indoors can still wear naturally if a platform is built with the above materials. Some owners utilize their garage area if they have rough concrete to create a climate controlled “day pen”.

Soft Terrain for Mini Pigs

Soft terrain for mini pigs is also healthy for their hooves. An area of grass or dirt allows the hooves to not wear too thin on the underside. If your pig goes for frequent walks outdoors, it is helpful to make sure your mini pig takes some time on less abrasive surfaces or has some carpet or grass to walk on at home when not out taking walks. The more soft terrain your miniature pig has, the quicker they may need hoof trimming, which is why we recommend a balance. 

Softer terrain can help moisturize the hooves from dew or mud during wet weather patterns. With the balance of rough terrain, the hooves will not become over-saturated with moisture, especially when a routine hoof conditioner such as Hoof Alive is applied to help balance the hoof and coronary band moisture levels.

Miniature Pig Hoof Trimming

The Mini Pig Farrier believes in working as many mini pigs as possible toward an annual trim schedule whenever possible. If a miniature pig has sound hoof health and ideal hoof genetics to file naturally, it is better to allow them to file more naturally as they would in the wild. Your pig will naturally balance their hooves to a comfortable angle. An annual trim with a professional trimming service makes sure there are no underlying hoof issues that may need to be addressed superficially, environmentally or nutritionally. If you would like to learn more about hoof trimming and the tools we recommend, check out our blog here.

Mini Pig Terrain Blog | The Mini Pig Farrier | Pig Pen SetupIdeal Mini Pig Pen

An ideal mini pig pen setup will offer the best of both worlds in terms of soft and hard surfaces. The graphic to the left shows one of many layout designs which can be done for a mini pig pen for outdoor and indoor/outdoor pigs. A soft balance of grass and mud/dirt and concrete allows for self maintenance. In addition, we show split pastures. This allows pigs to have grazing nearly year round depending on your climate.

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The Prey Intellect Awareness Technique

The Prey Intellect Awareness Technique (PIA Technique) was developed and mastered by Johnathon and Katelyn Goltz of The Mini Pig Farrier. After being introduced into the miniature pet pig community by accident, we quickly learned about the need for a sedation-free option for pigs in need of routine hoof trimming services. 

Early Pig Hoof Trimming Discoveries

Educational materials were sorely lacking for miniature pig hoof trimming in 2017 before the formation of our blog. The videos we came across showed barbaric practices. Some farriers used ropes to yank a pig down. Others used their knees to dig into the sides of pigs while attempting to get pigs off balance to flip. Snout snares were used to catch potbelly pigs and hold them in place for trimming. Other videos show pigs tied to a fence panel to be trimmed while standing. Far more materials mentioned use of sedation in the form of alcohol and veterinary prescribed sedatives.

All of this material was shocking to us. With both of us coming from various backgrounds in pet industries, we view pets as part of the family. Pigs were no different. Why were others treating these highly intelligent animals with such disrespect? 

The Prey Intellect Awareness Technique Blog | The Mini Pig Farrier

The Prey Intellect Awareness Technique

Due to the lack of educational materials (and overall treatment of pet pigs), we developed our own unique style. We observed what NOT to do. Performing controlled simulations and troubleshooting helped further our style. Having the opportunity to pivot and adapt on-site with various temperaments of pigs at private sanctuaries also helped prepare for the unexpected. To date, we learn from clients about more outdated (and dangerous) methods sadly still being used by other hoof trimmers.

We felt the need to open up to our technique as a full-time specialized trimmer whose daily clientele is solely pigs. Anyone can develop a technique or method. What’s important is to know how to explain why one does what they do. Always be curious. Ask your hoof trimmer why they use a certain tool, why they hold your pig the way they do, why they believe sedation is the “best” option.

The Mini Pig Farrier uses a holistic approach to sedation-free miniature pig hoof trimming. There is a much bigger picture many pig owners and curious parties do not see or notice in person or videos. Our technique is just the surface of providing top-notch hoof trimming services. The Prey Intellect Awareness Technique involves the following understanding and application of the following components pre- intra- and post-trim for miniature pigs:

Pigs Are Prey Animals

Pigs are prey animals. They respond to situations much more differently than predators. A pigs’ last resort is using violence. Running, jumping, hiding, squealing are first choices. Pigs are quick, strong, and intelligent. What you may have planned will be a totally different plan for a pig if they can help it.

Dominant Stance Over a Pig

A pig being flipped on their back to immobilize them is the most standard form of restraining. Yes, flip the pig is a type of restraining method. Far too many trimmers and veterinarians stand over pigs’ bellies the full duration of hoof trimming. A pig’s most delicate area least protected by their thick skin is their belly. By understanding prey, their typical response is going to be SURVIVE. This is when most pigs kick, squeal, and some attempt to bite. They may also try to flop back and forth, especially if they have a longer torso. Our patent-pending pig restraining system helps keep pigs securely on their back, protecting their shoulders, spine, and hips. The compression of this system also calms about 90-95% of our cases compared to previous experiences mentioned by owners. This also allows us to sit at the sides of a pig, alleviating stress of a typical prey response.

Pig Fight and Flight Response

As mentioned before, a pig’s first response will be running, jumping, hiding, and squealing. This can be especially frustrating for a pig owner or service that doesn’t work with pigs regularly. By understanding a pigs’ natural response can also include swiping, biting, charging, we can prepare for all spectrums of pig behavior upon arrival. This includes but is not limited to:

  • Use of livestock sorting boards
  • A PDF explaining ideal pen or enclosure setup prior to our arrival
  • Removal of items that can potentially injure the pig and trimmer
  • Safety equipment (such as our HexArmor gear)
  • Keeping all other animals away or separated from a trimming area

Sensory Adaptation During Pig Hoof Trimming

Sensory adaptation is a reduction in sensitivity to a stimulus after constant exposure to it. We use sensory adaptation with the grinding tools we use on pig hooves. Our two main tools used are Hoof Boss and a Milwaukee rotary too. The way we acclimate a mini pig is in the following steps:

  • Turn the tool on
  • Allow the tool to run
  • Gently touch the back of the tool to the leg/hoof so the pig feels the vibration
  • Slowly ease into filing the hoof
  • Repeat the process with each leg

We believe in a slow and steady approach. Sure, we could rush the process, but this doesn’t help the pigs’ mental state. This allows for a positive experience. Pigs realize they are not being hurt. Fight/flight mechanism begins lowering.

Calming Methods During Pig Hoof Trimming

During pig hoof trimming, calming methods may be implemented. Some pigs prefer music being played. Others prefer a pillow under their head or a blanket tucked over their eyes. We have had some owners sit at their pigs’ head and talk to their critters which further strengthens their bond energetically. As a team hoof trimming service, John (trimmer) is able to focus on the hooves while Katelyn (assistant and content curator) is able to focus on talking to and gently petting pigs on their back.

Positive Reinforcement

Always end on a positive note. Use kind words when talking to a pig. Don’t talk down to or bully a pig who is in a vulnerable position. It’s detrimental for their mental state.

Another suggestion given to our clients is to have a nice treat or meal ready for their pig post-trim. This tiny gesture of positive reinforcement helps your intelligent pet pig relate hoof trimming as a positive experience. Allow your pig the space to move away from the area if they need the decompression. Don’t run after, yell, or get into your pigs’ space immediately after. Let them make the choice to come to you or come back to the area. If they were a bit more fussy than you would have liked, that’s okay. Hoof trimming progression and behavioral training isn’t linear. There will be hiccups along the way.

In Conclusion

By understanding and mastering these intricate components, our hoof trimming technique has made us the most well-respected and highly recommended service by pig owners, trimmers, mixed species behavioral trainers. and Veterinarians today. Implementing these practices has become much less stressful for pigs who have had a previously traumatic experience. Owners are less anxious. Pigs are less reactive. Balance restores.

We believe hoof trimming is more than hoof trimming. A hoof trim is a long term requirement for most pigs who cannot fully self-maintain their hooves; therefore, making a hoof trim a positive experience is essential. We invite you to learn more about our approach through our blog, social media posts, and videos