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Disinfecting hutch

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wind1

Teenage Guinea Pig
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I have lost 3 guinea pigs over the last 7 weeks all with unexplained reasons. They showed no signs of illness until nearing the end. They all lived in a 3 tier hutch. One of them lived in one section with a partner, the others lived in pairs with a mesh divider so they lived next to but not with thier partner. They are all boys. I'm worried that maybe they have died from an illness which could be spreading to the others so I want to disinfect the hutch. What is the best way to do it. I have spare hutches to put the remaining 3 temporarily. Any suggestions please.
 
So sorry to hear about your losses. :(

It's difficult to disinfect wood, isn't it? I use F10 disinfectant, but not within a hutch (mine are indoor). Here is a link: http://www.f10biocare.co.uk/

I wonder if a portable steam cleaner might be the best way to go.
 
Sorry to hear this.

I use Virkon on my wooden hutches, it kills everything. You can buy it in tablets from sph supplies or if you just wanted a couple of them rather than a bulk lot, pm me and I'll pop some in the post

Sophie
X
 
So sorry to hear of your recent losses. I think disinfecting things is a wise idea.

Disinfecting hutches, it has been a long time since I have done so, but I believe a disinfectant like Virkon would be needed, and all surfaces of the wood would need a good soaking down, and a few days to dry out thoroughly.

Also remember to disinfect everything else - food bowls, water bottles (spouts especially), any toys, other tools you might use with the piggies (e.g. nail clippers, hair brushes - that sort of thing).
 
I think with the water bottles I'd be very tempted to replace them, if you can run to that. It's so difficult to get those spouts fully disinfected.
 
Thankyou for the replies. I have ordered Virkon tablets. Sophiew thankyou for offering to post some to me but I thought I would order some as I have other hutches too so they will all be used. I will take out the 3 remaining boys today and then thoroughly clean everything when the Virkon arrives. With regards to water bottles I will replace them all with new ones. I have to admit when I change their water I don't keep the same bottle with the same guinea so maybe I should do. It has never occurred to me that if one is unwell it could transfer something to others by the water bottle. I also have 8 female guineas kept in a seperate area to the boys but I guess I should clean them all out too. That will be a bit more difficult as I don't have enough spare room to house all of them whilst their hutches are cleaned thoroughly. Fingers crossed this is just a coincidence that 3 have died so close together and the others will be ok.
 
Thankyou for the replies. I have ordered Virkon tablets. Sophiew thankyou for offering to post some to me but I thought I would order some as I have other hutches too so they will all be used. I will take out the 3 remaining boys today and then thoroughly clean everything when the Virkon arrives. With regards to water bottles I will replace them all with new ones. I have to admit when I change their water I don't keep the same bottle with the same guinea so maybe I should do. It has never occurred to me that if one is unwell it could transfer something to others by the water bottle. I also have 8 female guineas kept in a seperate area to the boys but I guess I should clean them all out too. That will be a bit more difficult as I don't have enough spare room to house all of them whilst their hutches are cleaned thoroughly. Fingers crossed this is just a coincidence that 3 have died so close together and the others will be ok.

Fingers crossed for you, how sad to lose 3 in such a short space of time. Did the vet have any suggestions what the cause might have been?

Sterilise everything you can and replace the rest (bottles etc). I do keep the same bottles with the same guineas in between sterlising, but I run a rescue so have new and possibly contagious piggies coming in all the time

Sophie
x
 
I only took the third one to the vet as other 2 went too quickly. The one I took last night was too far gone to treat and the vet had no idea what was wrong. I have moved the other 3 boys into new hutches outside of the area they were in and they all have new bowls and bottles. I also have a rabbit living in the same area. She is free range and the guineas are in a hutch. I have confined her to her shed for now until I clean the hutch and surrounding area just in case there is something she could pick up. My worry is though that she and the others could already have picked something up. The rabbits shed also houses the girl guineas (in hutches) so she could also have transferred it to them. I don't know what else I can do but wait and see.
 
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