Taking care of mini pigs as pets has the potential to be so much fun. If you have recently purchased a mini pig as a pet, then you’ve likely already fallen in love with it.
Mini pigs are so cute and they definitely make incredible companions. You want to do your best to care for your pig to the best of your ability so that it can thrive in your household.
This is why it will be so alarming if you see your mini pig start to foam at the mouth. You might be worried about whether this is an indication that the mini pig is sick.
Could the pig have rabies or is there some other explanation for this? Read on to learn why a mini pig might foam at the mouth.
1 – It’s Usually Caused Due to the Pig Anticipating Food
Typically, mini pigs are going to foam at the mouth when they’re anticipating that they’re about to get food. If the pig knows that you’re about to feed it, then it might start foaming at the mouth because it’s thinking about eating.
This might seem weird to you at first, but you’re going to get used to it very quickly. It’s a very regular thing and it stops seeming strange after a few days when you realize that it’s just a normal bodily response for mini pigs.
Sometimes mini pigs might start foaming at the mouth when they know that it’s about time to be fed. For example, you might not have actually shown the pig food yet, but it’ll instinctively know that you feed it at 9 AM each day.
Aside from seeing mini pigs start to foam at the mouth when they’re anticipating regular meals, you might also see them do so when you give them snacks. If you’re giving your pig a special treat, then you might notice a bit of foam start to form.
2 – Sometimes Aggression Will Cause This
Sometimes aggression will cause a mini pig to start foaming at the mouth. This isn’t going to be nearly as common as pigs doing this when they’re anticipating food, though.
If a mini pig feels as if it is being threatened, then you might notice that it will start to foam at the mouth. This happens whenever a mini pig starts behaving aggressively.
There are many situations that could cause a mini pig to feel as if it needed to become aggressive. For instance, an unfamiliar animal could approach the pig and this will cause it to become aggressive.
The foam gets produced when mini pigs start to produce more saliva. Whenever something gets a mini pig excited, that will cause more saliva to be produced.
Aggression might not be the same as being excited about food, but it makes the heart rate of the pig increase. This is what causes the saliva to increase which in turn produces the foam.
3 – The Pig May Have Eaten Something Toxic
There’s a small chance that the pig could have eaten something toxic if it is producing foam. Sometimes pigs might eat plants that will be toxic to them.
In an attempt to purge the toxins from the body, a pig will start foaming at the mouth. This is a very serious situation, but thankfully, it isn’t a common reason why foam is produced.
If you suspect that your pig might have eaten some type of toxic plant, then you should call a veterinarian right away. Depending on what your pig ate, it’s possible that the pig could die if it doesn’t get medical help.
In some cases, a pig could die from eating as little as one toxic leaf from a plant. This is also a good reason to keep an eye on your pig and to avoid keeping plants that are known to be toxic on your property.
4 – Sometimes it’s a Sign That a Pig Is in Pain
Sometimes foaming could be a sign that the pig is in pain. Try to keep an eye on the mini pig to see how it’s acting.
Does anything seem to be amiss with the pig? If the pig is walking gingerly or if it’s not eating food normally, then it might be sick or in pain.
Pigs experience anxiety when they’re dealing with serious pain. This anxiety causes them to start foaming at the mouth.
When you see signs that your pet is hurt, it’s important to contact a veterinarian right away. You want to get to the bottom of the situation as soon as you can.
Pet owners who pay attention to their mini pigs won’t likely have to worry too much. It’ll probably be pretty easy to spot when something is wrong with your mini pig.
A veterinarian should be able to figure out what’s wrong and your pet will be feeling better soon enough. This isn’t the most common reason for foaming, but it is something to keep an eye out for.
Explain the Foaming to Guests
Explaining the foaming thing to guests will be a good idea if they’re going to be around your mini pig. Many people associate foaming with rabies, and you don’t want them to be worried that your pig is dangerous.
Let them know that it’s typically just something that pigs do when they’re anticipating food. It’s not dissimilar to a dog drooling when it wants food.
That should keep people that come over from being uncomfortable about it. They’ll be able to enjoy interacting with your cute pig without worries once they know what’s going on.
Final Thoughts
There are a number of reasons why a pig might start foaming at the mouth. It could happen because a pig is anticipating being fed soon.
Some pigs will do this like clockwork when they get fed at the same time every single day. It’s also normal to see a pig do this when you’re giving it a treat of some sort.
Foaming could also be an indication of pig aggression. If a pig feels threatened in any way by another animal or something else, then it might start foaming a bit.
Sometimes foaming is related to a pig being in serious pain as well. It’s an anxiety response and you’ll want to call the vet as soon as you can.
When a mini pig eats a toxic plant, it might start foaming in an effort to get the toxins out of its system. You’ll need to call the vet to try to save the pig’s life if this is the case.
The most common reason is anticipating food, so it’s unlikely that you’ll have to worry too much about the dangerous reasons for foam. Just keep an eye on your pig and all will be fine.
I have a bachelor’s degree in construction engineering. When I’m not constructing or remodeling X-Ray Rooms, Cardiovascular Labs, and Pharmacies, I’m at home with my wife, two daughters and a dog. Outside of family, I love grilling and barbequing on my Big Green Egg and working on projects around the house. Growing up, I had pet dogs, cats, deer, sugar gliders, chinchillas, a bird, chickens, fish, and a goat.