FOODS TO AVOID:
Tips from The Pot Bellied Pig Manual by Lisle George, DVM
Approved by Cathy Zolicani, DMV
Clinical Tip: Do not feed wheat bran to mini pigs. The phosphorus and calcium content of bran is 1.15 and 0.14% respectively. Every 3 ounces of bran fed, increases the dietary phosphorus intake by 2.0 grams, but increases the dietary calcium intake by only 0.2 grams. Long-term overfeeding of wheat bran will result in an imbalanced ratio of calcium and phosphorus, leading to nutritional osteodystrophy.
Clinical Tip: Do not feed pigs un-pitted stone fruits. Peach, or nectarine pits will lodge in the small intestine.
Clinical Tip: Do not feed pigs unshelled walnuts. Shards from the cracked shells may pierce the pharynx, leading to pharyngeal abscesses.
Toxic Food and Plants
Approved by Cathy Zolicani, DMV
Toxic Foods List
Salt http://www.thepigsite.com/pighealth/article/525/salt-poisoning-water-deprivation
Acorns & oak leaves http://www.thepigsite.com/pighealth/article/494/oak-leaves-and-acorns
Moldy walnut shells
Elderberries
raw Lima beans
raw Kidney beans
raw Decayed sweet potatoes (black parts)
Castor beans
Tomato leaves and vine
Avocado – Skin and pit
Corn stalks (high in nitrates) http://www.feedingandfeedstuffs.info/articles/traditional_feeding/corn/1002aj_highnitrates.pdf
Rhubarb – Leaves (stalk is safe to eat)
Potato leaves and green parts of potato
Apple – Leaves & seeds
Apricot – Leaves & seeds
Pear – Leaves & seeds
Peach – Leaves & seeds
Nectarine – Leaves & seeds
Cherry – Leaves & seeds
Plum – Leaves & seeds
Broccoli – Roots & seeds
Cabbage – Roots & seeds
Turnips – Roots & seeds
Mustard Roots & seeds
Tobacco – leaves
Nutmeg- in large quantities
Cassava roots and leaves
Almond – Leaves & seeds (only wild or bitter almonds pose a threat, the almonds in stores have been heat treated to eliminate toxicity)
Raw cashews (the cashews at the store are not raw, and are ok to eat) http://www.ansci.cornell.edu/plants/php/plants.php?action=display&ispecies=swine
Flaxseed – in large quantities long term
Plants that cause Photo sensitivity: http://www.thepigsite.com/pighealth/article/500/plants-causing-photosensitisation-enhanced-sensitivity-to-sunlight
Parsnip tops
Parsley Celery tops
Giant Hog weed
Buckwheat
Saint John’s Wort
For photo examples of toxic food and plants visit our Pinterest board by clicking here.