can guinea pigs catch our colds?

[naboosmummy]

really worried...i handled naboo yesterday and i had a killer sore throat but thought it was because i packed in smoking the other day (i only ever smoked outside by the way hehe) but today i have a full blown cold which has come out since leaving the house today but i gave naboo food this morning.

I hope he doesnt get sick now...will not go in the same room today and will ask hubby to feed him and cuddle him but just hoping he doesnt get sick:0

 

[chilwell]

I don't think they can, my kids have certainly had a few colds since we had our guinea pigs and they've never got sick.

 

[Wiebke]

They do not necessarily catch your cold, but it is good policy to wash your hands regularly and not handle them too much.

 

[fritsthegirl]

I think the jury on the forum is very much out on whether guineas can catch human colds. Personally, I think it's very unlikely that guineas can catch human cold and flu viruses but I don't have any scientific evidence to support this view point! I just think this because guinea pigs have a completely different physiological make up. This to me makes it doubtful that they would be susceptible to the same pathogens that cause our common cold or flu.

I don't know nearly as much as I would like to know about this though, and I could be swayed to the other side if someone can show me scientific evidence that shows it is possible to give a guinea a human cold. I've not heard of any guineas (that I know) who have caught a cold from a human. They do get infections of the respiratory system, but this is bacterial and treated with antibiotics, so it's not a viral infection like the common cold.

 

[naboosmummy]

hope its not an allergy to him because i got him on saturday and had a sore throat and itchy throat for 3 days now this cold....everyone is winding me up at work saying I'm allergic to the piggie