Don’t let this happen to your pig! Being overweight can cause a variety of health problems. Carrying that extra weight leads to joint problems such as arthritis and elbow displaysia and can cause permanent damage requiring medication for pain management. I have seen pigs so fat they could barely stand up! The inability to move around and exercise further contributes to the problem, plus when the pig does get moving, it has severe shortness of breath. An obese pig can also get such large fat folds around its eyes that it completely covers the eyes and over time will cause the pig to go blind from the eyes’ lack of use. This is called fat blindness and is a serious, permanent condition that I have seen in several pigs. The above problems can be prevented with proper diet. On average, a pig needs only one measuring cup of pig pellets twice a day. This amount may vary depending on a pig’s size, age and level of activity. My smallest pig gets only half a cup twice daily. Another gets 1½ cups at each meal because she has a higher metabolism rate. You can supplement meals with a few veggies or fruit (preferably greens and low sugar foods) and a little alfalfa hay. Pigs will always try to fool you into thinking they are still hungry but managing your pig’s weight will keep them happy and healthy! Don’t let them “eat like a pig”!