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Bit Worried What To Do With Pigs As I May Be Getting A Cold

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CarnivalPiggy

CarnivalPiggy

Adult Guinea Pig
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Long title lol. Anyway, the weather has been getting colder recently and I've been walking the dog without a coat as I ease up to the cold very quickly. My body doesn't seem to however, and I feel I may be getting a cold (slightly holding back the urge to cough, nose etc).

My problem with this is mainly the pigs as I've been monitoring Ginny and the girls after a possible bloat or gas (took to a vet but he didn't feel anything wrong). I've been weighing them everyday, feeling their stomachs and monitoring them and their introduction back to veg. I'm not sure what to do as Ginny's immune system might be a little lower as with his age and the girls, while young, may have my possible cold transferred. Any ideas what to do? Thanks
 
Thanks. I did read it beforehand, but I'm still unsure what to do about weighing and feeling for bloat. The pigs are generally too skittish/fast to be weighed by other than myself as of now and checking for any buildup :(
 
I am panicking as of now. I was sneezing a bit more in the last day or two but thought it was my asthma or the hay playing up. I now (excuse grossness) have a dribble nose slightly. I'm incredibly worried I have transmitted it in the last few days. My main worry is Ginny as he is much older and in a possible recovering stage as well as the girls generally. Ive also been giving them kisses on the head and general hugs

Really unsure what to do about stomach and daily weighing. @Wiebke hope it's ok to tag for advice?
 
I think you are worrying far too much. It's extremely unlikely that you will pass anything on but sh*t happens and first and foremost comes care. Carry on caring for and monitoring your pigs while practising very good hygiene rules and don't do additional cuddles til you feel better. It's how parents have to cope with babies when they get ill themselves, it is inevitable and it is unavoidable. By keeping an eye on the pigs you will pick up any signs of illness should the unlikely happen
 
Thanks, I tend to worry far too much. I will monitor but keep away and wear mask. Do you think I should weigh them tonight however?
 
Yes if you are monitoring for illness/bloat then I would still weigh them. I know you are worrying about giving them something extra but can you imagine how you would feel if they deteriorated and you missed it because you stopped monitoring while they are at risk?
 
Used a scarf as couldn't find mask. Forgoes tonight spot clean. Weigh them, all seem fine but am concerned about Peppa as she seemed quite sneezy today :( she was a bit sneezy when I first got her but no problem arised. Worried. Not sure if I should monitor her tonight as its late but hesitant from cold or go to bed
 
I've had a cold twice now since I got the piggies and I am there primary care giver. I wash my hands before preparing food and spot cleaning and interacting with them in anyway although I try not to interact with them as much as possible but obviously not possible in your situation as you have a poorly piggy. Anyway the piggies have been fine everytime and I didn't pass anything on to them. This will sound odd but I also always give my nose a good blow before doing anything piggy related when I have a cold (wash my hands after obviously) as you can guarantee half way through food prep or spot clean my nose will start to run and a ten minute job will take half an hour.
 
Oh Carnival piggy the panic in your threads is not good! I hope you did go to bed. You are so focused on the piggies that you will pick up if they are actually ill. Remember that the vet said they were fine.
I have lost count of the number of times I have cared for my piggies, including sick and dying ones with a cold ( I have kids, u get loads of viruses from them) Sensible hygiene precautions eg hand washing etc as in the sticky thread are what you need to do.
I obviously have not seen your piggies and am not a vet but I having read your posts I strongly suspect that the girls are completely FINE. They are young and strong and from Yorkshire ;). Ginny may have had an upset tummy but you are so observant that you will manage that and get vet help if needed.
Please look after yourself and step back a little to get over this cold and things will improve. Hugs, a cup of Tea and virtual Panadol being sent your way!
 
Thanks everyone, I really appreciate it :hug:I've been in bed since I woke up as I've developed a temperature and feel a bit off. All this worrying has probably encouraged poorly things lol

My mums been lovely and has watered and fed them today, she's told me they all seem OK running around
 
Thanks :) I checked up on them after a thorough handwash and scarf as my mum is out (my nan ended up passing away very sadly recently so she's out sorting out papers). All seem fine, seemed a bit curious about the lack of attention today as they did a few uncertain mutters and then wheeked lol. I put some more hay in, but it hurts to avoid giving them a hug or stroke :coat:
 
This is a very good thread for me to be looking at because the pigs live in my room, and I work in a place where there is constant sickness, bugs, flues, colds and much worse. Thankfully I am no longer a cleaner, and am much less exposed now than I was before. But I still work in the same building, and it worries me sick if I ever got something as horrible as the norovirus again. I felt like I had drank dirty water from a third world country, that is how ill I got.

Imagine if I had had the pigs then and had passed that onto them! :o
 
As a side note, just in case is there a boarding or vet place that does boarding you trust? I have a boarding on hand if I ever caught something that was really bad or if I went on holiday
 
CarnivalPiggy said:
As a side note, just in case is there a boarding or vet place that does boarding you trust? I have a boarding on hand if I ever caught something that was really bad or if I went on holiday
Click to expand...

Thank you for that advice. I have literally just got my pigs a few days ago, so I still have to sort out a vet yet to register them with let alone boarding. But on my next day off I am going to get myself a folder with pages full of emergency contacts like this.

I also want to make a daily menu for the pigs so that I can plan out meals for them without having to constantly look up what foods they can have everyday, whether I have that food in the house, and then 'what did they have recently?' 'how much can I give them?' etc

Then another folder for all their medical information, right down to things like gunky eyes from haypoke and when their claws were last clipped. So yeah, I still have a lot of work to do! xx
 
CarnivalPiggy said:
Long title lol. Anyway, the weather has been getting colder recently and I've been walking the dog without a coat as I ease up to the cold very quickly. My body doesn't seem to however, and I feel I may be getting a cold (slightly holding back the urge to cough, nose etc).

My problem with this is mainly the pigs as I've been monitoring Ginny and the girls after a possible bloat or gas (took to a vet but he didn't feel anything wrong). I've been weighing them everyday, feeling their stomachs and monitoring them and their introduction back to veg. I'm not sure what to do as Ginny's immune system might be a little lower as with his age and the girls, while young, may have my possible cold transferred. Any ideas what to do? Thanks
Click to expand...
I get someone else to feed and handle them for me if I cant if you cant do this where rubber gloves and never sneeze on them if your worried about them getting cold just give them extra vitamin c suplments to boost their immune system otherwise don't worry and wait for at least 3-4 days before handling them to stop them contrating the cold
 
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