Nutrition for Potbellied Pigs

Potbellied pigs are a breed of small pigs originating in Southeastern Asia that people frequently have as pets. In the wild, these pigs munch on seeds, berries, worms, roots and nuts. While it isn't necessary to dig through the ground looking for worms for dinner, it is important that your pig eats healthily.

  1. Meals and Snacks

    • Feed your pig two large meals every day, serving these for breakfast and dinner. The meals should consist of the head of a romaine lettuce and a cup of vegetables. It's also important to mix in commercial potbellied pig pellets. Such pellets are good for the pig, but don't serve them alone as they supply a restricted selection of nutrients. Add an egg to the pig's food twice a week. Supply the pig with small amounts of vegetables throughout the day to snack on.

    Vegetables

    • Peppers, lima beans, peeled zucchini, green beans and sweet potatoes are all options when choosing vegetables. Cauliflower and broccoli are fine, but in very small amounts as they can cause gas. You can also use corn carrots and peas, but sparingly, as the high amount of sugar in each causes hyperactive behavior. Use fresh or frozen vegetables instead of the canned variety, as these contain added sodium.

    Treats

    • Your potbellied pig is your pet so it's natural that you will want to pamper it from time to time. Fruit can be a great treat for your pig, but sparingly, because of its high amounts of sugar. Your pig will greatly appreciate unsalted and unbuttered popcorn as well. Other options include crackers with no salt or sugar and natural cereals. You could also mix almonds into potbellied pig pellets.

    Off the Menu

    • Chocolate and avocados are toxic to pigs so never feed these to your pet, even as a rare treat. Many plants are also toxic to pigs so avoid them all to be safe. Hog and sow pellets may sound like pig food but these items are made to boost growth in pigs intended for slaughter, so don't consider them. Processed human food, cat food and dog food can all cause obesity for pigs. Dog and cat food can also contain more protein than necessary for pigs.