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Coronavirus

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Jessica888

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We have been ill with Coronavirus symptoms and are slowly recovering. One of our guinea pigs suddenly developed conjunctivitis and shivers like she had a fever. She was trying to move, eat and drink but could tell she was really struggling. Conjunctivitis has now been confirmed as one of the Coronavirus symptoms with some people. We have also seen this symptom within our household.

Yesterday the vet looked at her via video and said he would treat her as if she had flu. She died before we could get medication to her. we are devastated.

The vet said their isn't enough evidence around animals and Coronavirus. However we can't help but think we unintentionally pass something on to her.

This message is to say if you start to get Coronavirus symptoms, please keep an eye on your guinea pigs, try not to do unnecessary handling and look out for symptoms and speak to your vet asap.
 
Jessica888 said:
We have been ill with Coronavirus symptoms and are slowly recovering. One of our guinea pigs suddenly developed conjunctivitis and shivers like she had a fever. She was trying to move, eat and drink but could tell she was really struggling. Conjunctivitis has now been confirmed as one of the Coronavirus symptoms with some people. We have also seen this symptom within our household.

Yesterday the vet looked at her via video and said he would treat her as if she had flu. She died before we could get medication to her. we are devastated.

The vet said their isn't enough evidence around animals and Coronavirus. However we can't help but think we unintentionally pass something on to her.

This message is to say if you start to get Coronavirus symptoms, please keep an eye on your guinea pigs, try not to do unnecessary handling and look out for symptoms and speak to your vet asap.
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Hi!

I am very sorry that you have lost your piggy. Please do not jump to conclusions and drown yourself in guilt! We humans are unfortunately wired to look for any fault in ourselves first and foremost and to put two and two together and end up with 154.
PS: So far, I haven't seen conjunctivitis mentioned as a possible Covid-19 symptom in any of the many warnings from reputable sources.
Human Bereavement: Grieving, Coping and Support Links for Guinea Pig Owners and Their Children

Our advice re. pets and illness is in line with WHO guidelines and has been for years since before the outbreak. So far none of the potential transmissions to pets has worked out as a coronavirus link, either way; even after looking in detail at all reported cases.
This article is from a reputable veterinary publication source from just a few days ago:Leading Veterinary Diagnostic Company Sees No COVID-19 Cases in Pets - IDEXX US

We have been recommending and still strongly recommend using common sense and good hygiene as with any human illness; to wash your hands well and to minimise any direct contact with your piggies when your are not well, whether that is Covid-19, flu, strep throat, norovirus or salmonella.
Worried about Covid-19 (coronavirus) transmission risk to your cavies and care during illness?
 
Thank you for your kind replies. This is a new strain so information is changing quickly as scientists gather new information, as I said our vet said there isn't enough evidence around this issue yet.

WHO and NHS are constantly updating their advice. For example we were told to take ibuprofen by NHS for our symptoms, we were then told by NHS to stop, which we as a family did. So they may update website regarding conjunctivitis, we'll have to wait and see.

I thought I would share our experience so people are aware and help others. We always follow hygene advice and we reduced unnecessary contact (we were too ill to act as we normally would anyway).

Links regarding conjunctivitis as possible symptom:

American Academy of Ophthalmology Coronavirus update: Alert: Important coronavirus updates for ophthalmologists

Guardian article, dated 23 March 2020:
Coronavirus: what happens to people's lungs if they get Covid-19?
 
Jessica888 said:
Thank you for your kind replies. This is a new strain so information is changing quickly as scientists gather new information, as I said our vet said there isn't enough evidence around this issue yet.

WHO and NHS are constantly updating their advice. For example we were told to take ibuprofen by NHS for our symptoms, we were then told by NHS to stop, which we as a family did. So they may update website regarding conjunctivitis, we'll have to wait and see.

I thought I would share our experience so people are aware and help others. We always follow hygene advice and we reduced unnecessary contact (we were too ill to act as we normally would anyway).

Links regarding conjunctivitis as possible symptom:

American Academy of Ophthalmology Coronavirus update: Alert: Important coronavirus updates for ophthalmologists

Guardian article, dated 23 March 2020:
Coronavirus: what happens to people's lungs if they get Covid-19?
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Our care guidance still stands as it is.

As a public forum we have to stick with official guidance from sources relevant for the UK and from widely acknowledged scientific facts. We will update any advice accordingly. I hope that you can understand that. There is so much information and misinformation around as everybody is scrambling.

Starting any new unproven chains of potential misinformation and myth, panicking many of our members who suffer from anxiety at the best of times and whose levels are currently going through the roof by making any unproven connections is not our intention or purpose. Abetting the carrying any of your surmises further into social medica is counterproductive and can prove dangerous.
Please accept that and take it into account when spreading your warning - you can't judge the consquences of what you are trying to start with the best of intentions.
How bad information goes viral
 
It is probably just a coincedence that your guinea pig got conjuctivitis now, and as said before, its still not listed on WHO or NHS
 
I was feeling ok yesterday but my anxiety is through the roof again today :( I can’t stop worrying about things. I’m worried about the next food shop which is a week away, I’m worried that my cats won’t get their jabs in 6 weeks time, I worried about my parents and them having to do their food shop, I’m worried about having to go to the hospital next Thursday. Everything and anything is running through my mind today :(
 
Claire W said:
I was feeling ok yesterday but my anxiety is through the roof again today :( I can’t stop worrying about things. I’m worried about the next food shop which is a week away, I’m worried that my cats won’t get their jabs in 6 weeks time, I worried about my parents and them having to do their food shop, I’m worried about having to go to the hospital next Thursday. Everything and anything is running through my mind today :(
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Sending hugs! Piggy daddy is out food shopping for us and for my old Mum right now and its really stressful, trying to achieve even normal everyday things are making us all very jittery at the moment :( x
 
PigglePuggle said:
Sending hugs! Piggy daddy is out food shopping for us and for my old Mum right now and its really stressful, trying to achieve even normal everyday things are making us all very jittery at the moment :( x
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Thank you. My parents said they will go shopping during the elderly hour at Tesco but I’m still worried.

I hope piggy daddy manages to get the shopping done.

Hub wants to go for a walk this afternoon but I don’t want to leave the house :( x
 
Claire W said:
Thank you. My parents said they will go shopping during the elderly hour at Tesco but I’m still worried.

I hope piggy daddy manages to get the shopping done.

Hub wants to go for a walk this afternoon but I don’t want to leave the house :( x
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Its scary isnt it, I had to go to the emergency eye clinic at the hospital yesterday and that was actually fine, very quiet and lots of sensible social distancing, but on the way home I had to pass a queue of people on the street waiting outside a local pharmacy... including a man in his 70's who had a noticeable cough and runny nose! I'm sorry that he had to be out and about but he really should have been at home not coughing and spluttering on any passers by and the young mum with a baby also in the queue :(
 
Claire W said:
Thank you. My parents said they will go shopping during the elderly hour at Tesco but I’m still worried.

I hope piggy daddy manages to get the shopping done.

Hub wants to go for a walk this afternoon but I don’t want to leave the house :( x
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My anxiety is going through the roof, but I am finding going for a walk really helps! Try and make the most of the nice weather today, as think it’s turning colder and wetter again xx
 
furryfriends (TEAS) said:
My anxiety is going through the roof, but I am finding going for a walk really helps! Try and make the most of the nice weather today, as think it’s turning colder and wetter again xx
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Thank you. I’m sorry that your anxiety is high too. It’s horrible isn’t it :( Will go for a walk with hub when he’s finished working x
 
I don’t normally struggle with anxiety but these are anxious times - I find that limiting my news and social media intake really helps. I allow myself to check the news when I wake up, at mid day and after the Prime Minister evening update (but not before bed).

In between I carry on as normal but indoors - starting a new online course, doing online yoga/Pilates classes, start my vegetable seedlings on window sills. Not sitting around looking at the horror all day on my phone. I hope this is helpful.

I’ve gone as far as telling some friends I don’t want to be part of their constant virus article sharing on WhatsApp. It’s not good for me personally
 
Elthysia said:
I don’t normally struggle with anxiety but these are anxious times - I find that limiting my news and social media intake really helps. I allow myself to check the news when I wake up, at mid day and after the Prime Minister evening update (but not before bed).

In between I carry on as normal but indoors - starting a new online course, doing online yoga/Pilates classes, start my vegetable seedlings on window sills. Not sitting around looking at the horror all day on my phone. I hope this is helpful.

I’ve gone as far as telling some friends I don’t want to be part of their constant virus article sharing on WhatsApp. It’s not good for me personally
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I was having Sky News on all the time and it wasn't helping at all! I now listen to music, make sure I go for a walk, spend time with the piggies and have been trying to get all my business paperwork sorted and filed! I desperately want to get on with my Advanced Diploma, but don't feel able to concentrate properly at the moment, but I am going to set aside a couple of hours today, to try and get some of it done.

I am making sure I get up at my normal time each day and getting showered and dressed. I also put a bit of makeup on and make sure my hair doesn't look too wild (I had been growing it, but had got to the point where it needed a cut, which isn't happening now)!
 
I suffer from anxiety anyway but like I say, I’m struggling badly with it right now :(

I to try and limit my news watching and have been getting up at a normal time each day x
 
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