Can Piggies Catch A Cold From Humans?

[Veggies Galore]

I have caught a horrible cold and don't want to do anything that could affect my boys. My husband has this cold too so there is no point in delegating feeding them to him.

I have stopped handling them until I am better and I am washing my hands before preparing their food. - And, of course, I make sure that I don't sneeze over them. But, they are indoors with us so expect they will exposed to some extent.

Is the human cold harmful to guinea pigs?

 

[Jess]

I did read somewhere that Pigs can catch human colds. You're doing the right thing by not handling them and washing your hands while preparing food!

 

[Veggies Galore]

Thank you for the reply. I will keep a close eye on them (from a distance).

 

[Jerrybelly]

It's really difficult to know for certain. I'm not sure whether it has been proven, but it's best to take precautions, just in case. Better to be safe than sorry.

Perhaps it's best not to handle them unless absolutely necessary, and wash your hands before preparing their food and touching their water bottles.

Hope you're feeling better soon!

 

[Abi_nurse]

It depends whats causing your cold exactly. Whenever i have a cold i tend not to handle my piggies too much and make sure i wash my hands before handling etc just a precaution.

x.

 

[Veggies Galore]

Thank you to everyone who replied. I am beginning to feel better and my piggies seem none the worse for wear. I won't handle them until I feel completely better.

 

[alisont]

If I've had a bad cold I tend to not "cuddle" the guineas - I just wash my hands first and keep a bottle of the anti bacterial gel by the cages/hutches. If cleaning them out I put the guineas in a carrier so less contact with me.

 

[Veggies Galore]

hand gel's a good idea - I've been washing my hands frequetly and they're getting very dry.

 

[TAN]

If I've had a bad cold I tend to not "cuddle" the guineas - I just wash my hands first and keep a bottle of the anti bacterial gel by the cages/hutches. If cleaning them out I put the guineas in a carrier so less contact with me.

I have read somewhere (might be Peter Gurney) that they can catch your cold and conjunctivitis) - but these are the only 2 things -

 

[Freela]

I'm really not sure, but I do wash my hands before feeding and minimize handling my pigs when I have a cold. That said, I have three small children and a lot of colds go through our house in the winter months, and thus far (knock on wood!) the pigs have never had a URI.