Pigs are sociable animals that can become very attached to humans. With sufficient space and a love for these intelligent creatures, living together can be a great joy. However, anyone considering keeping a mini pig like a cat or dog, i.e. in their home, should first read up extensively on the subject and study the needs of a small pig. These are no different from those of large pigs. Mini pigs are sometimes called "teacup pigs" because a piglet is so small right after birth that it fits in a teacup. But mini pigs grow naturally and quickly gain weight. To keep them happy, a mini pig needs enough space and an outdoor enclosure.
Pigs live in a herd; they need the company of their own kind, not a cat for a friend. A securely fenced outdoor enclosure with a mud bath—pigs love to wallow in mud—is essential. Your pigs will root around. So expect your lawn to resemble a battlefield after a short time – but at least it will be full of happy pigs!
Loving but consistent training is especially important if you want to let the animals into your living area. Pigs are very intelligent and can be trained. However, they also sense where they can get their own way.
The minis need a place to eat and sleep, shade and sun, and daily contact. Like large pigs, they are also subject to the regulations for farm animals. Please check with your local authority and veterinary office for specific regulations on keeping pigs.
Pigs are omnivores. However, it is important to monitor their diet and not be too generous, especially during the growth phase. After all, you don't want your little ones to get completely out of shape. You can buy pig feed mixes at pet stores and many hardware stores or order them online. Feeding kitchen scraps and raw meat is prohibited due to the risk of disease. You can give them fruit and vegetables as treats, and dry bread, dried fruit, and rusks are also popular with these little gourmets. Feed regularly at fixed times, preferably twice a day. Hay and straw to nibble on provide distraction between meals. Eating is also a pastime for pigs. Therefore, feel free to feed them specific food from feed balls or similar so that the animals have enough to do during the day.
Pig care also includes cleaning the pen. If you really want to keep your pig indoors, you can house-train it to use a special toilet, similar to a domestic cat. It is particularly important that this toilet is cleaned daily.
The little ones do most of their own grooming in the mud. You can create a wonderful mud bath by filling a sandbox with a little water. The sand will fall off on its own later – or you can treat your mini to a brush massage. The hooves of small pigs are well cared for if they have the opportunity to walk on solid rock often enough.
Regular visits to the vet are also part of keeping mini pigs as pets. In addition to deworming and regular checks for mites, vaccinations are also important; erysipelas and rabies should definitely be on the vaccination list. Your vet will know the specific current status of vaccination requirements.
A horse is quite large, and the damage it can cause is considerable. In the event of an accident, the costs can easily run into several thousand dollars. A substantial sum may also be required if our horse falls ill or even needs surgery. Not to mention the financial worries if we lend our horse and it has an accident while being ridden. It is therefore very sensible and important to think about what would happen in the worst-case scenario. There are plenty of insurance policies available. Every horse owner and rider should find out exactly what is available and choose the right policy for their needs. Below is a list of some insurance policies and situations where they might be needed.
Before acquiring a dog, it is important to consider not only the important questions regarding a suitable living environment, daily routine and care options. You should also address safety issues, which often begin with "What if...?" Yes, you guessed correctly: we are referring to insurance.
Not all cats are the same – but most of them do have some characteristic traits in common! Here are a few things you should know about cats and our special relationship with them.
Glaucoma describes a condition of increased intraocular pressure (physical pressure on the inner wall of the eye, leading to a constant, smooth curvature of the cornea), which causes damage to the retina and optic nerve. The medical term glaucoma comes from Greek and means "sea-colored," because the cornea turns blue due to the increase in pressure in the eye.
HCM is the most common heart disease in cats. Hypertrophy refers to the enlargement of an organ, in this case the thickening of the heart muscle. Cardiomyopathy refers to a heart muscle disease. As a result of the thickening of the heart muscle, the heart can no longer fill itself sufficiently with blood and cannot pump enough blood into the body's circulation. This leads to a backflow of blood into the pulmonary circulation, which in advanced stages can lead to water retention and shortness of breath.
Most horse owners are familiar with and fear this scenario. The horse suddenly stops eating, becomes restless, scrapes its hooves and kicks its belly. Colic basically describes any type of abdominal pain in horses. Unfortunately, colic in horses is a very complex problem and should never be taken lightly.
Rabies is a viral infection that has been known for thousands of years. Most mammals, including humans, are susceptible to it, and it can also be transmitted between animals and humans (zoonosis). The infection caused by the rabies virus almost always results in fatal brain inflammation. Rabies is a notifiable animal disease in Germany, which means that even suspected cases must be reported to the competent authorities. Germany has been recognized as free of rabies in non-flying animals since 2008. It continues to occur in bats.
Blood in the ear, which primarily occurs in dogs with drooping ears, refers to a specific type of hematoma in the outer ear. Affected dogs display a sudden swelling and warmth in the ear. In most cases, an underlying disease is the cause of a bloody ear. It is therefore extremely important to have your dog examined by a veterinarian in order to successfully treat the underlying disease and the hematoma itself.
They're back again in late summer and fall – fall mites. They cause allergic reactions in animals and humans, with severe itching and skin inflammation. Find out how to recognize them, treat them, and, ideally, prevent an infestation here.
Tympany refers to the accumulation of gas in internal organs; accumulations of gas in the intestines are colloquially referred to as flatulence. Due to their special digestive system, guinea pigs are relatively prone to tympany, which can sometimes be life-threatening.
Dogs are pack animals. They need clear structures and consistent rules to feel comfortable. Your dog should know its place in your family from the very beginning. A dog that obeys well is socially acceptable. Your fellow human beings will appreciate this. And you will enjoy being out in public with your dog more. Loving but consistent training is the basis for peaceful and stress-free coexistence between dogs and humans.
As the name suggests, this is not a separate disease, but rather a complex of various manifestations of inflammatory changes in the mouth and skin of cats.
