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Can They Catch My Illness?

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Pippy & Daisy

Pippy & Daisy

Junior Guinea Pig
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My family have been ill with a stomach bug the past couple of days, but I thought I'd managed to avoid it. It seems to only be a 24 hour bug but I've been making sure they don't go anywhere near the piggies just in case. Anyway, I was getting them their food this morning, thinking I was fine so I didn't take any extra care (I always wash my hands before I touch their food) but now a few hours later I've gotten really ill and obviously have what everyone else has had. Could I have passed this onto my girls or can they only catch things like the flu? I didn't have any symptoms when I fed them so there was really no way I could have known I had it but I'm really worried they're going to get ill now :(
 
If it's any consolation, my vet has always said that guinea pigs are not prone to human viral infections... their infections tend to be bacterial. So the likelihood that they are going to catch anything from you is slim, particularly as those '24-hour bugs' tend to be viruses and viruses tend to be pretty host-specific. Hope this helps!
 
Your piggies will usually be fine, but you may want to give the Vet a call just in case. They will often become ill if you have a cold, but I am not totally sure about stomach bug germs. Keep an eye on them for a while (or have someone else because you are ill) and if they behave abnormally take them to the Veterinarian.
 
Thanks for both of your replies! I gave the vet a ring and he said it's extremely unlikely, if possible at all, that they'd catch it, so that's a relief. Obviously I'll still take all the precautions and keep a close eye on them but it's definitely a huge relief to know that I wouldn't have passed it on :) thanks again!
 
Just use good hygiene and don't cuddle if not necessary, and the piggies should be fine! :)
This also goes for any cold and flu you have.
 
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