AboutHelen Morrison Expertise Pot-bellied or other miniature pet pig care, including diet, housing, training, health care. Can provide information about zoning, adoption, supplies, and organizations. Questions about any kind of pet swine are welcome!
Experience Fifteen years experience owning, raising, and caring for small pet swine, including "Vietnamese" pot-bellied pigs.
Organizations Pigs of Great Fortune
Publications Animals Exotic and Small
I am the Swine Contributing Editor
Expert: Helen Morrison Date: 4/22/2008 Subject: Small Growths on Legs
Question I have a female mini potbelly pig. She is almost 2 years old and i have noticed since she was young that she has little growths on her legs just under the knees. They seem like small brownish nails similar to a very small dewclaw, about the size of a pen tip. there used to be only 2-3 per front leg, and now it seems there are more, 4-6. What are they and are they supposed to be there?
Answer It's impossible to offer an accurate diagnosis over the internet, sometimes it's really necessary to see something to understand what it is.
But, I will make a guess. Pigs have scent glands on the insides of their legs, below the knee. These little glands are usually go unnoticed until they clog up and form a kind of black head. These are most noticeable on white pig legs, but black pig legs get them, too. Sometimes they are little more than tiny dots, other times they can swell quite a bit.
My guess is that you are seeing these little glands. They are kind of weird and people are often confused and worried when they first discover them. If you gently squeeze one, the "goo" that is clogging it should come right out. Don't twist the leg while squeezing, and don't squeeze too hard.
If this is not at all what you are trying to describe, or these things don't "pop" easily, then I must suggest that she see a vet to determine exactly what they are. Some other possibilities are infected bite wounds, parasites, or ordinary warts.
