387. Re: To trim or not to trim (tusks)

From: ellymae@watervalley.net   Wayne/Marcie
Category: General Discussion
Date: 6/4/99
Time: 9:25:29 AM
Remote Name: 206.31.151.230

387.1. Comments

Cutting a potbellied pig's tusk is an individual call on each pig.They are frighting to look at and even though your pig may not be agressive with them painfull accidents can and do occur.

We rescued a male that we affectionally call 'Fat Boy'. When Fat Boy first came to live with us he had an agression problem and was just plain down mean and ornery. It took quite awhile but I finally figured out what most of the problem was.You see the man that we got Fat Boy from had used a set of 'BOLT CUTTERS' to remove his Tusks. Need I say more?!!!! Think about it. common sense tells me that if a tooth{and that's all a Tusk is}is cut into improperly, it leaves nerve endings exposed to the air. For those of us who have had cavities in our life time we all know that when the cavity gets down into the pulp and nerves of a tooth there is PAIN. Same way with cutting Tusks off improperly,IT HURTS!!! Now I know that it has to be done in certain cases and I would suggest finding a Large animal practicing Vet and let him/her cut them off. There is a instrument called a Gillateen Cutter that is made just for that. It does a quick, clean job and usually cuts the tusk below or near the gum line which cuts down on exposure to air. I know this to be true because when Fat Boy's tusks finally healed over, he turned into a different, well mannored pig.

The tusks can be removed by surgery where they won't come back ,but this needs to be done at a verry early age.

Fat Boy's tusk are about 4 inches long now but he does not try to use them in an agressive way. He will come up to me and rub my leg with the them but he is very gentle.

Fat Boy bonded with me. Whatever I may be doing out side, Fat Boy will be right in the middle of it.Sometimes he will catch me squated down and will slip up on me and up end me but we all know how that works. Not to be mean, just affectionate. We try to keep his weight around 200lbs. He isn't over weight. He 's just a large potbellied pig. Too bad they don't have Denist for potbellied pigs.