Did you ever sniff, sneeze, and wheeze because of dogs and cats? Is your allergy from fur keeping you from getting a cute little pet? If all of these are accurate, then you might want to try getting a Teacup Pig. This mini pet is odor-free, fur-free, and there is small to zero chance that someone is allergic to it.
You might be thinking that it can precisely fit into a teacup, but it is not as literal as that. Breeders use that term to accentuate that it is smaller than a regular farm pig. This piglet weighs 75 to 200 pounds. It can grow 12-18 inches in height and around 20-25 inches in length.
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Cost of a Teacup Pig and Other One-Time Expenses
The price of teacup pigs ranges from $450 to $4,000. Cost varies contingent on age, size, color, breed, and conformation. It is advisable to see the facility and the parents of your piglet before you decide to buy. It will give you an idea of how big your piglet can grow. Afterward, you can move ahead to the shopping list necessities for your upcoming teacup.
Teacup pigs might love to run around but buying a crate is a win-win for you and your pet. Having their own home will prevent them from treating your entire house as a vast playground. It will also make them feel secure and you can even start a proper potty training. You can buy a big dog crate for $30 to a thousand dollars and expand once your piggy grows.
Inside the box, put a blanket that is suitable for your new piggy. A miniature pig loves a fluffy, warm blanket. Price ranges from $10 up to more than $100. Then add a piggy bowl, separate for water and food. Price of this bowl starts at $6.
A litter box for their potty is also essential to keep your house and backyard from being a mess. A standard litter box cost $13. Also, include buying pine pellets as well. You can buy a 4 lb all natural pine pellets for $5.
A fun activity is helpful for your teacup. Set up a pet playpen or baby gate so that your piggy has a safe space. Also, add a toy for additional fun. Miniature pig loves to play balls.
Harness and leash are also helpful especially if you want to take you a mini pig for a walk outside. The price of this accessory starts at $15.
What You’re Getting for the Price of a Teacup Pig
Different pet shops have different perks and freebies for teacups buyer. Some of them provide a plastic bag of Mazuri Adult Miniature Pig food that is sufficient at least for three days. Others will give a blanket and/or bath scrubby and a bottle of skin lotion. Breeders wanted to make sure that teacups will be comfortable in their new home.
Some breeders are more generous enough to give a free crate which will fit your micro mini pig for a short span.
In addition to the freebies, you will also get a receipt for the purchase which includes your chosen piggy’s date of birth, breed, age, height, weight, length, and your name as the new owner. You will also get guidelines for feeding and proper caring of your teacup pig.
Recurring Costs
Petting a teacup pig is approximately a 20-year commitment. You need to give your pet more time and attention as it is very clingy.
Miniature pig price might seem a little costly but other than that, you also need to prepare for its everyday necessities. It has particular needs that you might want to add to your weekly or monthly budget, specifically:
- Feeding and Diet
Eating is probably the most favorite pastime of this animal so make sure not to overfeed it because teacups are prone to obesity.
You might be a bit excited about giving your baby piggy its first food. However, make sure not to feed it with formulated food with corn because its stomach is very sensitive. It is better to feed it an old-fashioned oat. You can buy a 2.5-lb. bag of oats for $22. It can help lower its acid.
Once it reaches 10 pounds or on its 4th month, you can slowly start to transition its food to formula. You can start with Mazuri Youth formula. For $25, you can have 25 lbs. of this feeds. It has whey that helps protect the stomach from acid.
For piglets, you can feed them 1/3 cup twice a day, then gradually increase it as they grow. Once they are adult, you can give them 1 cup twice a day. The amount of food will vary by the pig’s size and other factors.
Feed green leafy veggies, hard boiled eggs, fruits, and occasionally, some unsalted nuts. You can also give them Cheerios, and shredded wheat grains for treats.
Fiber is beneficial for your piggy so to make sure to add some to its diet, give it bran or alfalfa hay. Avoid producing citrus fruits, pineapple, peppers, and onions. Also, avoid giving salty or fatty foods.
- Hygiene and Grooming
Teacup pig is low maintenance when it comes to hygiene. It does not need a fur-cut or nail clipping. All it needs is a good bathe every day as it might get a little messy because of its activity. You can wash your pig as often as you want, but make sure it is not very often because your pet will get used to it.
Bathing it is a lot easier. Just put it in a tub or sink then use sprayer so that it can shower. Bring its body gloves so you can lather it while bathing. It will help remove dry skin. You can use pig soap and shampoo for $5 but you can online or from the nearest pet store in your area. As an alternative, you can use baby products.
After its bath, you can use moisturizer or oil on its skin as it has the tendency to dry. Teacups do not sweat and their skin will become tremendously dry and flaky. Just make sure to put a light coat only.
- Health-Related Overheads
Vet consultation depends on the age of your piglets. For ages 1 -11, fee ranges from $150-$300 annually. However, for 12-20 years old price ranges from $300- $500 per year.
Meanwhile, major operation, surgical and other health-related issues might cost around $4500. So, always keep an emergency fund.
Vaccination – the state you currently live in plays a prominent role in what kind of vaccine will be suitable for your piglet. Some specific areas have a widespread of diseases that can have an impact on your teacup’s health. It is always best to check the nearest vet in your area to ensure what appropriate vaccinations are suggested or essential.
Nevertheless, on a yearly basis after the initial double dose at 6 -10 weeks and 12 -14 weeks, the injection should include Erysipelas, Bordetella, and Pasteurella. They can be injected either in the butt muscle or the neck about 2-3 inches behind the ear. Vaccine for pets cost $10-$50 per shot.
Neutering/Spaying – most piglets are prone to hormone issues. It means that they become sexually mature at a very young age due to their overwhelming hormones. Consequently, spaying or neutering is very important to avoid behavioral problems of a pig.
Spaying should be done on the 6th to 8th week for female pigs. Not being able to do so might cause a monthly menstrual cycle and may develop PMS-type symptoms. Also, pigs will have a high risk of developing reproductive cancers including ovarian, mammary, and uterine. Some breeders have already spayed the pigs. Otherwise, you have to pay around <ahref=”https://www.9sites.org/pigrescue/adoptionchecklist.htm”>$250-$500.
For male pigs, they should be neutered between 3 and 6 weeks. If not, they will grow large tusks, become aggressive, and exhibit a foul odor.
Hoof Trimming – this process should be done 3 to 4 times a year to help maintain a healthy teacup. Hoof trimming will help keep the correct shape of your pig’s hooves. It is better to do this while it is still young or else, its feet and joints might be deformed.
You can use a hard wire cutter or large nail cutter for $14 and a $7 high grit emery board in hoof trimming. However, as your pig grows, the hooves will become thicker which leads you to use a more massive tool such as goat hoof trimmers that cost $21 or a horse hoof nippers that costs around $33.
Deworming – you can do this procedure every three months or twice a year depending on the season or how frequent your teacup is playing outside. You can either give this orally or through a shot. Either way, this is best to be done by a vet or you might want to talk to your vet if you can do it yourself. Ivomec 1percent solution, Dectomax, Safeguard goat dewormer, and Ivermectin are some of the top choices.
Mange Mites –if your piglet has flaky and dry skin with tint, it means it has mites. If this occurs, dust your miniature pig using Seven-5 powder. Prices range from $23 – $65 depending on the number of packs. You can also use an oatmeal shampoo to bathe your piggy every day for one week. It costs around $20.
- Shelter Maintenance
Let your teacup pig have fun outside the crater while you are cleaning its shelter. Remove all the accessories such as toys, blankets, beddings, and other items inside the cage. In case the toys have feces or urine, clean them by using any soap then wipe them until they dry.
Once you remove all the items, take the crate outside as cleaning it might be messy. You can buy a cleaning solution for $9 then mix it with water and put it in a spray container. Spray the solution to the crater then brush it carefully and thoroughly to make sure the cage is sanitized.
Factors Affecting the Price
Appearance – The typical color of the mini pig is either pink or black. Rare spots, stripes, coloration, and eye color have an impact on its price. Once there is something unique on its looks, expect that the rate will be a bit higher. Different markings are results of breeding minipigs.
Size category – The maximum size of mini pigs are different and it depends on their types. Göttingen Pig is the smallest of the pigs while Vietnamese Potbelly Pig is the largest among all the types of piglets. Potbellies can weigh up to 200 lbs. But they are still smaller compared to an 800 lbs farm pig.
Another type of mini pig is Kune Kune. This type is relatively little and it has the short-legged, short upturned nose, voluptuous appearance.
Other than that, the most popular type is the Mini Juliana which is well-known for its spots. This painted pig’s spots are a breed requirement.
The last type is Micro Mini pig which is the smallest breed. Mirco minis come in a variety of colors. They can weigh from 18 lbs to 80 lbs
Defect – Although it is very unusual that breeders have defective mini pigs, there might be an unfortunate instance that a pig comes out deaf. If this happens, its price goes down in the market.
Gender – Since all mini pigs are captive-bred, there is also a chance that owners will buy mini pigs for business purposes. Because of that, female pigs are more expensive than males. However, a rare male pig is more costly than the classic female teacups.
Tips and Advice
To find out where to buy a micro pig, you can search for reputable teacup pig breeders near you online.
Some states prohibit any pig as a pet; Oklahoma, New York to name a few, so you may want to learn about pet ownership regulations in your area.
Since teacup pigs are a bit expensive, buying from legit breeders is imperative. Ensure that you are getting the value for your money.
Breeders also make sure that before the owner takes their new pet, it is iron-shot, needle teeth clipped, dewormed, and free of mites. Legit breeders also offer lifetime support and lifetime congenital disability guarantee.
Micro mini pigs are one of the best and unique pets. They love to cuddle and socialize with humans. In addition to that, their intelligence makes them very easy to train. Although miniature pigs might be pricey, their charm and uniqueness will definitely capture your heart.
