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Dietary Supplements for your Pet Pig
Supplements, although there have been studies in humans that
determined that they can be beneficial for people, are not
considered appropriate for pigs. Pigs should find all the
vitamins and minerals they need from a proper diet of commercial
hog feed, vegetables (leafy greens preferred), fruits and
grazing.
Nutritional scientists say that when a vitamin is separated from
its source it loses effectiveness because the plant or animal it
is derived from has other vitamins, nutrients and water that help
the vitamin be properly digested and provide the most benefit to
the eater. For example, if you were to take just calcium it would
not be properly absorbed without water and vitamin D and some
other nutrients.
Unless your pig is specifically deficient in some vitamin and
mineral it should get all the vitamins, minerals and nutrients it
needs from its diet. Of course, due to genetic or environmental
issues, some pigs can be anemic, vitamin B deficient or potassium
deficient. Seek the advice and help of a professional
veterinarian in order to diagnose and properly treat these
deficiencies.
Supplements are targeted specific vitamins and minerals that are
provided in high concentrates. Supplements are immediately
directly absorbed by the body if they are absorbed at all, which
is not an effective method of delivery. Vegetables with the same
vitamins and minerals are digested or a period of hours and will
release small amounts of the vitamin or mineral over time.
Natural food delivery of nutrients also prevents overdosing.
Taking too much of any nutrient at once is harmful to the body
and some can even cause death.
According to some experts, an overload of vitamins can be harmful
rather than helpful, and can cause the body to stop synthesizing
vitamins from food. This of course would not be healthy for a pig
or a human and could cause serious health problems if the
supplement was suddenly stopped for any reason. You should get
your vitamins from your food, and so should your pig.
If you have to supplement your pig's diet, use a whole food
product and not a commercial vitamin concentrate tablet, caplet,
or capsule. Also be sure to make your pig exercise. This promotes
better digestion of vitamins and minerals in the digestive tract.
Supplementing is never a good option, but if your veterinarian
recommends that you do it because of deficiencies in the foods
you can feed your pig, or an anomaly in your pig's body, for your
pig's sake do so, and have a wonderful, healthy life with your
pet pig.
See the below Links in Addition:
Keeping Pigs as Pets
Stuffed Plush Pigs that are a Delight to have Around
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