Project Pig

A timely reminder that pigs (or any animal) are not Christmas presents.

Pigs are sentient beings who require care, enrichment, adequate nutrition, regular hoof trimming, space to roam, swim and graze. Their life span is up to 25 years. They are a big commitment.

Pigs are not novelties to be disposed of once they get too big, or become an inconvenience.

Happy Monday

PIGS NEED TO ROOT!

It has come to our attention that a sanctuary is attempting to justify the use of nose rings in pigs.

They claim “…but it doesn't hurt. Some people choose to put a ring in their snouts to help them stop 'rooting' or digging which can cause owners issues as the pigs will dig under the fencing resulting in predators getting in the pen or the pig the ability to get out”.

So let’s look at why nose rings are never acceptable.

Rooting is a natural pig behaviour and serves a very good purpose. In the natural setting, or given the opportunity, pigs will spend a significant amount of their time rooting.

In the wild, pigs forage on a vast array of worms, insects, plants, algae and fungi. Soil is a smorgasbord of the diet pigs thrive on naturally. Pigs will eat particular plants, soils, roots and bark if they feel unwell or if their bodies require certain minerals or nutrients. Their ability to select what they eat helps to keep their overall health in balance.

Rooting is also a way for pigs to lower their body temperature to cool down.

Rooting is often considered a undesirable behaviour. Locking pigs in small pens or indoors, or mutilating their snouts with nose rings are common practices used to stop and prevent rooting. So hard-wired is rooting behaviour that these cruel “solutions” do not work - a pig will still root and do so despite experiencing significant pain and even injury to their delicate snout. Confined pigs have been known to root through concrete.

Snuffle mats, whilst providing a source of enrichment, are not even remotely comparable in terms of satisfying a pig’s natural instinct to root.

If you live with a pig, remember how important rooting is FOR THEM. To deprive them of their natural behaviour, especially instinctive rooting and foraging, is cruel.

Tomorrow, the sun will rise to a world without you in it 💔

Today, the pig community everywhere is mourning the loss of one of the greatest pigs of our time. A pig who needed no introduction. A pig who did so much to create awareness and a better world for her kind. For this we are eternally grateful.

Rest easy Esther, and may your spirit live on, spreading peace, love and hope for a better world for all pigs everywhere ☮️❤️🐖

HOOF CARE

Hoof care is an essential part of caring for pigs. Pigs are large, heavy animals so looking after their little trotters is so important as they rely on all four to live happy, active lives. If even one of their hooves develops a crack, it can lead to serious and potentially life threatening infections, lameness, pain and immobility.

Nutrition is vitally important for keeping hooves healthy and infection free, as is regular trimming to prevent undue pressure on the hoof wall, which can lead to painful cracks.

The good news is that there are things you can do to get on top of a crack or infection BEFORE it becomes a serious problem.

We recommend soaking the hoof to treat infection that invades the whiteline and has begun to climb under the wall, beyond the surface, and any stubborn wall cracks.

It can be tricky to soak a pig’s hooves so you may need to get creative - try it when they’re eating (have them standing in a shallow rubber tub) or sleeping, consider gel options, or soaking a cotton wool ball and applying it to the affected hoof so that it penetrates into the crack.

This should be done 2-3 times a week until new, healthier hoof is established and diet is corrected.

Next, we will talk about essential nutrition for hooves and pig-friendly hoof trimming tools.

You know you want to.

Every pig is different and therefore every pig has varying nutritional requirements. There is no “one size fits all” when it comes to animal nutrition.

Often the symptoms of a mineral or vitamin deficiency are overlooked, with “quick fix” suggestions made to the rectify a problem rather than addressing the underlying cause.

For example dull, unhealthy skin, weepy eyes, cracked or brittle hooves, slow wound healing can all be signs of deficiencies in the diet.

If you see any of these symptoms, it’s important to carefully review your pig’s diet.

❓Is he getting all the vitmains and minerals he needs for his age, lifestyle, health profile and activity levels?

❓Are the vitamins and minerals in his food in a bioavailable form so that they can be absorbed by the body?

❓Is there something in his diet that may be preventing the absorption of vitamins and minerals?

Are you thinking about switching your pig to a natural diet, but not sure where to start to ensure they’re getting all the essential vitamins and minerals for optimal health?

It’s easier than you think, and Project Pig can help you get it right, with a feed program that is tailored to your pig’s age, health profile, lifestyle and level of activity. Just reach out!

Here is an example of a super breakfast, which contains almost all of the essentail vitamins and minerals your pig needs.

Combined with grazing during the day, a piece of fruit for lunch and a variety of vegetables for dinner, you can be certain your pig will be strong and healthy. This breakfast is particularly beneficial for supporting strong bones, a healthy gut and a strong immune system.

We like to add apple cider vinegar to their diet, so a couple of tablespoons with their vegetables at the end of the day and your super pig diet is complete!

Light therapy is one of the most effective healing tools on the planet. It is particularly useful for pigs who can be difficult to handle.

Light therapy can be used as an alternative to invasive surgery or harmful drugs to treat a wide range of health problems. It is particularly effective in treating painful arthritis.

Whether you are considering using a pad, torch or wrap, you can be certain that your pig will benefit. Light therapy can be done in the comfort of your own home, while your pig is sleeping or relaxed, making healing a far more pleasant experience than what it otherwise might be. Red and infrared are the most commonly used wavelengths.

The following physiological results have been demonstrated using the various wavelengths:

🔆 Decrease chance of infection - blue

🔆 Remove heat from the body - blue

🔆 Diminish and eliminate bacteria - blue

🔆 Reduce stress and promote relaxation - blue

🔆 Balances pH - blue

🔆 Balance the body - green

🔆 Stimulate cellular growth - green

🔆 Sedation - green

🔆 Reduce spots and blotches on skin - green

🔆 Cell rejuvenation - purple

🔆 Stimulate lymphatic drainage - purple

🔆 Activate nanoparticles - infrared

🔆 Reduce pain and inflammation - infrared

🔆 Trigger growth and repair of cells - infrared

🔆 Improve circulation and cardiovascular health - infrared

🔆 Protect against oxidative stress - infrared

🔆 Detoxification - infrared

Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs) are far too common in pet pigs.

More often than not, UTIs can be directly linked to lifestyle. The pig is likely:

❌ Not getting enough exercise or movement every day;
❌ His diet is unbalanced; and/or
❌ He is restricted as to when he can empty his bladder.

The single, best way to avoid UTIs is to ensure your pig receives plenty of fresh air and exercise every day, a diet comprising of fresh forage (grass), low sugar hay, vegetables and some fruit, and that he has the freedom to move.

Locking pigs up in small pens, crates or bedrooms is not only cruel, it will ultimately result in poor health outcomes. Pigs should never be confined to crates, even for short periods, unless it’s for the purposes of transport.

If you suspect your pig has a UTI, look at lifestyle factors and implement changes to prevent further infections.

Garlic (organic) works as a powerful antibiotic for UTIs.

Diuretic herbs such as uva ursi can be added to their food to remove excess fluid.

Juniper berries are also a diuretic with antiseptic properties, and promote kidney and bladder health.

Marshmallow root helps to soothe the urinary tract.

Did you know that Vitamin C has numerous
important roles in the body?

In fact, Vitamin C has so many benefits that we recommend it for every pig.

Vitamin C is the most powerful antioxidant on the planet and a well-established immune-boosting nutrient that is hugely beneficial to sick, growing, or immune compromised animals. Vitamin C can help to reduce stress, aid recovery from illness or disease, promote a healthy immune system and strong hooves.

Easy bruising and slow wound healing can be signs of Vitamin C deficiency in pigs.

Vitamin C is best given short-term, as long-term supplementation can interfere with the absorption of other minerals. Four weeks of supplementation is enough time to demonstrate therapeutic benefits.

Pigs are widely considered to be more intelligent than dogs and equally as intelligent as chimpanzees.

They share the ability to perform a number of cognitive tasks with other highly intelligent animals such as dolphins and elephants.

In various studies, pigs have demonstrated that they have long-term memory, can learn and comprehend a simple symbolic language, and learn and remember complex symbols for particular actions and objects.

Happy Monday 🐷

Pigs should have the freedom to graze for several hours each day. Not only is this important for their mental (enrichment) and physical (movement and exercise) well-being, it’s also important for their overall health.

Live forage contains a diversity of nutrients that pigs need for good health.

Parasite pointers every pig owner should know.

Consider adding a quality probiotic (pro = good, biotic = alive) supplement to your pig’s food for several weeks after deworming.

It’s also a good idea to include probiotics before, during, and after the use of antibiotics, steroids, vaccines and medications - all of which can damage the microbiome. Why is this important? Because once the microbiome is damaged, the immune system is also affected.

The probiotic you use should be refrigerated and require refrigeration after purchase for maximum benefit and potency.

Hamish’s natural diet program has been especially formulated to support the nutritional requirements of larger pigs, with a focus on supporting bones and joints, a healthy microbiome and strong immune system.

We will briefly highlight 3 of our favourite ingredients.

🌱 SEAWEED MEAL: Seaweed absorbs a wide range of minerals from the sea including iodine, biotin, silicon, zinc and copper. Not only is seaweed a rich source of nutrients, it also stimulates thyrold activity and supports metabolism.

🌱 WHEAT GERM: Wheat germ is one of our favourite additions to a pig’s diet. It is very high in a variety of nutrients, including vitamin E, vitamin B1, vitamin B3, and vitamin B6. For minerals it contains potassium, iron, zinc, calcium, phosphorus, manganese, and selenium. It is also full of omega-3 fatty acids. Wheat germ is said to boost the immune system, protect the heart and prevent cancer.

🌱 APPLE CIDER VINEGAR: ACV is also a great addition to every pig’s diet. We recommend an organic, unfiltered type. ACV has been shown to be effective at balancing pH in the gut, controlling pain and stiffness associated with arthritis, and discouraging biting insects such as flies and mosquitos.

No matter the age, breed, shape or size of a pig, they can thrive on a natural diet.

NAME: Hamish
AGE: 5
BREED: Berkshire X
HEALTH PROFILE: Hamish has been a healthy pig to date.

NATURAL DIET PROGRAM:
Soaked whole lupins
Vegetables and fruit
Cooked French White Millet
Flaxseed
Chia seeds
Apple cider vinegar
Vitamin C
Minerals
Seaweed meal
Turmeric paste

“Hamish is a large breed pig, so special attention is given to ensuring he maintains a healthy weight and that his bones and joints are well supported with diet and exercise.”

Now that we know the about potential side effects of chemical dewormers - coupled with the risk of parasite resistance - we can look at what you can do to prevent or minimise internal parasites in the first place.

‼️ Chemicals should not be used as a preventative measure ‼️

Pigs most at risk of developing parasite infections are those living in small, confined spaces, unhygienic conditions, or with a large number of other pigs. Where possible, give your pigs more space, rotate their paddocks, and keep their living areas as clean as possible (remove manure, old hay and mouldy food).

Pigs who are sick or unhealthy are at higher risk of parasite infections because their intestinal immune system is already compromised. Parasites thrive in this weakened environment. Older pigs also have additional dietary needs and require extra immune support (just like older humans). If these needs are not met, their immune system becomes weaker, making them more susceptible to not only parasites, but also disease and heath problems.

The key to a strong intestinal immune system is a healthy, balanced, age-appropriate diet. Adding the following supplements to your pig’s meals can help to keep his gut healthy and immune system strong:

🥗 Organic, unfiltered apple cider vinegar
🥗 Brewers yeast
🥗 Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) or rosehip shells
🥗 Slippery elm
🥗 Seaweed meal
🥗 Organic, food grade bentonite clay

In addition to these, we recommend a biannual four-week course of quality probiotics to strengthen parasite resistance and prevention.

Unfortunately chemical dewormers must be used for parasite infections, because parasites do not normally respond to natural dewormers.

This is a very good reason to use chemical dewormers responsibly - parasites can become resistant to chemical dewormers if they are used too frequently or too often, and they are our only real defence against parasite infection.

To avoid the real risk of parasite resistance to chemical dewormers, only deworm your pig when necessary, and rotate your wormers.

If using a paste or liquid dewormer, consider administering smaller doses over 3-4 days instead of one large dose. This not only helps to prevent unnecessary toxicity from the strong chemicals, but also the mutation of the parasites.

Pigs should receive probiotics and Vitamin C (rosehip shells are an excellent source of Vitamin C) for several weeks post-deworming to support their intestinal health.

When you provide a healthy environment for animals, they thrive.

When the environment is less than optimal, they falter.

When the environment is adjusted, sick animals revitalise.

Internal parasites can become a problem for our pigs, but we need to be sensible about deworming and not force strong chemicals into their bodies unnecessarily. This is dangerous and irresponsible.

Pigs most at risk of developing a parasite infection are those living in small, confined spaces, unhygienic conditions, or with a large number of other pigs. Pigs who are sick or unhealthy are also at higher risk because their intestinal immune system is already compromised - and parasites can thrive in this weakened environment.

Not all pigs will show symptoms of internal parasites. However symptoms of infection to look out for include:
🦠 Poor appetite 🦠 Fatigue 🦠 Diarrhea 🦠 Depression 🦠 Itching 🦠 Skin conditions 🦠 Poor body condition 🦠 Anxiety

If your pig has one or more of these symptoms, DO NOT AUTOMATICALLY CONCLUDE HE HAS PARASITES. Before deworming, it’s important to establish whether your pig in fact has an internal parasite problem.

If you’re not sure, a simple f***l egg count (FEC) can give you a good indication. Once you have established that your pig does in fact require treatment, find the most appropriate dewormer based on your FEC results. Keep in mind that the best time to deworm is just before or just after the full moon. This is a time when parasites are thought to be more active and susceptible.

If it’s too hot for you, it’s too hot for them.

Pigs need extra support in warmer weather as they don’t really sweat like us.

Here’s some things you can do to keep your pig cool during hotter months:

💦 Always keep fresh, clean water around.

💦 Always have a dam, wallow, sprinkler or pool available - or take them to a beach or lake.

💦 Always have shade or shelter available.

💦 Limit time in the heat. Try to plan for walks and play time in the morning or evening when the sun isn’t so hot.

💦 Offer frozen homemade treats.

💦 Provide a fan near their bed/shelter.

💦 Be sure to clean your water troughs once a week to avoid the film of bacteria that will build up and can cause health issues.

Pigs need so much more than food, shade and water. They are highly emotional, social and intelligent creatures who need pig friends, space to graze, freedom to move and play.

Many people consider it acceptable to confine pigs (often in isolation) to a small outside pen, a room in the house or a crate. Deprived of sunshine and fresh air. Deprived of friendship. Deprived of the freedom to move. Deprived of choice.

Pigs are no different to horses, cows, sheep and goats. Given the choice, pigs will graze continuously through the day, getting many vitamins and minerals from live forage, soil, trees and insects.

Pigs need to graze.
Pigs need space to move, play and explore.
Pigs need pig friends.

Pigs are intelligent, social and sensitive beings.

Pigs do not belong in bedrooms.
Pigs do not belong in crates.
Pigs do not belong in small, dirty pens.

It’s fantastic to see farmed animal sanctuaries using alternative therapies to help their animals. Whether it’s to relieve pain, or in this case using red light therapy on identified acupoints to stimulate cellular processes in certain parts of the body which need support, it’s a gentle, stress-free, non-invasive and powerful way to help animals.

Did you know that when you give your pig antibiotics, you are wiping his digestive system of good bacteria that his body needs?

Bacteria in pigs’ digestive systems are essential for survival. For example, the bacteria in the stomach and intestinal tract help digest food and enable the absorption of life-sustaining vitamins.

Many people don’t know that antibiotics are indiscriminate killers - they kill bacteria that are required for survival as efficiently as they kill harmful bacteria.

So what does this mean for your pig and what can you do next time you’re faced with a situation when antibiotics are required?

💊 Only use antibiotics if and when necessary. Broad spectrum antibiotics are overprescribed for both humans and animals.

💊 Support your pig’s digestive system for three weeks after antibiotic treatment. A quality probiotic added to their food daily will help to restore the gut microbiome.

A mix of nuts, seeds and dried fruit is a nutritious snack and training treat for your pig.

Over the coming weeks we will be looking at responsible deworming and parasite prevention.

Many pig owners deworm simply because they’ve been told they have to, without giving any thought as to whether their pig in fact has a parasite burden.

Not only do parasites become resistant to chemical dewormers if used too frequently or too often, all chemicals we put in our pig’s body wipe their system of the necessary and good bacteria needed for health and immunity. There is very little thought - if any - given to supporting your pig post-deworming to ensure a healthy microbiome is returned.

Are we saying you should not deworm? Absolutely not. Parasites are very smart and nasty little critters which wreak havoc, causing potentially serious and sometimes irreversible problems.

But, managing treatment responsibly and implementing prevention strategies to keep infestations at bay is just as - if not more important - than deworming itself.

Cranberries are a great addition to your pig’s diet.