I think my potbelly is sick!

Question
Hi my name is Paulina, I just got two potbelly pigs a few months old, the male
one has a running nose and he cannot stop sneezing! what can I do? i don't
want anything to happen to him! and I want to know exactly what I should feed
them to, I've been giving them oats and apple but I am not sure if that is
enough!

Answer
Pigs stick their snouts into everything. Occasionally, one will inhale something irritating. The sneezing and runny nose push the irritants out.

If it continues for days, or the runny nose turns a strange greenish color, piggy will need to see a vet. Another danger sign is lack of appetite, if piggy stops eating he needs to see a vet right away.

Pot-bellied pig pellets are formulated to give piggy a healthy, balanced diet. Mazuri, ManaPro, and Heartland are national brands, other local brands may be available in your area. The rule of thumb is minimum 1/2 cup pig food per day for piglets under 15 lb. A healthy piglet should gain about 1 lb per week for the first year, more or less.

If pot-bellied pig pellets are not available at all, complete horse feed (not sweet feed) is Ok. Dog and cat foods are NOT Ok! Both are far too high in salt, fat and protein.

Supplement the pellets with veggies and fruits. Fresh leafy greens are best, because they give piggy a "full" feeling.