More and more you hear about families going the exotic route when it comes to the family pet and adopting potbellied pigs. And why wouldn’t they? They are fun to play with, make great companions, and are really very clean animals. One common mistake many people make though is thinking that potbellied pigs are similar to the typical house pets such as cats and dogs and therefore treat them like such.

I know this next statement may sound kind of silly, but potbellied pigs are unique animals. They don’t respond well to cat medications, dog medications, or any other types of medicine specifically formulated for other animals. Another thing to keep in mind when discussing the health of your pig is to make sure you have a vet who is familiar with them so that you are ensured to get the right kind of treatment when you need it the most.

Now briefly let's talk about the different ways potbellied pigs interact with other pets. According to the guys at Pigs4ever, if there’s one animal that is going to get along with your new pig it’s a cat. Maybe it’s their gentle nature; maybe it’s the way that cats tend to mind their own business, but whatever the reason cats and pigs do generally get along. Dogs on the other hand are completely different stories. Believe it or not Fido may be man’s most trusted friend and may have never shown the first signs of aggression to family or foe, but they are not the pest things to leave alone with a potbellied pig. Though domesticated, dogs (and cats as well to a certain extent) still have a bit of those wild genes in them and tend to look at pigs as prey. If you do decide to own a pig and a dog make sure you keep them separated at all times in order to avoid any unfortunate accidents.

Pigs can be fun, highly intelligent, faithful friends, just remember that as with most animals be cautious and always remember to never leave them alone with small children.